|
ASPA News - January 2003 Issue Theme: "Good Accreditation Practice: Consistency Without Hobgoblins"
Chair's Comments
As I prepare my comments for this issue of ASPA News, we are in the final days of 2002, a year of both challenges and significant accomplishments for ASPA. At the same time we are about to take on the challenges of a new year. The year 2003 will mark the 10th anniversary of ASPA’s birth and will bring with it its own opportunities for accomplishments as well as for celebration. Closing out 2002, it was with unusual pleasure that I attended the December meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). These meetings are generally very informative. However, two and a half to three continuous days of learned dialog between NACIQI members, Department of Education analysts and accrediting agency staff and volunteers may be daunting to some. The meetings are enhanced at times with invited presentations and I believe this meeting was so enhanced by ASPA’s Executive Director who, as we know, regularly attends and carefully reports on the meetings as a service to ASPA members. At the December meeting Cynthia Davenport was invited to present an overall history of ASPA, to describe its purposes, and to delineate some of the issues which it is addressing. She discussed the seminal importance of the ASPA-member Code of Good Practice to the development of the organization. She also expanded on ASPA’s unique role in providing a forum for accreditors to define common values and work together to enhance the quality of education and accreditation. Cynthia also delivered a general invitation to the committee and to USDE staff to participate in the spring 2003 ASPA meeting in Alexandria, VA. She noted that the professional development session will focus on the issue of consistency and how accrediting agencies assure that by means of their policies and procedures. She noted that both Dr. Robert C. Andringa (NACIQI Chair) and Dr. John Barth (Chief, Accrediting Agency Evaluation for USDE) had attended the fall 2002 ASPA meeting and hoped they would be able to join us in Alexandria. When asked what recommendations for improvements to NACIQI practices ASPA members might have, Cynthia responded that the topic of the spring meeting was one influencing all who engaged in processes of evaluation. The committee invited ASPA to draft thoughts on issues of particular importance to specialized accreditation that might arise during the reauthorization hearings and to share them with the committee early in the new year. The ASPA presentation was followed by comments from Sandra Elman who represented the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions and by Roger Williams representing the Council of Recognized National Accrediting Agencies. It was very clear from the ensuing discussions that ASPA is a significant and respected component in this arena and there was discussion about and general approval of the apparent increased cooperation between the regionals and ASPA. It seemed to me that there was also increased interest on the part of the committee to understand the backgrounds of accrediting agency staff and volunteers. At this meeting they were all asked to provide for the committee a brief statement of their educational and experiential backgrounds. It soon became very obvious that there was significant expertise at the tables and that accreditation staff and volunteers provide a wealth of leadership in the diverse fields. I came away from this meeting with great pride in being part of ASPA and with the certainty that ASPA has continued to grow in stature and in development of new alliances. There is much broader recognition within the higher education community about what ASPA is all about than there was even a few short years ago. Our Executive Director, in her dedicated and professional way, has contributed greatly to this. Once again at the NACIQI meeting she served us well. As we go into 2003 with increased expectations for ASPA’s expanded role within the accreditation community, we are finalizing plans for the spring meeting in Alexandria. We hope this meeting will not only be useful to ASPA members but will also be of interest to the Department of Education staff. In addition, plans are underway for our very special fall birthday celebration in Scottsdale and that meeting promises to be an exciting one. Do be sure that your calendars are marked for both of these events. As always, your input to planning committees and the Board is invited, appreciated and necessary to ASPA’s success. Best wishes for 2003! May you have a peaceful and joyful year.
ASPA Motto and Mission "Enhancing quality in higher education through specialized and professional accreditation.” ASPA's new motto, reviewed by the members and adopted by the Board at the Fall 2002 meeting, is now in use. It is included in the "signature block" for all ASPA e-mail and has been incorporated into the re-designed web site: www.aspa-usa.org. The Board revised a draft ASPA mission statement based on member feedback and circulated it to the members for review and comment in early November. If you have not seen the statement or have additional comments on the second draft, please contact the ASPA office during January 2003. The Board anticipates adopting the revised mission statement during the Spring 2003 business meeting on Monday, March 31.
Fall 2002 ASPA Meeting - Other Highlights The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland was the site of ASPA's Fall 2002 meeting, held Sunday - Tuesday, September 8-10. The meeting theme was "Good Accreditation Practice: Issues of Autonomy." In addition to those mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter, the following topics or activities were included.
Fall 2002 Keynote Speech: Autonomy and Integrity Steven D. Crow, Executive Director, Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of North Central Association, was ASPA's keynote speaker at the Fall 2002 ASPA meeting on Monday, September 9. His thought-provoking speech, "Autonomy and Integrity in the Era of Collaboration and Cooperation," bacame a point of reference during the rest of the meeting. Crow said that the HLC had recently concluded a year-long, highly participative project with the terse statement that our business would be "serving the common good by assuring and advancing the quality of higher learning." "Serving the common good" is distinctly different from "serving our membership" or "serving higher education" or even "serving students." He went on to offer some thoughts about the most repeated question he was hearing from colleges and universities, i.e., "who defines ‘the common good’?" and the role of accrediting bodies both in relation to autonomy and integrity. Crow concluded his speech by listing some important ways in which he believes accreditors can operate with integrity. To read the full text of Dr. Crow's speech, go to the RESOURCES section of the ASPA web site: (Crow's Speech)
Looking Toward Spring Enclosed with this mailing you will find registration forms for the ASPA Spring 2003 meeting which will be held at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, Alexandria, VA from Sunday - Tuesday, March 30 - April 1. ASPA rotates the spring meeting between the DC area and Chicago to make it easier for more local accreditors to attend the professional development session, if not the full meeting. Here are some reasons to register early for the spring meeting:
Ensuring Consistency in the Accreditation Process
ASPA Serves Members There would be little reason for ASPA to exist if it did not provide a service to its members. During 2002, ASPA was proactive in supporting the principle of confidentiality of accreditation records, closely monitored a number of legal issues and represented members in other ways.
ASPA Membership Applications Due February 15 The ASPA Member Code of Good Practice is the cornerstone of membership in ASPA. The Member Code was adopted early in ASPA's history and continues to serve members well. The seven sections of the Code address the concepts of 1) trustworthiness, 2) effective service, 3) respect for institutional autonomy, 4) wise decision making, 5) focusing on competence, 6) professional integrity, and 7) expertise and experience of visiting teams, commissions and staff. If your accrediting body can show how these principles are reflected it its activities and meets the required definitions of specialized and professional, the ASPA Board of Directors encourages you to submit an application for membership in ASPA. The Code, definitions, and information about the application process are posted in the MEMBERSHIP INFO section of the ASPA web site: (Membership). Applications to be reviewed at the Spring meeting are due by February 15, 2003. Applications to be reviewed at the Fall meeting are due by August 15, 2003. Contact the ASPA Office by calling 773/ 525-2160 if you have questions about eligibility or the application process.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: Local Attractions Information compiled by: Barbara Brown Robinson and Dort Bigg Alexandria, Virginia - the site of ASPA’s Spring 2003 meeting - is a unique and historic place that keeps pace with the modern world. The City is part of a large metropolitan area surrounding the nation's Capital, yet it has retained its period character. With more than 250 years of history and hospitality to its credit, Alexandria offers an array of historic and cultural attractions. Alexandria's many historic homes, churches, businesses and museums allow residents and visitors to experience first hand the past that makes this city the charming and historic town it is today. About one-quarter of the town's 15 square miles are designated as a national or local historic district. Restored homes and shops throughout the City are still actively used by citizens for homes, businesses and museums, bringing to life the Colonial charm of 18th and 19th century America. History buffs can explore Alexandria's colonial heritage at Carlyle House, The Lyceum, and Christ Church and dig deep into Alexandria's history at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. One can take a step back in time to see how the Colonials lived with a visit to Mount Vernon Estate, Woodlawn, and The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop Museum, a pharmacy owned by the same family for 141 years. Early customers included George and Martha Washington, George Mason, Daniel Webster and Robert E. Lee. The strength and spirit of America's first president is represented at The Masonic Memorial, Mount Vernon Mansion and at The Old Presbyterian Meeting House, site of memorial services for George Washington. The heritage of Virginia's first family, the Lees, is represented at The Boyhood Home of Robert E. Lee at 607 Oronoco Street (now a private home), and the Lee Fendall House, noted for Lighthorse Harry Lee, revolutionary war hero. Following the meeting events, those who attend the ASPA meeting can stroll the preserved cobblestone streets and enjoy the historic waterfront that is only minutes away from Washington's historic monuments. Or plan to enjoy the unique specialty shops or browse the many antique shops and galleries. The Thieves Market on Richmond Highway is the nation's oldest antique mall and the Torpedo Factory presents the opportunity to watch 160 artists at work and shop for a treasure to take home. If you are spending additional time in the area, you could rent a bike and ride the Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac to Mount Vernon just 9 miles to the south. Or you might want to "Bike the Sites" in Downtown D.C., kayak along the shores explored first by Captain John Smith with Atlantic Kayak Company or set sail along the Potomac on tour boats departing from The City Marina. Restaurants throughout historic Old Town Alexandria make it possible to dine in one of a dozen seafood restaurants with a view of the water or select your choice of cuisine, including Thai, Moroccan, Mexican, Vietnamese, Mexican, French, Italian and Fusion, from some 200 excellent establishments. The multi-faceted charm of this city, which The Lady’s Home Journal has ranked as Number One among the "Top Ten Best Cities for Women in the United States, should help to make ASPA's Spring 2003 meeting a memorable event.
History In The Making History will be made when ASPA celebrates its tenth birthday during the fall meeting to be held September 7-9, 2003 at the 5-star Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort in Scottsdale, AZ. Arizona is where the idea for ASPA was born in 1993 at a meeting of specialized and professional accreditors following the dissolution of the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA). This resort will be a great location for ASPA’s 10th Birthday Party. The fall meeting will be a time to honor all of ASPA’s members, some of the individuals who were there at the very beginning of the organization and the many others who have contributed to ASPA’s growth and development. We need your help to create an ASPA Memory Book to commemorate the first decade of progress. The book will be on view at the fall 2003 meeting prior to being archived for historical reference. We believe that everyone who has been associated with ASPA has a worthwhile experience to contribute to the book. Please take a moment to sift through your files and/or your memory to find an item for the Memory Book. You might have a document to send, or you might prefer to write a short anecdote or describe an amusing incident. Photographs will also be very much appreciated. Plan now to share your memories by sending your contribution(s) as soon as possible to Betty Horton, immediate past Chair of the ASPA Board of Directors. The following guidelines are suggested:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||