Return to Washburn Accreditation Home Page
Response to the
Report of a Visit to Washburn University
May 4-6, 1998
Prepared August 7, 1998Washburn University expresses its gratitude to NCA/CIHE and especially to the six team members for this helpful report. The team visit, under the superb direction of chair Patricia O'Reilly, was well organized, professional and thorough. Team members provided abundant opportunities for input from all sectors of the University community. The result was a pleasant and profitable visit from which the institution will benefit for many years.
We have limited our response to the report to those specific comments in the report suggesting action on our part. However, we are pleased by and grateful for the many kind remarks and observations about Washburn University made by the team.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Two (University Council)
Occurring twice in this section is the suggestion that clarification is needed about the makeup and responsibilities of the University Council. We assume that the report writers' intention is that we clarify these issues for ourselves. The University Council has existed for many years and its constitution and duties are spelled out in the University's bylaws. Nonetheless, situations arise where the role of this important body is unclear. Clarification in these instances is hammered out as we go, but Washburn does recognize the need to more clearly articulate the Council's role.
The team also suggested "that the Council explore with the administration mechanisms that could remedy" a perceived lack of efficient functional communication between the faculty and the administration and the faculty and the Board. The University Council and the administration will work together to consider such mechanisms.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Two (Mabee Library)
The team "regards the challenges facing the library as major and if not addressed, will escalate." We agree that the challenges of funding, staffing and space for the Mabee Library are important, and have been and will be addressed by the University. We are attempting to understand the nature of the space and staff that will be required by libraries of the future as the impact of technology on the library continues to grow.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Two (Media Center)
As suggested, the Media Center will be "encouraged to continue expanding the infrastructure necessary for distance learning" as the University continues to evaluate the type of distance instruction appropriate to our mission.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Three (College of Arts and Sciences)
The team observed that "frustration was evident in reports from some faculty and students over the lack of connection of several Macintosh computers to the Internet." Early this summer, grant funding was obtained to provide staffing to bring the Mac computer labs onto the network.
There is considerable doubt whether technology on any campus could ever "satisfy all users." Washburn's on-going process of evaluating and updating computer technology will continue.
The team also noted concerns about "the reduction of classroom space to make more room for computers." A facilities analysis is performed before changing the use of any classroom space. Additional classroom space is anticipated in the campus facilities master plan.
The faculty in the College is already actively exploring "interdisciplinary course offerings and activities as they continue their programmatic development" as suggested. Washburn's bachelor of general studies degree program and the Center for Kansas Studies are but two examples of this development.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Three (School of Applied Studies)
The dean of the School of Applied Studies continues to work with the administration to clarify the role of the School. The suggestion of a vision statement for the two-year health programs is helpful. The School will evaluate the merits of moving the Radiography program to a four-year program. Funding for such a move must be carefully considered.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Three (School of Business)
The team suggested that we "might find it helpful to hire an experienced AACSB examiner to visit the campus." The recently retired dean of the School is a past president of AACSB and is serving as a consultant to the institution at this time. We agree that a "clear institutional posture regarding AACSB accreditation" is needed.
The new dean was selected and began serving July 1, 1998.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Three (School of Nursing)
The School of Nursing appreciates the suggestions for new strategic directions, and will work with the other schools and the administration to consider their feasibility.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Three (Graduate Programs)
Washburn University is committed to maintaining the quality of the graduate programs it offers. The Graduate Committee will be encouraged to "regulate and ensure common standards" as suggested by the team.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Three (General Education)
Clarification and articulation of general education transfer equivalencies is nearing completion. The suggestion to ensure "full involvement of all stakeholders and thorough and consistent student advising...as a way of strengthening the underpinnings of the General Education Program" is recognized and appreciated.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Three (Assessment)
Washburn remains committed to assessment of student academic achievement, though we recognize that we must "examine the ways in which (we) could bring some university wide focus to student learning in assessment of academic achievement." The Assessment Committee will continue to work on this, as suggested by the team. We believe strongly in assessment as a fundamental tool for program improvement, and do not see a division or contradiction of this approach with the view of assessment as a tool to improve student learning. We want to improve programs by improving student learning in those programs. The team's comment about "a feedback loop directly to students" is unclear to us, as our understanding of the assessment process is that it will evaluate the learning of students in general. Nonetheless, Washburn will continue to develop its understanding and practice of assessment of student academic achievement. We anticipate that every department will have by the end of the 1998-99 academic year assessment programs for majors in place. Work continues on general education assessment. The suggestions about methods to establish funding support for these activities are already being considered. We agree with the team that this represents a major challenge for many institutions, including our own.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Three (Admissions and Student Services)
The process of simplifying transfer policy has begun. 2+2 articulations for every program with area community colleges are being developed. Washburn acknowledges the suggestion of the team to make special efforts "to ensure that there is effective and efficient coordination and collaboration" among student support services, Enrollment Management and CLASS. We continually evaluate the effectiveness of these programs and their relationships with one another.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Four (Institutional Planning)
At the present time we plan to continue to use the RPPC as part of the planning and budgeting process.
The Criteria for Accreditation: Criterion Five (Federal Compliance and Third Party Comments)
Washburn is very careful to monitor its compliance with Title IX and will continue its biennial reviews. The team's caution about evaluating the risks associated with new opportunities is noted and appreciated.
Advice and Suggestions for Institutional Improvement
Washburn University appreciates the helpful suggestions of the team. Brief comments about each follow:
1. Evaluation and integration of the computer systems is on-going. We continue to seek the most effective and cost-efficient ways to meet the diverse needs of the academic community and the increasingly complex internal administrative needs for computing power and solutions.
2. As noted above, the dean of the School of Applied Studies will work with the administration to clarify the role of the School.
3. As noted above, Washburn will evaluate the future of the Radiography program.
4. The new dean of the School of Business is charged with providing the institution the information needed to make the decision about AACSB accreditation, including the resources needed to support such a decision.
Challenges, Recommendation and Rationale
Washburn University will provide in June 2001 progress reports as specified in the team report. While it is not clear that ALA staffing guidelines are appropriate for our institution, we will use the progress report, as suggested, to "examine the broader information requirements in the new millenium." Washburn will continue to develop its assessment program, and the progress report required will help ensure that the process moves along at an appropriate pace.
Return to the Washburn Accreditation Home Page Return to the Washburn University Home Page