SACS REAFFIRMATION OF ACCREDITATION

STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

 

February 7, 2002

 

Attendance:         Michael Hummel  (p)                   Mary Hall  (p)

                             Keith Blundell  (p)                Mark Henry  (p)

                             Peggy Brockenbush (p)        Jerry Scheerer  (p)

                             Jackie Robinson  (p)                    Joe Sekul  (p)

                             Marty Domke  (p)                Fred Spaulding  (p)

                             Larry Garrett  (p)                        Marjorie Stewart  (p)

                             Gary Hall (p)                               Mark Zafereo  (p)

                                   

Call To Order: Hummel called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. 

 

Minutes: No corrections were made to the Minutes of January 10, 2002. 

 

Section IV.1; IV.2.2-2.5; IV.6:  Robinson reported her team members are working on their reports.  Some have already submitted partial drafts.  Reports are due to her by March 1st.  There have been no reports from the team members that they will be unable to meet her March 1st deadline.  She stated she had no other recommendations to make at this time. 

 

Section I:  Sekul reported that of nine reports, five are in good shape.  Three will require substantial work.  One, David Green's, will require waiting until other reports are complete.     

 

Section II:  Brockenbush reported all responses to must and should statements are nearing completion, except for II.G.  Committee members will draft a tentative response that can be changed if necessary by reports from other committees.  Meeting the March 15th deadline should not be a problem.  She stated hopefully that within the next week the report will be ready for the editors. 

 

Section III:  Domke stated the writing is on schedule and  no further recommendations are likely.  She will let Hummel know if anything changes.  Domke stated that Kathie Aduddell is taking LeAnn Wagner's position on Section 3.1. 

 

Section IV.2.1; IV.4; IV.7-9:  Stewart reported that all but two reports are in rough draft form.  There should be no problem meeting a March 15 date.  As sections are completed, she will notify the editors.  Stewart stated that she and Robinson will need to write a narrative for the first part of Section IV (general), but they cannot write it until other reports are complete.

 

Section IV.5:  Spaulding stated all of his committee members have reported in for the February 1st deadline.  None of the sections is completely finished but all are making progress.  There is a second deadline of February 15th which should complete several sections.  He is beginning  a cycle of critical reading to search for missing information and documentation.  He has six tentative "areas of concern" which may rise to the level of recommendations.  Following are the Recommendations to date for sections 4.5 Distance Education.

 

1.  Recommendation:  Establish formal Goals for distance education at the College that address its specific issues, in terms of Curriculum and Instruction, Evaluation and Assessment, Library and Learning Resources, Students Services, and Facilities and Finances.  These goals must clearly support the mission of the College.

2.  Recommendation:  The College needs to conduct a comprehensive study of the educational effectiveness of online course delivery to determine whether student satisfaction, learning outcomes, and retention are comparable to campus-based instruction.

3.  Recommendation:  Though most instructors already require students to take objective exams in a supervised setting, the College would benefit from a policy that requires online students to take all objective exams and quizzes in a supervised environment.  Such a policy would assure greater security thereby enhancing the credibility of degrees and credits offered.  When supervision is impossible, faculty should be required to administer subjective assignments and exams.

4.  Recommendation:  The College needs to formulate a five or ten year plan for distance education that includes goals for each department that set standards for quality as well as objectives for offering new programs to satisfy the needs of the students.

5.  Recommendation:  The College needs to include provisions in the five-year plan to account for the expiration of the Title III grant that includes transfer of programs administered under Title III to the Distance Education Department.

6.  Recommendation:  It is recommended that Technology Services compile an annual list of resources dedicated specifically toward distance learning.

 

Section V.1:  Blundell reported his committee met twice in January.  A workshop approach was used and each section was reviewed in detail.  He stated each member made suggestions and they attempted to synchronize the references and phrases.  Each team writer was to make the appropriate changes and email their sections to him.  Lamar Garrett resigned from his section.  Blundell asked Becky Payne to take his place and she is currently rewriting this section.  He expects this section to be finished by March 15th.

 

Additional possible Recommendation:  The Library needs to complete revision of the Collection and Development Policy.  They are working on it.

 

Section V.2-5.:  Garrett reported Section 5.2 is on the template and complete.  Section 5.3 is complete and soon to be posted.  Section 5.4 is essentially complete but awaiting some revisions.  Garrett stated there are no new recommendations.  Some previous ones may become irrelevant when new information technology policies are approved.  Those sections will be rewritten at that time.    

 

Section VI:  Henry reported he has reports from all sections, although some are not totally complete.  Section 6.3, Financial Resources, is the most incomplete at this time.  John Blackburn is no longer a co-leader.  Jennifer Yancey is the only leader of this section.  Henry and this committee have met.  The committee is working to complete the section by February 28.  Henry has full faith they will.  Section 6.5, Externally Funded Grants and Contracts, is being rewritten and has been promised soon.  Henry stated he has done very little "pre-editing," but this should begin next week, and he anticipates having it completed by March 15.

 

Editing:  Gary and Mary Hall reported they have received portions of Section V from Larry Garrett and have begun editing.

 

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 2:41 p.m.