Self Study Process and Committees

Washburn University developed a self study process which was appropriate for the culture of the institution but was informed by the best practices of peer institutions. The process began with the appointment of the Self Study Steering Committee including the co-chairs: Dr. Nancy Tate, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Donna LaLonde, Dean of Honors and Director of the Center for Undergraduate Studies and Programs (CUSP).  The members of the Steering Committee, representative of curricular, co-curricular, and administrative units across campus, were identified and invited to serve by President Farley. Once the committee was constituted, the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) conducted a workshop on the self study process.

Based on knowledge acquired through participation in Higher Learning Commission Annual Meetings, the Steering Committee, in consultation with the VPAA, decided to form five subcommittees, each assigned primary responsibility for developing the initial institutional response to one of the five criteria for accreditation. These subcommittees were chaired by members of the Steering Committee. One academic Dean was assigned to each of the five subcommittees.  In addition, Drs. Tate and LaLonde were assigned as ex officio members of the subcommittees. Finally, Melodie Christal, Director of Institutional Research, Chris Leach, Director of Finance, and Rhonda Thornburgh, Director of Budget Planning, were designated as research assistants for the subcommittees.

The subcommittees were constituted with membership from all areas of campus and met regularly to draft responses to the criterion subcomponents. The Steering Committee held regular meetings, including summer retreats, to review the entire self study and to design, implement and analyze required campus-wide data gathering initiatives.

A working draft of the document was reviewed by Executive Staff, Deans, and Directors, and their comments were valuable in refining the self study to prepare the final draft.  A “Roll Out” Committee consisting of faculty, staff, administration, and students was formed early in Fall 2007 to formulate a strategy to increase awareness of the self study findings and participation in open forums and site visit activities.  In addition, two marketing classes and a public relations class were assigned class projects to assist in identifying strategies to increase student awareness and participation. The draft self study was reviewed by the entire campus community throughout the month of October 2007.  After receiving comments through e-mail and through open forums will be held at the end of October, the self study draft will be finalized.

Throughout the self study process, the Steering Committee made presentations to groups on campus (General Faculty, Faculty Senate, Staff Council, Washburn Student Government Association) to ensure the community was informed and involved.  In March, 2008, the University will publish third party comment notices on the Washburn web site and in the local newspaper. These initiatives will continue throughout the entire self study process, culminating with the site visit in May 2008.

The goals :which have guided Washburn’s participation in the accreditation process included the following

• To provide an opportunity to assess Washburn’s effectiveness as an institution;

• To serve Washburn students who may wish to transfer or pursue further education; and

• To provide a mechanism for the Institution to document compliance with Federal mandates.