Sample Quality Checkup Reports from Institutions

[Spangehl]

Colleges and universities should upload to this thread samples of reports (which they have prepared to send to the Quality Checkup visitors before the visit) that they are willing to share with others.

Similarly, share the materials you are using to solicit public comment prior to the Quality Checkup visit.

[pheineman]

In preparation for our Quality Check-Up in October, Bellevue University sent the following documents electronically (PDF) to the site visit team members and to the HLC six weeks prior to the site visit and posted the same documents on our web page:

o Proposed Quality Check-Up Site Visit Agenda (described in another posting).
o Federal Compliance Materials Packet. A copy has also been posted to Bellevue's revised AQIP web site at: http://www.bellevue.edu/aqip/2006_portfolio.asp
o Quality Program Summary. A copy is posted to the BU AQIP web site at: http://www.bellevue.edu/aqip/2006_portfolio.asp
o Systems Appraisal Feedback Corrective Action Report. A summary report of Bellevue's response to the opportunities identified in the Systems Appraisal Feedback Report. A copy is posted on BU's AQIP web site at: http://www.bellevue.edu/aqip/appraisal.asp

In addition, although it was not required at this time, the Systems Portfolio was revised to reflect Bellevue University's new Strategic Plan, Operational Objectives, Mission and Vision, and numerous systems revised and developed in response to the October 2005 System Appraisal Feedback Report. The revised Portfolio can be viewed at:
http://www.bellevue.edu/aqip/2006_portfolio.asp.

An advertisement for Third Party Comment appeared in the Bellevue Leader newspaper, and has been posted to Bellevue's main web site at: http://www.bellevue.edu/ and on the corporate web site at: http://www.corporatelearning.com/ and was sent to 8,376 alumni email addresses.

Let me know if you would like copies of any of these documents. We are happy to share.

[pheineman]

In preparation for our October site visit, a series of emails were developed to communicate to the campus community the purpose and significance of the Quality Checkup. The updates are scheduled to be sent out every Monday for four weeks prior to the site visit and include information on what to expect, sample questions that may be asked and preliminary schedules and updates. The information was extracted from the “Quality Checkup Guide.”

In addition, a Quality Checklist was sent to the Deans and Directors with a list of 4 things they could do to prepare for the site visit;

1. Visit the University’s AQIP web site.
2. Read and be familiar with Bellevue’s AQIP “Quality Program Summary” which was attached.
3. Arrange a time for me (as QA Director) to meet with their department about AQIP and the site visit.
4. Review the AQIP Site Visit Schedule (also attached) and to make plans for they and their staff to attend appropriate sessions.

I will be happy to share any of the announcements for you to use in with your own institutions. Just drop me an email at heineman@bellevue.edu

[fadams1]

I'm not sure who was reassured more, the institution or the reviewers, following our discussions of an agenda for the upcoming visit. After having participated in a conference call with the institution, my colleague and I were able to convey to the institution a "sense" of our feelings / expectations for the upcoming visit; that feeling was one of being able to participate in the institution's review.

* an intent of the reviewers and the institutional representatives is to examine the documents collaboratively
* the reviewers' approach is to be a "participant" in the review process rather than "directing" the visit.

If the Quality Checkup Visit is to be meaningful for both the Higher Learning Commission and the institution, there must be a feeling of collaboration to the visit. For quite a while now, the process has been viewed as "putting the best face" forward for the visitor(s) to the campus. There is "change" occurring all about / to us.

I am greatly encourged with the Quality Checkup Visit approach. There is a feeling of guarded optimistism in the visit being perceived by the institution in a positive, constructive view rather than as an "us versus them" process.

There is much to be optimistic about.