This document provides guidance on conducting a successful self-study for accreditation. It recommends that the core team be creative, have strong writing and attention to detail skills, and work well under pressure and in teams. Support from campus presidents, faculty, deans, and administration is important. The self-study process involves drafting a narrative and collecting documentation in various areas like faculty information, courses, and assessments. Clear labeling, consistent application of standards, and visual representations should be used. Thorough documentation is key. Timelines should allow more time than anticipated. The completed self-study should answer all parts of the standards clearly and have support for its conclusions. Being prepared for the on-site visit is also advised.

1. What You Need for a Successful
Self‐Study
Dr. Jeanne Bedell
Dr. Diann Ferrell
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

2. Introduction
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

3. Core Team Characteristics
• Creative
• Writing skills
• Attention to detail
• Dedicated
• Work well in teams
• Work well under pressure
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

4. Support Team
• Campus Presidents
• Faculty
• Deans
• Office of the Chancellor
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

5. Project Management
• Manager with prior accreditation experience if possible
• Work with your mentor
• Strong commitment from management, faculty, and staff
• Effective communications skills
• Good meeting minutes
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

6. The Process-Narrative
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016
Preliminary
Draft
Revisions
Final
Submission

7. The Process-Documentation
Review
and
storage
on Portal
Faculty
Information
Course
Information
Assessment
Information
Other
Information-
catalog,
policies, etc.
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

8. The Process
Final
Document
Narrative
Review
Documentation
Review
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

9. Relevant Information
• Answer the question(s) asked, many have multiple parts
• Avoid the “fluff”
• Review the documentation to the narrative to make sure it
supports your case
• Engage cross-functional readers (does it make sense to someone
outside of that area/unit)
• Reuse documentation when appropriate
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

10. Documentation
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016
Documentation is key
• You may have to sort
through paper reports
and faculty files or
contact faculty to
obtain the needed
information

11. Sample (tie to
mission)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

12. Sample (tie to
mission)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016
Criterion 4.1. The business unit shall have a learning outcomes assessment program.

13. Sample (tie to
mission)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016
Criterion 4.1. The business unit shall have a learning outcomes assessment
program.

14. Sample (clear
labels)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

15. Sample (clear
labels)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016
Figure 4.1

16. Sample (clear
labels)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

17. Sample (consistent
application)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

18. Sample (consistent
application)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

19. Sample (visual
representation)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

20. Sample (visual
representation)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

21. What we learned from the process
Challenges
• Time is always shorter than
you think and something
always happens
• Online template has
limitations
• Reviewing and collecting data
is very time consuming and
needs to be reviewed for
quality
Solution
• If you imagine it will take 1
month, plan for 3 months… If
you think you will need a team
of 3, plan for 6…
• Included more exhibits rather
than tables
• All data was submitted to one
person to review and store for
quality control
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

22. How can this be adapted?
• Look at your team
• Who is included and what skills do they possess?
• Look at your process
• How is your documentation and narrative controlled, stored, and reviewed?
• Look at your document
• Did you answer all parts of the standard and is it clear to someone outside
of your organization?
• Do you have clear support for what you say?
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

23. On-site visit
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016
• Have everything scheduled out
• Have people ready to meet
with the team
• Keep a professional look to the
room
• Computers/printer
• Paper documents as requested
• Supplies

24. Conclusion
• The team
• Ensure only relevant information
• Management of the process
• How can this process be adapted?
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016

25. Questions
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2016
Dr. Jeanne Bedell—Keiser University
jeanneb@keiseruniversity.edu
Dr. Diann Ferrell—Keiser University
dferrell@keiseruniversity.edu