Victoria College Reaffirmation for Accreditation

Self-Study

Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

August 16, 2001

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

                                    Keith Blundell   (p)                                Mark Henry(p)

                                    Peggy Brockenbush (p)                        Jerry Scheerer(p)

                                    Jackie Cole(p)                                      Joe Sekul(p)

                                    Marty Domke   (p)                                Fred Spaulding(p)

                                    Larry Garrett(p)                                    Marjorie Stewart(p)

                                    Gary Hall (a)                                        Mark Zafereo(p)

                                                             

Call To Order: Hummel called the meeting to order at 8:25 a.m.

 

Minutes: Minutes from the May 3rd meeting will be submitted at a later date.

 

Comments From The Chair: Hummel stated that there were several reasons for having this meeting, but the main reason was to get a kick-start before registration and busy schedules prevented members from giving their full attention to this matter. He said the time has come to really start working. Members need to meet with their committees next week and thereafter regularly. Hummel said he plans to keep the pressure on so that everyone stays on track. Hummel reminded committee members to use discretion when accessing documents or information of a sensitive nature.

 

Subcommittee Structure: Hummel distributed a list containing the names of recently retired/resigned personnel and newly hired personnel. He asked members to check their subcommittee lists to see whom they may have lost due to retirement/resignation and to choose replacements for them. Several members made changes to their subcommittee’s structure. Hummel instructed members to send revised membership lists to Mann.

Brockenbush noted that there were a few people with title changes since April and that their titles need to be changed on the structure list. She also asked about contacting faculty regarding their subcommittee assignments. Hummel said to contact all committee members, because Dr. Goodson would be making comments in Monday’s meeting regarding their responsibility in the self-study process.

 

Set Sites For Subcommittee Meetings: Chairs announced the locations of committee meetings set for August 21st.

 

Subcommittee Chair Reports: The Chairs discussed their committees’ timelines, the documents or sources they intended to use, individuals they wanted to interview, and the issues on which their committees would be collaborating with other committees.

 

Discussion Of Self-Study Website: Hummel stated that the Self-Study Website was well ahead of schedule thanks to Scheerer’s hard work. Members then discussed information to include on the website and who should have access privileges. Spaulding suggested using a separate site based on SACS Criteria Manual and Scheerer agreed to set it up, provided someone else would update and maintain the site. Scheerer said he would work with Daniel Robinson to set up a shared network domain. 

Next, Hummel asked members to consider whether to write the narrative with documentation in the text as suggested in # 7 of the Editorial Guidelines, or place the documentation at the end of the narrative. Consensus was to exclude strategy statements and to place the documentation and summary of recommendations at the end of each subsection.

 

Consider How To Involve Students In The Self-Study: Hummel asked members to consider whether the Steering Committee should continue to have a student representative participate as an ex-officio member of the committee. Garrett suggested choosing a student active in the Student Government, while Cole’s suggestion was to use an older, non-traditional student who would be at Victoria College for the duration of the study. Members then suggested involving students through student surveys, focus groups comprised of traditional students, non-traditional students and Distance Ed students, and interviews. Committee members felt student membership on subcommittees was not necessary or even advisable.

 

What Else Is Needed In Self-Study Library: Suggestions included: 1991 Victoria College Self-Study, good examples of other self-study’s from two-year institutions, SACS Criteria Manual and other SACS publications, Victoria College Board of Trustee Minutes, and financial audits

 

Other Stuff: Monthly meetings for the Steering Committee will be held on Thursday afternoons at 1:30. Hummel will send out notices and agendas. Blundell asked if problems that were corrected prior to writing the study would need to be mentioned in the study. Hummel said it should be taken on a case-by-case basis. Some must statements will be viewed in the context of the past several years, but most information will focus on the 2000-2001 year.

 

Meet On Monday, August 20: Members decided they did not need to meet on Monday, August 20th.

 

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.