Lynda Szymanski, HLC Steering Committee member, self-study writer and associate dean of the School of Humanities, Arts and Sciences (SHAS), led the SHAS Program Director and Department Chair (CHADS) meeting Tuesday, Feb. 12 and discussed HLC site visit preparations.
She reminded everyone that the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Site Visit Team will be on campus Monday-Wednesday, February 25-27.
She requested that everyone restrict acronym use when talking to the site team because they will be less familiar with the St. Kate’s vernacular. She added that the site team will be viewing the university as a whole and will not necessarily scrutinize individual programs or departments.
She reiterated that a large component of the site visit is federal compliance assurance with the University’s self-study. “Are we who we say we are?”
Szymanski added that they will also be constructing an advancement argument. “Does the campus community understand what challenges the university faces and do we have a plan to meet those challenges?”
Although the final schedule is still being formed, a meeting with a cross section of CHADs from all three schools with members of the HLC site visit team is scheduled Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. She understands that this is a popular class time and that not all program directors and department chairs will be able to attend. Among other meetings scheduled is an open meeting with faculty on Monday, Feb. 25, at 2:15 p.m.
She also explained the role that deans will play in meetings. They are there to introduce members of the HLC site visit team and to orient them. They will not be answering questions or interjecting themselves into the discussion.
How to prepare
Szymanski urged everyone to read the executive summary of the self-study and those sections of the self study that pertain to your area. For CHADs she noted, chapters three and four will be particularly pertinent.
She also suggested the self-study section that responded to recommendations made by the Higher Learning Commission Site Visit Team at the University’s accreditation site visit in 2003 regarding the release for faculty who serve as either a program director or department chair.
She also had several questions that CHADs should consider as they prepare for the site visit:
• What are the goals and purpose of the CHADs?
• Do you have the support and resources you need to do your work as a chair or program director?
The HLC site visit team is very interested in the University’s strategic plan and how members of the community use it to make decisions. Watch the HLC blog for schedule updates and additional information.
