During St. Catherine University’s Alumnae Council meeting
Sept. 27-28, Alan Silva, Assistant Vice President; Dean of the School of Humanities,
Arts & Sciences and College for Women, discussed the University’s upcoming
accreditation site visit.
A team representing the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of
the North Central Association will conduct a site visit at St. Catherine
University February 25-27, 2013. The team will review the institution’s ongoing
ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation.
Silva, chair of the University’s HLC Steering Committee,
outlined the University’s activities that began in fall 2010 to prepare for the
site visit. The steering committee, comprised of faculty, staff and
administrators from both campuses, were charged by University leadership to
plan for the site visit and create the self-study report in advance of it.
Accreditation is the process of peer review to assure the
academic and financial integrity of higher education institutions. HLC is one
of six accrediting associations in the United States. Silva told alumnae that
accreditation is crucial to the university.
“Accreditation is about expressing the quality of our
programs and an opportunity for improvement,” he said and explained that the
title of his presentation, “The Reflective U,” is at the heart of the
self-study writing process.
“The self study is a really a reflection on who we are
and how we accomplish and fulfill our mission.”
The theme for the self-study—“From College to University: Eight Directions to Five Destinations in Ten Years"—is drawn from the University’s 2020 Strategic Plan that contains eight strategic directions and five destination metrics to be accomplished over ten years – from 2010-2020.
Co-written by Lynda Szymanski, associate dean for the School
of Humanities, Arts, & Sciences and an associate professor of psychology,
and Brian Fogarty, professor of sociology, the self-study must address five HLC
critieria and numerous sub-components.
They have been assisted in the final editing and rewrite
phase by Silva, Debra Sellheim, professor and curriculum co-director of the
Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and Jennie Robinson-Kloos, director of
Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment.
Thursday evening, Silva was joined at the podium by Fogarty,
Szymanski and Sellheim who each discussed a chapter of the self study, outlined
key facts and shared what has been learned about the University’s strengths and
weaknesses during the self study writing process.
In closing, Silva and Szymanski urged alumnae to submit
comments to the Higher Learning Commission in advance of the comprehensive site
visit.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) seeks third party
comments on institutions to give institutional constituencies the opportunity
to provide the Commission evaluation team with their perspectives on the
institution.
Alumnae are urged to submit comments regarding the quality
of the University or its academic programs to:
Public Comment on St. Catherine University
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle St., Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411
Comments can also be submitted on the Commissionʼs
Website.
Comments will be accepted until January 24, 2013.
Silva's presentation is available online at prezi.com.
