Accreditation representatives visit UIndy
By Marcus Whalbring
Entertainment Editor
Two representatives from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) visited the University of Indianapolis Oct. 24-26 to assess how well the school meets accreditation guidelines.
According to the HLC public Web site (ncahigherlearningcommission.org), the HLC is one of two independent corporations affiliated with the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) and one of six institutions that oversee the accreditation of schools and colleges in the United States.
Connie Wilson, nursing professor and AQIP (Academic Quality Improvement Program) campus coordinator, said that the two representatives were Bonnie Bondavali from the sociology department of Lewis University and Warren Robi from the linguistics department at John Brown University. Bondavali and Robi met with several people from the university, including the president, the provost, administrators, AQIP leaders and participants, faculty, staff and students.
According to Dr. Billy Catchings, chair of the Communication Department and chair of the AQIP committee and co-chair of AQIP sub-committee on student learning, the NCA used to assess the accreditation of UIndy every 10 years. He said that schools would try to “clean house” about two years before the NCA was scheduled to show up again.
“Everybody complained about the lack of integrity in the old process,” Catchings said. “People were just trying to hide things and make them look good.”
Catchings said that unlike the old system, the new system under HLC requires constant attention. The leaders and participants in AQIP have to create a portfolio that includes a history of what AQIP members refer to as “action projects.”
According to Wilson, an action project is any project that focuses on improving some aspect of the university. Wilson also said that an action project has guidelines. It must have objectives and written plans and must take anywhere from six months to three years to complete. The project also should show that progress has been made in that particular area of the school. Those in charge of an action project set their own goals for improvement.
Wilson oversees AQIP with Vice President for Research, Planning and International Partnerships Mary Moore, who acts as the AQIP administrator for UIndy. Wilson acts as the faculty member in charge of AQIP.
Catchings said that one aspect of the assessment that was odd came when the representatives met with UIndy students. He said during the meeting with the representatives, students mentioned that getting access to university administrators was perceived by them to be easier to acquire than it is for faculty members.
Catchings said that the comment was odd because traditionally access to university administrators was a lot easier for faculty members.
Typically, faculty members can speak to members of the university administration, such as the president, without going through other members of administration in order to request an audience.
“This administration seems to be more interested in making the system work than in personal relationships,” Catchings said.
According to Catchings and Wilson, the AQIP representatives had positive comments about UIndy after they finished their assessment.
“They said we look much better in person than we do on paper,” Catchings said. “Apparently, we didn’t represent ourselves [on paper] very well.”
Catchings also said that the representatives had mentioned that our relationship with the United Methodist Church didn’t seem that sturdy, even though the school and the church are affiliated.
However, Wilson said overall, the representatives had a positive view of UIndy after their visit.
“The representatives said, ‘If we had a college age student, and we were looking for a position somewhere, we would send our kids and look for a position here,’” she said.
