“Embracing the Vision, Pursuing the Call”
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Self-study Plan and Process
The purpose of the MidAmerica Nazarene University institutional self study is to promote excellence through providing regular, systematic analysis of all the university’s departments and the programs/services which they offer. According to Dr. Ed Robinson, MNU President, “We are conducting the study for ourselves, in order to be and become the kind of learning community we seek.” The process was designed to provide a basis for assessing current issues/needs and making recommendations for future directions.
The following recognizable, significant goals were arrived at to help shape the design and the process of the self study and to create successful strategies for implementation. These goals were approved by the steering committee and administration and were communicated throughout the University.
- To evaluate our faithfulness to our stated Christian mission and vision.
- To re-avow MidAmerica’s commitment to its stakeholders including the church, students, parents, community, faculty, staff and administration.
- To evaluate our effectiveness in both academics and the academic support processes endemic to Christian higher education, and to demonstrate how MidAmerica Nazarene University satisfies the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation in a way that meets the Commission’s needs.
- Self study is not simply about “passing the test.” Its purpose is to seek consistent improvement under both the scrutiny of our internal eyes and the careful evaluation of outside evaluators.
- To discover ways in which and by which we can make our strong University even better and to integrate findings from the self study process into the strategic planning and budgeting processes of MidAmerica Nazarene University.
- To produce a Self Study Report that will form the basis upon which MidAmerica Nazarene University can apply for reaffirmation of accreditation.
MidAmerica Nazarene University formally kicked off its decadal self study process with The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association in April of 2006. In July, 2006, President Robinson appointed a steering committee comprised of three (3) self-study chairs and five (5) criteria team chairs to organize and conduct the study. Dr. Robinson unveiled the theme: “Embracing the Vision, Pursuing the Call.”
Early on in the process, the steering committee realized the need to create a self-study process that:
- “Fits the distinctive nature of MidAmerica Nazarene University as an institution of Christian higher education;
- Achieves stated goals that guide the design and the conduct of the process;
- Ensures effective evaluation of the whole organization;
- Promises to have an impact on the organization beyond the Commission visit;
- Engages multiple constituencies of the organization;
- Builds naturally on existing and ongoing self-evaluation processes;
- Has strong presidential and board support;
- Draws on the expertise and credibility of recognized leaders throughout the organization;
- Maintains regular and effective communication links with organizational constituencies;
- Produces evidence to show that the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation are met;
- Produces a self-study that meets the Commission’s needs; and
- Testifies to the organization’s commitment to peer review.” (NCA HLC, Handbook of Accreditation, 2003).
To begin the process of accomplishing the above objectives, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Frank Moore, on August 23rd, 2006, met with the steering committee appointed by President Robinson. The purpose of this meeting was to further establish timelines for the self-study process and to select committee members to comprise each of the five (5) criterion teams. On September 1st, 2006, the self-study chairs held a meeting to craft the self study design. It was reaffirmed that the design best suited to the culture of MidAmerica Nazarene University would be one centered on the Criteria for Accreditation. The self-study chairs drafted a document asking each office on campus for examples of evidence associated with the five criteria for accreditation. The following instructions were included in the document:
- Please meet together as an office/unit and answer each of the questions below in narrative form. You should be able to answer the majority of questions below. In a few instances, a particular question may not apply to your department.
- Remember: the outcomes assessment data that you are currently gathering will feed into this report, particularly in regard to Criterion Three.
- Provide substantiation for each answer in the appendices of your report. Organize your appendices by Criterion.
- Divide your report into five sections, one section and appendix for each of the five criteria and submit the sections to the following people…
The document was distributed to every office on September 6th, 2006, at the regularly scheduled Team MidAmerica strategic planning meeting. It was decided that Team MidAmerica would provide the best forum for communicating with the campus community regarding the self study process. The co-chairs asked President Robinson for, and he agreed to provide, a time slot on all Team MNU meeting agendas for the next two years. It was decided that. It should be noted that Academic Council, Graduate Council, Faculty Assembly, Dean’s Cabinet, President’s cabinet and the Monday Reports will serve as secondary venues for the dissemination of information.
On October 4th, 2006, the self-study chairs met to draft a document providing guidance to the five (5) criteria teams about their role and duties related to the self-study process. On October 11th, 2006 criteria teams were given the following guidance:
- Read the Self Study reports of several different Universities. In particular, pay attention to those chapters that pertain to your assigned Criterion.
- Read each report submitted to you and the appendices.
- For each question:
§ Identify and describe up to ten best practices or most universal substantiation that MNU is fulfilling each “example of evidence”/question. Write about your findings in the body of your report.
§ Place copies* of these best or universal practices (up to 10) in a manila folder and label the outside of the folder with the HLC question (one of the 125) that the evidence pertains to. Organize your manila folders (you should end up with 20-30) in hanging folders (you should end up with 4-5) and label the outside of the hanging folder with the name of the core component the manila folders pertain to.
* Note: This evidence will come primarily from the appendices submitted to your committee from the offices across campus
§ Deliver the hanging folders to Pat Walsh for inclusion in the resource room. Please also send all of the original reports and appendices from each office that your committee receives to Pat in separate box.
- When the committee is unable to find compelling evidence that the University meets a particular requirement:
§ You may wish to go back to one or more offices and ask for additional verification, or
§ You may decide to note in your report that this is an area where improvement needs to take place at MidAmerica Nazarene University.
- By July 2007 write a first draft report to the steering committee. Structure your report around the Criteria for Accreditation. In other words use the general criterion statement, the core components and questions as report headings. For each question provide as much analysis as necessary to demonstrate that MNU either meets or does not meet the criterion. The Higher Learning Commission team expects:
§ “Production of substantive evidence that is cogent and evaluative. (i.e. one which connects and interprets data and makes judgments about fulfillment of the Core Components.)
§ Use of information and data to create evidence to support the organization’s self-evaluation.
§ Thoughtful analysis of evidence,
§ Easily identified and succinctly stated institutional priorities for improvement, and
§ Honest evaluation, not public relations, characterizes the tone and content of the report.” (NCA HLC, Handbook of Accreditation, 2003).
On October 11th, 2006 the steering committee formally adopted the timeline, structure and procedures for conducting the self-study.
Higher Learning Commission
Self-study Timeline
MidAmerica Nazarene University
April 2006 Start the clock on this timeline in Faculty Assembly.
May 2006 All vice presidential areas, including all academic programs and divisions, make a final check of outcomes assessment systems to assure that they are ready for data collection and analysis for the self-study.
July 2006 President appoints the self-study chairs and Steering Committee.
August 2006 Self-study chairs call a meeting and outline the self-study process and finalize the self-study timeline.
September 2006 The Steering Committee members select teams responsible for the five HLC criteria.
Request for Information document designed around the HLC five criteria for accreditation is distributed to every office on campus.
Team MNU, Academic Council, Graduate Council, Faculty Assembly and the Monday report are designated as avenues of communication.
The entire institution begins gathering information to address the Higher Learning Commission criteria.
October 2006 The Steering Committee meets to review “Guidance for Criteria Teams” document and to work on the “Self-study plan and process”.
December 2006 The Steering Committee submits the self-study plan and process to the Higher Learning Commission liaison for review.
February 2007 Steering committee meeting.
The Steering Committee notifies the Higher Learning Commission of its preferred dates for the visit and any proposed changes in its Statement of Affiliation Status.
The Criteria Teams continue to gather data, analysis, and materials for draft reports for submission to the Steering Committee.
April 2007 Steering committee meeting.
Key campus and self-study leaders attend the Higher Learning Commission annual meeting in Chicago.
June 2007 Steering committee meeting.
July 2007 The Criteria Teams present the first drafts of the report to the Co-chairs of the Self-Study.
November 2007 The Co-chairs of the Self-Study returns first drafts of report with comments to the Criteria Teams.
January 2008 The Criteria Teams develop second draft of self-study reports.
A team from MNU travels to Chicago to consult with Dr. Robert Appleson.
Steering committee meeting.
February 2008 The Criteria Teams submit second draft of report to Co-Chairs of the Self-Study.
The Steering Committee sends the Higher Learning Commission information suggesting team competencies for the site visit.
March 2008 A committee of community stakeholders read the self-study after the first full draft and offer input for revisions.
April 2008 The Steering Committee certifies all information in the self-study, completes the self-study, and prepares a final draft of the report.
Key campus and self-study leaders attend the Higher Learning Commission annual meeting in Chicago.
June 2008 The Steering Committee prepares list of all information needed for the Resource Room and begins collecting it. Decisions made as to what items are in hard copy and what items are in electronic copy.
The Steering Committee circulates and receives input to the draft report from all applicable constituencies.
President sends comments on the proposed team members to the Higher Learning Commission.
August 2008 The Steering Committee completes editing of the self-study report.
September 2008 An off-campus consultant referred by the HLC reviews the campus preparation and all materials for last minute additions or corrections.
The campus prepares for team visit in the following venues: HLC Steering Committee, Team MNU, Town Hall, Faculty Assembly, Academic Council, Graduate and Adult Council, Dean’s Cabinet, Board of Trustees meetings and President’s Cabinet.
The campus also prepares by reading an online version of the report, making editorial suggestions and participating in a wiki discussion.
The Steering Committee works with the webmaster to set up the web-site for the HLC team.
Steering Committee meeting.
October 2008 Consultant, Dr. Edgar Rasch, works with the HLC Steering Committee to offer improvements to the Self-Study Report.
Steering Committee meeting.
November 2008 Board of Trustee meetings focus on preparation for the site visit.
Board of Trustees participates in a wiki discussion to prepare for the visit.
Steering Committee meeting.
December 2008 Notice and opportunity for 3rd party comment place in the Olathe Daily News, The Accent , the MNU website and The Trailblazer Times.
Steering Committee meeting.
January 2009 The self-study report is printed with as many copies as needed for the campus, the HLC Chicago office, and site visit team members.
Meetings are conducted with European Nazarene College to prepare their campus for the comprehensive visit.
A complete set of evaluation materials is mailed to each member of the HLC team and the HLC staff liaison.
Steering Committee meeting.
February 2009 Make final preparations for the HLC team visit.
The Steering Committee assures that the physical and virtual resource rooms are ready.
Student awareness campaign is completed.
The Steering Committee members and vice presidents meet with all campus personnel and select students to discussion possible questions and answers during HLC team member visits.
Steering Committee meetings.
March 2-4, 2009 Host the HLC team
