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Operational Policy A – 8 |
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Principles and Practices Regarding
Institutional Mission and
Goals, Policies and Administration
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It is the policy of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities to require adherence to the following principles. The Commission recommends the accompanying practices to all institutions within its jurisdiction: |
| a. |
Institutional Mission and Goals
Principle: An institution’s current operation should reflect its statement of mission and goals with reasonable accuracy and should be supported by appropriate faculty and staff, programs, facilities, and finances.
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Recommended Practices:
| 1) |
Document the adequacy of faculty for programs offered and monitor competency through explicit evaluation of faculty performance. |
| 2) |
Encourage and assist all members of the faculty in continuous professional growth, including provision to terminate the services of faculty members who have become ineffective. |
| 3) |
Implement faculty security through ethical appointment, advancement, and termination procedures. |
| 4) |
Provide salaries and benefits which enable faculty to live with dignity and which are reasonably competitive with similar institutions. |
| 5) |
Encourage research and scholarly/creative activity by faculty as appropriate to institutional
goals. |
| 6) |
Employ sufficient personnel to keep academic and support programs functioning efficiently. |
| 7) |
Maintain regular and open channels of communication within the entire institutional community. |
| 8) |
Develop a curriculum which is responsive to institutional purposes, faculty qualifications, and student needs. |
| 9) |
Plan curricular changes on the basis of known resources, agreed-upon goals, and the strength of existing programs. |
| 10) |
Own, or have at its disposal, physical facilities adequate to support institutional purposes. |
| 11) |
Plan for reasonable maintenance and ultimate replacement of buildings and equipment currently in use. |
| 12) |
Prepare realistic operating budgets, develop feasible funding patterns, and demonstrate fiscal responsibility in utilizing resources. |
| 13) |
Have verified information available to give a complete picture of the institution’s financial position. |
| 14) |
Provide and publicize an appropriate student financial aid program. |
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| b. |
Institutional Policies
Principle: The policies of each institution should conform to its mission and goals, be clearly stated, easily available, and consistently made evident in operation.
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Recommended Practices:
| 1) |
Publish a current catalog to give detailed information concerning admissions, curriculum, academic regulations, student costs, and services. |
| 2) |
Maintain and publish a reasonable tuition refund policy. |
| 3) |
Maintain records to document student achievement and institutional practice. |
| 4) |
Publish clearly stated rules regarding conduct on campus. |
| 5) |
Maintain an up-to-date, published compendium of policies and institutional practices which
guide institutional operations. |
| 6) |
Foster freedom of expression while protecting the rights of all members of the institutional community. |
| 7) |
Provide explicit and fair procedures for hearing grievances and appealing administrative decisions. |
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| c. |
Institutional Administration
Principle: An institution should be governed and administered humanely, responding to the educational needs and legitimate claims of the constituencies it serves, as determined by its chartered purposes and accredited status.
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Recommended Practices:
| 1) |
Take action to see that there is no discrimination in the campus community based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, or age. |
| 2) |
Publish candidly any reasonable limitations on freedom of inquiry or expression which are dictated by institutional mission and goals. |
| 3) |
See that the resources of the institution are focused exclusively toward fulfilling its stated function. |
| 4) |
Have a capable governing board which recognizes its responsibility to the public as well as its duty to protect the institution from undue outside pressures. |
| 5) |
Keep the policy-making function of the governing board clearly apart from the executive responsibilities of institutional administrators. |
| 6) |
Prohibit members of its governing boards, faculty, or staff from having any financial or other
interests which conflict with the proper discharge of their duties. |
| 7) |
Prepare information which the governing board will need to provide overall direction, and make this information available through appropriate channels. |
| 8) |
Provide capable counselors who are easily accessible to students and who make available psychological and educational tests appropriate to the institution. |
| 9) |
Provide for student health services and reasonably adequate housing and food services appropriate to the size, location, and nature of the institution. |
| 10) |
Make assistance available to students and alumni in securing appropriate employment. |
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