Evaluation and Accreditation of Multi-Unit Institutions |
One of the essential functions of regional accreditation is to provide informed and trustworthy insurance that individual institutions are capable of accomplishing their mission goals. Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accreditation applies to entire institutions or to separately accredited units, rather than to specific programs within institutions, including all their aspects and programs as they exist at the time when the accreditation is granted or reaffirmed. The coverage is designated in the Directory of Accredited and Preaccredited Institutions published annually by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. |
In order to assure more effective, orderly, and efficient evaluation of complex institutions—those which have two or more separate units organized around a central administrative or system office or an institution with geographically dispersed locations—it is necessary to follow procedures that conform to the nature and operation of these institutions. This policy applies to the evaluation of all multi-unit institutions, regardless of whether the units are separately accredited, and they apply to locations within the NWCCU region, other accrediting regions of the United States, and international sites that meet the definition for operationally separate units and where academic credit is granted. |
Operationally Separate Units. It is an institution’s prerogative and responsibility to define its mission and organizational structures. When an institution has operationally separate units, it may seek accreditation as a single entity or the separate accreditation of its units. When circumstances warrant, institutions also may petition the Commission to alter their current status: from separately accredited units to single institutional accreditation, or the reverse. Such a petition would be categorized as a major substantive change. |
| The governing board of the institution must authorize and request any such change. |
An operationally separate unit is considered to be a location of an institution that is geographically apart and independent of what is defined as the primary campus and/or central administration and (1) is permanent in nature; (2) offers at least 50% of the courses of an educational program leading to a degree, certificate, or other educational credential; (3) has its own faculty and administrative organization; and (4) has its own budgetary and hiring authority. |
When operationally separate units are centrally governed, administered, or served, the primary institutional central office will be reviewed, at the time the units are evaluated, to appraise its effectiveness in their support. |
New operationally separate units of member institutions prepare for accreditation under the Commission’s rules governing initial accreditation. An evaluation will be made after the new entity has operated its principal educational programs for six months to one year and has students actively pursuing these programs at the time of the Commission evaluation, unless earlier action is authorized by the Commission. Newly-founded units in multiple-campus systems and institutions not previously accredited which merge or affiliate with an accredited institution are not considered accredited if they are operationally separate as defined above. These institutions or units are expected to seek accreditation through the usual procedures relating to application for membership. Off-campus programs not classified as operationally separate by the Commission are included in the Commission’s evaluation of the parent institution, regardless of location. |
Separate accreditation implies separate membership in the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Each separately accredited unit will be identified in the Directory and will contribute to its support by payment of appropriate dues as stipulated in the Commission’s schedule of dues and fees. Consistent with that schedule, separate units may be assessed dues based on that unit’s operating budget even if the unit is not separately accredited, if its current funds, expenditures and transfers, or total expenses are not included in the parent institution’s report of institutional finances. |
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Evaluating Multi-Unit Institutions. Committees evaluating multi-unit systems can be of significant assistance to individual units if the visiting evaluation committee fully understands the context within which each unit operates, plans, develops, and strives fully to achieve its objectives. Whatever the degree of autonomy of each unit, recognition must be given to decision making at the central administrative office or system level. |
While every attempt should be made to understand the central or system administrative office operations or that of the primary campus, actual evaluation is focused on the units. Each unit must be viewed in its relationship to the total system, but its educational effectiveness can best be assessed by devoting attention to its particular endeavors. |
The following procedures apply to evaluating multi-unit institutions: |
| 1. |
Self-study reports should be prepared to reflect the relationship between the central office or primary campus and the units of the institution. The approach to be used in the self-study process need not be the same at each unit, unless a common self-study is agreed upon that would give adequate attention to the individual units. |
| 2. |
Descriptive and analytical information on the central/system office or primary campus will be included in or will accompany the unit self-study. |
| 3. |
Plans will be made to include a visit to the central office or primary campus. This may require additional time for the committee visit, a special visit prior to the individual unit evaluation, or a return at a later date, but in each case plans will be developed in collaboration with the institution, the committee chair, and other key persons. |
| 4. |
The plan for visits to units of a multi-unit system/organization will vary according to the nature and complexity of the organizational structure. In some cases, all units will be evaluated simultaneously. In others, units will be evaluated in sequence or in stages on a well defined schedule. In no case will a major unit of a system be excluded from the evaluation process. |
| 5. |
Evaluation committees will be assembled according to #4 above. There will be either separate evaluation committees assigned for each unit or a single evaluation committee of sufficient size to cover all units in the case of the parent institution being evaluated at the same time of its branch units. |
| 6. |
A committee chair will be designated for each unit, or a single chair will be appointed to coordinate the work of other persons designated to assist with the chairing responsibilities. |
| 7. |
In the case of preliminary visits to individual units by Commission staff, they need not be made concurrently but coordination through the central office or primary campus will be necessary. Preliminary visit(s) will involve central institutional administrators,chief unit administrators and, others to be designated by the institution’s CEO. |
| 8. |
All arrangements for these visits should be mutually agreed to in writing by the institution and the Commission. |
| 9. |
Consistent with the Commission’s schedule of dues and fees, an additional fee will be assessed for each site visited by the evaluation committee. |
