UAA's Current Cycle

Using the results of the 2018 comprehensive review and site visit, UAA is building capacity to fulfill its distinctive mission as a comprehensive, open access, community-connected, public university that is committed to meeting students where they are and supporting them to achieve their personal and professional goals.

UAA continues to build on the strengths noted by NWCCU in four commendations.  These are UAA’s inclusive planning processes, a culture of diversity and inclusivity, engagement with UAA’s communities, and extensive efforts related to the assessment and improvement of student learning.

The new NWCCU Standards and Eligibility Requirements, with their focus on student learning, student success, and achievement, reinforce UAA’s efforts in these areas.

UAA's current accreditation cycle includes the following milestones:      

Fall 2021:  Mid-Cycle Evaluation (Year Three, Report and Visit) - Completed
Fall 2024:  Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review (PRFR – Year Six, Report and Review) - Submitted
Fall 2025:  Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (EIE – Year Seven, Report and Visit)

Accreditation Advisory Committee

An Accreditation Advisory Committee, charged in January 2020, supports university-wide engagement with accreditation, particularly around mission fulfillment, student learning, and student achievement.  The committee draws its membership from across the institution, governance groups, and campuses.  Members have been selected for their experience, expertise and areas represented; demonstrated commitment to institutional-level thinking; ability to contribute to a variety of tasks; and willingness to work collaboratively.  The Committee is chaired by Dr. Carrie King, a faculty member in the College of Health, and by Dr. Susan Kalina, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.  The accreditation effort is supported by the Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Institutional Research, and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. 

• 
  Accreditation Advisory Committee
• 
  Working Groups

 

• Agendas    

  AY25 Agendas:

  • August 14, 2024
  • September 11, 2024
  • October 9, 2024
  • November 13, 2024
  • December 11, 2024
  • January 8, 2025
  • February 12, 2025
  • March 12, 2025
  • April 9, 2025

  AY24 Agendas:

  • October 11, 2023
  • December 13, 2023
  • January 10, 2024
  • March 6, 2024
  • April 10, 2024

  AY23 Agendas:

  • November 9, 2022
  • March 8, 2023

  AY22 Agendas:

  • August 25, 2021
  • September 8, 2021
  • September 22, 2021
  • November 10, 2021
  • January 12, 2022
  • February 9, 2022
  • April 13, 2022

Deliberative, Transparent Process

Working with stakeholders, four institutional core learning competencies were adopted in Spring 2020.  At the same time, metrics for student success and disaggregation of student success data were developed.  With standards for student learning and student success in place, UAA will implement mission fulfillment assessment aimed at continuous improvement of student learning and student success and the closing of gaps in student achievement.  These efforts will be the heart of the Mid-Cycle Evaluation Year Three Report submitted in Summer 2021.  Based on feedback from the mid-cycle site visit from NWCCU and their evaluation of the Mid-Cycle report, student learning and success assessment, as well as institutional interventions to improve learning and success and close achievement gaps in achievement will be refined.  These continuing efforts will be assessed in UAA’s comprehensive self-study process (Fall 2023/Spring 2024), and described in the Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness Report, which will be drafted in Summer 2024, shared out for feedback over the academic year, and submitted in Summer 2025.  That report, and the NWCCU’s site visit in Fall 2025, will form the basis of NWCCU’s assessment of UAA’s worthiness for accreditation.

Milestones

Below describes some milestones along the way: 

May 8, 2025                 Annual Academic Assessment Retreat, 9:00-12:00 (time tent.), LIB 307, Register for 2025 Retreat

March 21, 2025           Accreditation Open Forum, 9:00-10:30, LIB 307 and Zoom | Spring 2025 Forums Invitation | Register for March Forum

February 28, 2025       Accreditation Open Forum, 12:30-2:00, LIB 307 and Zoom | Spring 2025 Forums Invitation | Register for February Forum

January 7-8, 2025        Winter Teaching Academy, Tues, Jan 7, 9:00-1:00, Online; 

Winter Teaching Academy Adjunct Orientation & Academy, Weds, Jan 8, 5:30-8:00 Online

Teaching Academy Website

September 13, 2024    Annual Accreditation Kickoff

"The Year of Self Reflection: Where We Are, and Where We Want to Be" with keynote speaker Dr. Jillian Kinzie, Associate Director, National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), and Senior Scholar, National Institute for Learning Outcomes (NILOA).

141 Participants. | 2024 Kickoff Agenda. | 2024 Kickoff UAA Presenters PowerPoint. | "Accreditation Kickoff! Meaningful & Sustainable Assessment: What does UAA student learning and success evidence suggest and how can you use it in deep and meaningful ways?" Kinzie keynote PowerPoint.

August 19, 2024      Fall Teaching Academy, 9:00-5:00 via Zoom

Teaching Academy Website

May 9, 2024                 Annual Academic Assessment Retreat

"Heading Into Our Year of Mission Fulfillment Self-Evaluation"

95 Participants. | 2024 Retreat Program. | "UAA's Core Competencies - How We Got Here" PowerPoint. | UAA Graduate Exit Survey Results (Fall 2023).

March 29, 2024         Workshop on Connecting Creative & Critical Thinking Competencies with Student Engagement

"Let's Get Critical! Critical! Connecting Creative and Critical Thinking Competencies with Student Engagement"

41 Participants. | Guest Speaker Dr. Leeva Chung. | March 29 Workshop Flyer. |  March 29 Workshop PowerPoint.

The UAA community was also invited to Dr. Chung's public lecture on the evening of Thursday, March 28, 2024: 

"Moving Forward, Thinking Ahead: The Value and Ideals of a 'Good Education' Public Lecture with Dr. Leeva Chung"

March 1, 2024            Open Forum on Core Competencies

"Critical and Creative Thinking: Identifying Your Program/Service's Assignment(s) or Activity(ies)"

76 Participants. | March 1 Forum Program.  | Creative & Critical Thinking Overview & Exemplars (System Level Critical Thinking, Alaska Data Science & AI Lab, Biomedical Ethics); and Small Group Breakout PowerPoint. | Athletics Program with Middle Schoolers Exemplar PowerPoint. | Facilities & Campus Services Exemplar.

January 19, 2024        Mission Moments Workshop at Professional Excellence and Knowledge Summit Development Day

Sessions run all afternoon and are open to all faculty and staff.

January 9-10, 2024    Winter Teaching Academy

Winter 2024 Academy Schedule.

November 3, 2023       Mission Moments Workshop

"Innovation and Creative & Critical Thinking"

49 Participants. | "Mission Moments: Connecting through Innovation and Creative & Critical Thinking" PowerPoint. | "Mission Moments" Mission, Vision, and Core Competencies Handout. | "Zombie Apocalypse Incident Action Plan" Breakout Activity Handout.

October 20, 2023          Accreditation Kickoff

"Preparing for Our Comprehensive Review"

Two Sessions with Keynote Speaker Dr. Jillian Kinzie, Associate Director, National Survey of Student Engagement: Mission Fulfillment and Core Competencies Across the Institution - Next Steps | Student Engagement for Student Success (shared with UA Student Success Convening)

167 Participants.| AY24 Accreditation Kickoff Program. | "Accreditation Kickoff! The National Context: Core Competencies, Institutional Learning Goals, Trends in Assessment" PowerPoint (Dr. Kinzie).  "Integrating the Core Competencies into CAS's College to Career Project with AAC&U" PowerPoint. | "Mission Moments" PowerPoint. | "The Graduate School: Championing Core Competencies" PowerPoint. | "Integrating Core Competencies at Kodiak College - ANTH A200 Alaska Native Cultures" PowerPoint. | "UAA Student Affairs: Integrating and Modeling Core Competencies" PowerPoint. | "Student Engagement for Student Success " PowerPoint (Dr. Kinzie).

September 15, 2023     Annual Academic Assessment Seminar: Revised Cycle, Report, and Deadline!

107 Participants. 2023 Seminar Program. | "Planning for Program Assessment Across an Assessment Cycle: A Program Example" PowerPoint. | Biennial Report Form PDF (Informational). 

The report form has been emailed to the assessment coordinators that have a report due this November, with a copy to the chairs, assistant deans, associate deans, deans, and community campus directors. Visit the Academic Assessment Plans and Reports site to see the Seven-Year Schedule under your respective college.

May 11, 2023                Annual Academic Assessment Retreat: "Focus on Intercultural Fluency"

92 Participants. | 2023 Retreat Program. | AAC&U Intercultural Knowledge and Competence VALUE Rubric. | "Using PhotoVoice to Document Core Competencies" (Review) PowerPoint. | "Small Group Activity: PhotoVoice" PowerPoint.

February 10, 2023        Open Forum on Core Competencies

"Intercultural Fluency - Identifying Your Program or Service's Assignment(s) or Activity(ies)"

99 Participants. | February Forum Program. | "Brief Core Competencies Overview" PowerPoint. | "Intercultural Fluency as a Core Competency" PowerPoint. | "Using PhotoVoice to Document Core Competencies" PowerPoint.

January 12, 2023         Winter Teaching Academy

CAFE Teaching Academy Site. 2023 Academy included sessions on Intercultural Fluency and Using the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) Method to Improve Learning and Close Equity Gaps.

November 16, 2022      Workshop

"Using Data to Promote Student Success and the Closing of Equity Gaps, Part 2"

65 Participants. | November Workshop PowerPoint. | See "Student Achievement Metrics" in Drop-down Above for Fall 2022 Reports with Disaggregations. | Transparency in Learning and Teaching at UAA Resource Page (Not Available).

October 28, 2022          Open Forum on Core Competencies

"Intercultural Fluency: What Does It Look Like at UAA? How Will We Assess It?"

83 Participants. | October 28 , 2022 Program. | October 2022 PowerPoint. | AAC&U Intercultural Knowledge and Competence VALUE Rubric. | GER Knowledge Integration Rubric.

September 27, 2022     Workshop

"Using Data to Promote Student Success and the Closing of Equity Gaps"

49 Participants. September 27, 2022 PowerPoint. | See "Student Achievement Metrics" in Drop-down Above for Full Set of Metrics, Definitions, Rationales, and Latest Reports with Disaggregations.

September 16, 2022     Annual Accreditation/Assessment Seminar

"Intercultural Fluency as a Path toward Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion"

114 Participants. September 16, 2022 Program. | AAC&U Intercultural Knowledge and Competence VALUE Rubric. | "Intercultural Fluency as a Path toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" PowerPoint. | Breakout Table Discussion Summary.

May 5, 2022                   Annual Assessment Retreat

"Living the Core Competencies" [Hosted in Conjunction with Staff Development Day]

140 Participants. May 5, 2022 Program. | Effective Communication List of Examples from the Retreat. |  "Chancellor Parnell on Effective Communication" Video. | "Student Learning Core Competencies at UAA" PowerPoint. | "Student Perspectives on the Core Competencies" PowerPoint. | "TILT: Transparency in Learning and Teaching" PowerPoint. | "Personal, Professional, and Community Responsibility: Results from the Assessment Report Submissions October 2021" PowerPoint.

February 18, 2022         NWCCU Acceptance of UAA Mid-Cycle Report (NWCCU Acceptance Letter)

October 7-8, 2021         NWCCU Mid-Cycle Evaluation Visit

September 17, 2021     Annual Accreditation/Assessment Seminar

"Preparing for the Mid-Cycle Visit"

103 Participants. AY22 Seminar Program. | "Mid-Cycle Evaluation - Bringing Your Stories and Examples to the Table" PowerPoint. | "Core Competencies - How We Got Here, What Comes Next, What Doesn't" PowerPoint | Integrating Core Competencies into the Life of UAA - Residence Life Programming Example: PowerPoint. Facilitation Guide. |  Committee Service Example: PowerPoint. | FS AY22 Committee Charge Template Draft. | Study Abroad Example: Portfolio. | Assessment Reporting Example: Streamlined AY21 Annual Academic Assessment Report Form. | "Writing Placement Reform: Using Data to Identify and Narrow Equity Gaps" PowerPoint. | "What Does/Can Student Success Look Like on the Graduate Level?" PowerPoint.

May 6, 2021                   Annual Assessment Retreat

97 Participants. May 6, 2021 Program. | May 6, 2021 Summary. | "Shift to Core Competencies from Core Themes - Looking in the Rearview Mirror" PowerPoint. | "Engaging the Student Perspective - a Qualitative Approach to Assessing Learning in the Core Competencies" PowerPoint.

March 5, 2021               Open Forum on Core Competencies

"Personal, Professional, and Community Responsibility: How does your program or service help students meet this core competency? How will you know when students have achieved it?"

70 Participants. March 5, 2021 Forum Program. | Forum Exercise Guidance Handout. | Forum PowerPoint: "Where We Have Been and Where We Are: AY21 Open Forums"

November 13, 2020      Open Forum on Core Competencies

"Personal, Professional, and Community Responsibility: Let's collaborate to tell our story."

39 Participants. | November 13, 2020 Forum Program. | Feedback Survey Link. | Personal, Professional, and Community Responsibility (PPCR) PhotoVoice Process PowerPoint. | PPCR PhotoVoice Collages Part 1. | PPCR PhotoVoice Collages Part 2. | PPCR PhotoVoice Collages Part 3. | PPCR PhotoVoice Summary (Emerging Themes).

October 16, 2020          Open Forum on Core Competencies

"Personal, Professional, and Community Responsibility: What is it? Where do we promote it? How do we help students develop it?"

82 Participants. October 16, 2020 Program. | Personal, Professional, and Community Responsibility Photo Submission Form for November Forum.

September 18, 2020     Annual Academic Assessment Seminar/Core Competency Kick Off

"Equity Through Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT)"

Keynote Speaker: Suzanne Tapp, co-editor, "Transparent Design in Higher Education Teaching and Leadership: A Guide to Implementing the Transparency Framework Institution-wide to Improve Learning and Retention" (Access Dr. Tapp's book through UAA's Consortium Library)

111 participants. September 18, 2020 Forum Program. Keynote Post-Seminar FAQ. TILT Checklist for Transparent Assignments. Transparent Assignment Template.

May 7, 2020                   Annual Academic Assessment Retreat

83 participants. May 7, 2020 Program. May 7, 2020 Summary.

May 2020                       Endorsement of the Core Competencies

The tri-chairs presented a status update to the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and USUAA student government, including a written Accreditation 2025 Summary for Academic Year 2020. Faculty Senate Endorsement. Staff Council Endorsement.

April 2020                      Core Competency Final Naming Survey

184 responses, distributed to the UAA Community. Core Competency Final Naming Survey Results.

April 3, 2020                  Open Forum: Naming Our Core Competencies

52 participants. April 3, 2020 Handout. April 3, 2020 Forum PowerPoint with Feedback Summary. 

March 2020                   Core Competency Naming Survey

226 responses, distributed to stakeholder groups and core competency forum participants. Core Competencies Naming Survey Results.

February 7, 2020           Open Forum: Dialing In the Core Competencies

62 participants. February 7, 2020 Program. February 7, 2020 PowerPoint.

January 2020                Accreditation Advisory Committee

The Accreditation Advisory Committee was established and held its first meeting.  The major tasks for the spring were to finalize the Core Competencies and the student achievement metrics.

December 2019            Status Update

The tri-chairs presented a status update to the Chancellor’s Cabinet and Academic Deans, as well as a written update to the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and USUAA student government.  The update includes the final list of 31 candidates for UAA’s Core Competencies.

Fall 2019                        Stakeholder Outreach

Over the fall semester, the tri-chairs engaged stakeholders from across the university to lay the foundation for selecting a set of core competencies.  They met with the following groups: Academic Assessment Committee, Administrative Services Senior Executive Team, Advancement Leadership, Alumni Association Board, General Education Advisory Committee, Graduate Academic Board, Staff Council, Student Affairs Leadership Team, Undergraduate Academic Board, and USUAA (student government). Members of these groups also responded to the Taking a Pulse Survey, which was distributed to participants of the October and November forums below.

November 15, 2019      Open Forum: Honoring Your Work and Building Forward

55 participants. November 15, 2019 Program. November 15, 2019 PowerPoint. Follow-up survey distributed to forum participants, 25 responses. Taking a Pulse on Where We Are Now Survey Results (November Forum Participants).

October 4, 2019            Annual Academic Assessment Seminar and Accreditation Kick Off

Broad engagement with the new cycle began with a kick off on October 4, 2019.  Over 100 faculty, staff and students joined Dr. Natasha Jankowski, Director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA) to explore what moving from Core Themes to Core Competencies means for an institution. 

106 participants. Kick-Off Program. Kick-Off Welcome PowerPoint. Kick-Off Keynote PowerPoint. Follow-up survey distributed to forum participants, 64 responses. Taking a Pulse on Where We Are Now Survey Results (Kick-Off Participants).

Summer 2019               Accreditation Metrics Team

An Accreditation Metrics Team drafted a set of student achievement metrics, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic class, first generation, part time, and transfer. The team also proposed leading indicators for improved retention, persistence, and graduation rates.

Preliminary Timeline

Year 1

 Year 2

 Year 3

 Year 4

 Year 5

 Year 6

 Year 7

 Year 1 (Fall 2025)

NWCCU Report and Documents

Roles and Responsibilities

• Chancellor
  • Set the agenda and direction and promote a culture that prioritizes student learning and student success
  • Facilitate high-level oversight by the Cabinet and ensure accreditation is an institutional priority
  • Connect accreditation to institutional planning and budget allocation
  • Inform and update the Board of Regents and UA Statewide System
  • Engage the broader internal and external communities
  • Approve all final reports and submissions
  • Communicate with NWCCU
  • Meet with site visit teams
• Chancellor’s Cabinet, Deans, Campus Directors
  • Implement the agenda and direction within their units
  • Ensure accreditation is a priority and promote a culture that prioritizes student learning and student success
  • Oversee assessment and improvement of the functions in their areas
  • Connect continuous improvement to student learning and success
  • Connect accreditation to planning and budget allocation
  • Promote alignment of accreditation, strategic planning, budget planning and other key planning processes
  • Engage faculty, staff and students in their units
  • Engage their communities, including advisory councils and boards
  • Contribute to and review reports and submissions
  • Meet with site visit teams
• Accreditation Advisory Committee
  • Design and facilitate the processes by which the institution engages in accreditation
  • Develop a communication plan
  • Provide guidance in the selection and presentation of data and in developing a long-term approach to ensuring these data are embedded in decision making processes
  • Serve in an advisory role for developing reports and preparing for site visits
  • Provide regular updates to the Chancellor, campus leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders
  • Meet with site visit teams
• Office of Academic Affairs
  • Coordinate the accreditation process and co-chair the Accreditation Advisory Committee
  • Communicate with the NWCCU throughout the process
  • Support the Accreditation Advisory Committee and the Tri-Chairs
  • Oversee and ensure compliance, including federal mandates
  • Coordinate reporting, including annual, mid-cycle, and comprehensive
  • Gather documentation to support the compliance Standards
• Office of Institutional Research
  • Provide data as needed
  • Design data visualization for mission fulfillment, institutional effectiveness, student learning, and student achievement data in consultation with the Accreditation Advisory Committee, Academic Affairs, and Cabinet
  • Assist in developing a structure of data presentation for mission fulfillment that will be consistent throughout the cycle
  • Build and maintain accreditation-related sections of the SharePoint site (Core Competencies, Student Achievement, Mission Fulfillment, Program Student Learning Outcomes Assessment, Program Review, Student Complaints)
  • Build the structure for the electronic evidence room
• Office of Institutional Effectiveness
  • Contribute to developing and writing reports, including annual updates to the campus and community
  • Format final report and appendices
• Campus Community (Faculty, Staff, Students, Administrators)
  • Apply student learning and student success insights into the learning experience
  • Use student learning and achievement data in continuous improvement, decision making, and resource allocation
  • Contribute to the institution’s approach to student learning and success
  • Participate in opportunities, including surveys and open forums, and provide input, information, and feedback
  • Review report drafts
  • Prepare for the campus visits
  • Participate in the campus visit sessions for faculty, staff, and students