Picture This App provides unique photography experience vol. 100, no. 32
Friday, january 27, 2012
1 SECTION, 8 PAGES
Arts page 5
SINGING
IN THE
RAIN Despite downpour, students continue to prepare for February show. Page 3
Photo illustration courtesy of Jenn tashjian
Leslie lewis contributing Photographer
Above: The freshman class rehearse for Sing Song in Bennett Gymnasium. Right: JP Ralston and Matt Varner practice their Sing Song faces in Foster Science Building with the men of Gamma Sigma Phi.
destiny hagood staff photographer
accreditation
University’s SACS accreditation reaffirmed jozie sands copy Editor The university’s efforts over the past several years to satisfy its regional accrediting body have succeeded. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools notified the university late last semester that its accreditation with the organization has been reaffirmed. What’s more, the reaffirmation comes with no required monitoring or probationary period, said Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the university’s Reaffirmation Leadership Team. Faculty members from other accredited universities represented Georgia-based SACS during a visit to campus last year, and the SACS decision means no more monitoring will be necessary until the 2021 evaluation. Shankle said only seven percent of the institutions audited by SACS last year were not required to present followup information regarding faculty credentials.
“We demonstrated compliance with a whole range of requirements within that first go around,” Shankle said. Accredited institutions are required to provide two separate documents as part of the SACS reaffirmation process. The Compliance Certification is an audit of the requirements prescribed by the organization and the federal government. The other document is the Quality Enhancement Plan, which at ACU focuses on undergraduate research literacy. SACS is one of six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The university achieved accreditation in 1951 and has maintained it since. Sacs Campus Visit Shankle said she knew the process was going well when members of the accreditation committee started canceling meetings during their onsite visit in the fall.
“They had already answered their questions,” Shankle said. Shankle and the rest of the Reaffirmation Leadership Team, Dr. Tom Winter, professor of social work and former vice provost, Dr. Tom Milholland, director of Institutional Research and Assessment, and Dr. Phyllis Bolin, director of Pursuit QEP, had to demonstrate that ACU’s general education program was comprehensive and that the students are meeting the student learning outcomes through assessments. Shankle said some questions remained related to the new CORE curriculum. Because the SACS visit was the same year the new curriculum was implemented, students hadn’t finished the first semester and their learning couldn’t be assessed. “We collected evidence from the end of the fall semester, a year ago, and then the spring semester,” Shankle said. “We said, ‘Here’s the assessment we did under the
“
sighted vision for transformative learning experiences for students,” Bolin said. The QEP group examined each facet of the Pursuit plan in detail, met with faculty and students and Dr. Phyllis bolin director of pursuit quality enhancement plan questioned many across campus about the plan for Pursuit and its implemenold gen ed, here’s the plan future student learning, tation during its onsite visit for our full new gen ed and said Dr. Phyllis Bolin, di- last April. “They were very complihere’s what we’ve done dur- rector of Pursuit QEP. ACU’s QEP, Pursuit, is de- mentary and made no recing the first year.’ And then signed to build a community ommendations for the QEP,” we crossed our fingers.” Shankle said ACU’s track of research, scholarship and Bolin said. “That is good because a recommendarecord showed the accredi- creative expression. “Pursuit will benefit tion means that they believe tation committee that ACU would implement the plan students because under- there are significant probwell, so it didn’t assign any graduate research is an lems to be addressed.” Because of the positive exciting way to engage in monitoring reports. an academic discipline in- response, the team began side and outside the class- to implement the QEP in Focus on Research room,” Bolin said. “It also earnest in fall 2011. Shankle said it is in the The other document leads to a deeper underrequired as part of the re- standing of their chosen best interest of ACU and its students to maintain acaffirmation process was academic discipline.” The focus of Pursuit, re- creditation. To be in good the Quality Enhancement Plan. While the Compli- search literacy, was chosen standing with the federal ance Certification looks after an intense process government, a university at what the institution has of conducting discussions must be accredited by one done in the past, the QEP with faculty, staff students of the six regional accrediting bodies. examines the plan the uni- and alumni. see accreditation page 4 “It is a broad-based farversity has for enhancing
Pursuit will benefit students because undergraduate research is an exciting way to engage in an academic discipline inside and outside the classroom.”
inside sports
opinion
photos
news
Women’s basketball hopes to break losing streak this weekend
Steward and Colbert news parody shows provide vital education to public
Students continue rehearsals as Sing Song approaches
Local sports league features new basketball tournament in sports expo
Page 8
page 6
Abilene Christian University
acuoptimist.com
page 4