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UNK Welcomes NCA

North Central Self Study
Chapter 5: Criterion 3
 
Glen Powell, Bill Wozniak-Working-Group Co-Chairs, Trudy de Goede, Anita Kucera, David Palmer, Liz Peck, and Linda Van Ingen
 
The institution is accomplishing its education and other purposes.
Patterns of Evidence:
  1. The institution offers educational programs appropriate to an institution of higher learning.
    1. Courses of study in the academic programs are clearly defined, coherent, and intellectually rigorous.
      1. Review of various national and state accreditations of UNK depts.
      2. Overview of undergraduate academic programs
        1. Degree majors in academic departments
        2. General Studies-CD and WI
        3. Interdisciplinary programs
        4. Distance Education
          1. Distance Learning (NEB*SAT)
          2. Online courses
          3. Summer Synergy
    2. Undergraduate student research
      1. Support
        1. RSC
        2. Office of Sponsored Programs
        3. Faculty mentors/collaborators
        4. Lancy scholars
      2. Opportunities
        1. NCUR conferences
        2. Student Research Day
        3. Women's Studies Conferences
        4. Travel programs
      3. Calvin T. Ryan Library
        1. Changing Role (Information Literacy)
          1. New and expanded Services
          2. Current and future holdings
          3. Classes offered by librarians (esp. Eng 101 & 102)
        2. Interlibrary loans
  2. Assessment of appropriate student academic achievement
    1. Background/History of assessment of student learning
    2. Overview of current student outcomes assessment
      1. Establishment of Faculty Senate ad hoc committee
      2. Committee review of dept/programs' assessment mission statements, plans, reports
      3. Assessment strategies of various depts./progs
    3. Additional evidence
      1. Honor societies
      2. Phi Kappa Phi
      3. M.A. Thesis Competitions
      4. Off campus student presentations
      5. RMAC-all academic trophy for last 7 yrs
      6. Scholarships received by students, i.e., Truman, etc.
  3. Graduate programs that distinguish clearly from undergraduate offerings
    1. Overview of graduate programs
    2. Distinction between graduate and undergraduate offerings/programs
    3. Graduate assistants, mentoring, and student support
    4. Assessment of graduate programs
  4. Faculty have and exercise responsibility for determining the institution's award of academic credit
    1. Explain functions and roles of following committees:
      1. Academic Affairs
      2. General Studies Council
      3. College Ed Policy Committees
      4. Department level curriculum committees (grass roots change)
    2. Cite language of following documents:
      1. Faculty Senate Constitution
      2. College Constitutions
    3. Describe chain of command for curricular modification and note changes that have occurred
      1. Unapproved off-campus courses no longer offered
      2. Internship governance (sufficient oversight?)
      3. Independent study regulations
  5. Effective teaching that characterizes its courses and academic programs
    1. Review of teaching requirements for discipline-specific accreditations
    2. Overview of teaching evaluation processes in place
      1. Semester evaluations
      2. Annual peer review
      3. Annual chair review
      4. Promotion and tenure guidelines & requirements
      5. Post tenure review
    3. Awards (Recognition for Teaching)
      1. U-Wide Award
      2. Campus department award
      3. OTICA
      4. Pratt-Heins
      5. Mentoring awards
         Query: Any department have unique method of assessing teaching?
  6. Ongoing support for professional development for faculty, staff, and administrators
    1. Campus Wide
      1. RSC and Office of Sponsored Programs
      2. Travel funds
      3. Information Technology Services classes
      4. Center for Distance Education-training
      5. Summer Technology Grants Program
      6. Center for Teaching Excellence (WAC I and WAC II)
      7. Staff Senate and mentoring programs
    2. College/Department
      1. Special funds for research or designated chairs
      2. Mentoring for new faculty
  7. Student services that effectively support the institution's purposes
    1. Academic
      1. Admissions
      2. Student Records
      3. Summer Orientation (Summer Advising and Enrollment)
      4. First Year
      5. Academic Advising
      6. Student Support Services
      7. Learning Center
      8. Writing Center
      9. Testing Center
      10. IT Services-classes
      11. Computer Labs
      12. Academy for Success
      13. Honors Program
      14. Learning Communities
      15. English Language Institute
      16. Study Abroad
      17. National Student Exchange
      18. International Student Exchange
      19. Office of Multicultural Affairs
      20. Office of International Education
    2. Financial
      1. Financial Aid Office
      2. Scholarships
      3. Foundation
    3. Health
      1. Student Health Services
      2. Counseling Center
      3. Human Performance Lab
      4. Exercise programs
      5. Peer Educator Program
    4. Employment
      1. Student Employment Services
      2. Career Services
      3. Internship programs (Experiential learning)
    5. Social and Campus life
      1. Residential and Greek Life
      2. Pan-Hellenic Council
      3. Student Government
      4. Student Activities Council
      5. Campus Ministries
      6. Intramural sports
      7. Nebraskan Student Union
      8. Ombudsman
      9. Athletics
      10. Fine Arts Activities
  8. Staff and faculty service that contributes to the institution's effectiveness
    1. Employment
      1. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office
      2. UNKEA
      3. Ombudsman
    2. Health
      1. National Wellness Award (Gold or Silver?)
      2. Human Performance Lab
      3. Exercise programs
      4. Methodist Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
    3. Special Services
      1. Child care
      2. Dual Career Programs
      3. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Services
    4. Recognition
      1. Kudos
      2. Department of the month
      3. Employee of the month
      4. Pratt Heins
      5. Leland Holdt
      6. Profiles in Excellence
  9. Where appropriate, evidence of support for research, fine and creative arts, community service, and needs of sponsoring organizations and other special constituencies
    1. Community research, education, services
      1. Service learning
      2. Summer camps
      3. Speech clinic
      4. Translation services
      5. Mobile Environmental Lab
      6. Safety Center
      7. Partner schools
      8. Center for Rural Research and Development
      9. NE Business Development Center
      10. Center for Economic Education
      11. Global Sources Information Technology Program
      12. Business Internship Programs
      13. Cooperative Extension Environmental Education
      14. World Affairs Conference
      15. Planetarium and Observatory
    2. Fine and Creative Arts
      1. Fine Arts Recital Hall
      2. Miriam Drake Theater
      3. Walker Art Gallery
      4. MONA
      5. Concerts on the Platte
      6. KSCF-FM Radio Station
      7. UNK TV station
      8. Antelope Newspaper
    3. Services for special constituencies
      1. Elderhostel
        1. Gold Torch
        2. Alumni programs
    4. Community Attractions
      1. Frank House
      2. Spillway Park