Reaccreditation process has lasting value

What is accreditation? Accreditation is formal recognition of the quality of an educational program or institution. Institutional accreditation, granted by the Higher Learning Commission, results from an evaluation of an entire institution. Why is institutional accreditation important? Institutional accreditation from the HLC demonstrates that an institution meets nationally recognized standards of quality. Credits and degrees earned at an accredited institution will be respected by employers and other educational institutions. Accreditation facilitates transferability of coursework and provides access to student financial aid and certain federal funding opportunities. Accreditation is absolutely essential. Where can I learn more about UNMC’s reaccreditation process? Visit the reaccreditation Web site.

The journey toward the reaccreditation of UNMC mirrors the road to an academic degree.

Like a degree, accreditation is the goal, but there’s also great value in the experience.

That’s the mantra of the team leading UNMC’s reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, who say the thousands of hours invested in the self-study process will have a lasting and institution-wide benefit.

“There’s enduring value to our role in becoming re-accredited,” said John Benson, M.D., professor of internal medicine who is coordinating the reaccreditation efforts. “The process provides lasting benefits to UNMC, beyond the expected reaccreditation itself.”

The self-study report, which will eventually encompass more than 200 pages, is a “window” into UNMC’s academic offerings, as well as how its research, clinical and outreach activities impact higher education. It also outlines UNMC’s strengths, challenges and opportunities in fulfilling its mission.

“We’ve learned a lot about our institution during the process,” said Mary Helms, associate director of the McGoogan Library of Medicine and one of four members of the reaccreditation’s executive committee. “It’s not just a snapshot of campus. It’s our campus story, and people will be amazed by the depth of our outreach and innovative programs.”

More than 100 UNMC faculty and staff members have been involved in the self-study report, which will be available to the public online before the Jan. 8-10 site visit. An executive summary also will be developed for distribution.

Already, UNMC has benefited from the self-study process.

The campus has initiated an Institutional Research Office, staffed by Jeanne Ferbrache, to coordinate and maintain institutional records previously scattered across campus.

“The information always existed, but it was never in one place where people could find it,” Helms said.

Outcomes data, which will be available through the office, validates the educational process.

Now, UNMC is centralizing its institutional data, said David Crouse, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and associate dean for graduate studies.

“The Institutional Research Office can provide the public with much of the data,” Dr. Crouse said.

UNMC’s reaccreditation will be judged on five criteria and several “core components” of each criterion. Generally, the criteria involve UNMC’s mission and integrity in carrying out its mission; its focus on the future; its student learning and effective teaching; its research enterprise; its community service; and authorization to expand its distance education.

In addition, each chapter of the self-study report outlines UNMC’s strengths in that particular area, as well as challenges and opportunities.

“It has made us look at what we do on campus in terms of everyone, not just the educational programs for students, but also how we support the needs of our faculty and staff,” Dr. Crouse said.

The report also has helped identify new areas for impact, he said.

“That’s a lasting value,” Dr. Crouse said.

Last fall’s faculty, staff and student surveys provided valuable feedback for the self-study report, said John Adams, Ph.D., assistant vice chancellor for budget and strategic planning. Deans and directors received information about their respective units and have submitted to Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., plans for addressing issues that arose in the surveys.

“People’s voices were heard in the survey,” Dr. Adams said.

During the self-study process, the reaccreditation team has decided to seek comprehensive accreditation status for its distance learning programs.

New year includes site visit The Higher Learning Commission will send seven site visitors to UNMC on Jan. 8-10 to tour the medical center and meet with campus leaders. Open forums will be scheduled during the site visit. Watch UNMC Today for details. The commission is expected to take action on UNMC’s reaccreditation status by summer.

“Presently we need to seek accreditation of distance programs individually as they are developed but, if the request for broad approval is granted, we will have the ability to offer new, accredited distance programs much more quickly and thus better respond to the needs of our constituencies,” Dr. Crouse said.

Complete programs delivered to international sites still must seek individual accreditation.

A resource room, essentially the “evidence” to support the self-study report, will be created and may be useful for upcoming unit accreditations, Dr. Crouse said.

The executive committee for reaccreditation, which has met almost weekly since April 2005, includes Helms and Drs. Benson, Crouse and Adams.