Higher Learning Commission approves UALR’s Quality Initiative

Dan Shelton — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 19:10:21 +0000

UALR recently received approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to proceed with our proposed Quality Initiative project as part of the Open Pathway reaccreditation process.

The Open Pathway is one of three options to maintain accreditation with the HLC. This method focuses on quality assurance and institutional improvement and allows institutions to design a Quality Initiative that addresses current university needs and objectives while meeting standards reflected in HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation.

The initiative, “Facilitating Continuous Improvement: The Implementation of UALR’s Decision Support System (DSS),” will support the university’s efforts to facilitate a data-informed culture of continuous improvement.

“Decision makers at all levels will have access to data they can trust to aid in problem-solving, enrollment planning, student learning, retention, degree completion, and other activities essential to meeting the needs of our students and community,” said Dr. Zulma Toro, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost.

A Quality Initiative Task Force made of up faculty, administrators, and staff from various departments led the research and planning phases of the project beginning in the 2013-14 academic year.

The task force will oversee the implementation of the DSS including a data warehouse, assessment system, degree audit, and other tools to help identify problems, propose solutions, and conduct planning.

Following the recommendation of a faculty-led group, UALR will adopt Blackboard Outcomes as its assessment management system. The university-wide assessment tool is a key component of the DSS and the accreditation process.

“Intentional and ongoing assessment requires that educational outcomes be supported and informed by reliable data focused on student achievement,” Toro said.

Once implemented, the DSS will give university personnel the data and tools needed to assess student learning outcomes and make improvements to programming based on data that is “current, complete, and correct.”

UALR’s most recent accreditation review was conducted in 2009. More information about the accreditation process will be forthcoming.

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For more information, go to UALR’s Quality Initiative or.

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Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Criteria for Accreditation

Dan Shelton — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:27:44 +0000

The Criteria for Accreditation are the standards of quality by which the Commission determines whether an institution merits accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation.
The following is a quick overview of the five criteria for accreditation by the HLC. For more detailed information, .
Criterion 1. Mission
The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.
Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support
The institution provides high-quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
Criterion 4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.
Criterion 5. Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness
The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities. The institution plans for the future.
The University of Arkansas at ��Ƶlogo is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. UALR’s most recent accreditation review was conducted in 2009.

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Assessment - Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost - UA ������Ƶlogo

Higher Learning Commission approves UALR’s Quality Initiative

Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Criteria for Accreditation

Assessment - Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost - UA ��Ƶlogo