Institutional Accreditation
Reaffirmation of Accreditation Open Forums:
Year of Self Reflection: Where We Are and Where We Want to Be
Spring 2025 Reaffirmation of Accreditation Forum Invitation
Thursday, May 8, 2025 Accreditation/Assessment Retreat, 9:00-12:00, LIB 307 and Zoom | Register for May Retreat
And please hold your calendars for the Fall 2025 NWCCU Peer Evaluation Site Visit: October 8-10, 2025!
The institutional accreditation process at UAA is a deliberative, transparent process that works with relevant stakeholders to promote a culture of assessment and continuous improvement. Accreditation at UAA is not a “check the box” compliance process, but a genuine opportunity for institutional self-reflection and improvement. Such a process aims to connect with the institutional culture and help better coordinate a variety of planning and review processes on campus.
UAA is committed to academic and post-graduation student success through: (1) an institution-wide and holistic approach to student learning that emphasizes core competencies; and (2) the development of key data metrics to enable the identification of achievement gaps in student success.
Students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and employers are essential partners
in the learning system that promotes the learning and success goals for our students.
- STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT METRICS (STUDENT SUCCESS METRICS) REPORTS
Student Achievement Metrics (Student Success Metrics) Reports as of Fall 2024
Student Success Metrics Reports 1-5 Combined - UAA Annual Reports as of Fall 2024
Student Success Metrics Report 1 - UAA Annual Report on Persistence as of Fall 2024
Student Success Metrics Report 2 - UAA Annual Report on Retention as of Fall 2024
Student Success Metrics Report 3 - UAA Annual Report on Graduation as of Fall 2024
Student Success Metrics Report 4 - UAA Annual Report on Semesters to Degree - Graduate Programs as of Fall 2024
Student Success Metrics Report 5 - UAA Annual Report on Leading Indicators as of Fall 2024
- CORE COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies
In 2020, UAA launched a consensus-based, deliberative process to identify the key skillsets that help students achieve academic and post-graduation success. After a year-long process that included students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and employers, the UAA community identified four “core competencies” at the heart of a quality UAA education. Students develop mastery of these competencies through curricular (e.g. courses), co-curricular (e.g. internships, conferences), and extra-curricular (e.g. student clubs) learning experiences.
Accreditation Status
The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1974. This accreditation applies to all UAA campuses, including Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Matanuska-Susitna College, and Prince William Sound College, as well as their extended sites.
NWCCU, one of six institutional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, evaluates and accredits higher education institutions in the U.S. states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, as well as the Canadian province British Columbia. NWCCU holds institutions accountable to a rigorous set of standards and eligibility requirements, with a focus on educational quality and institutional effectiveness, particularly as they relate to student learning and student achievement. NWCCU implemented its revised Standards and Eligibility Requirements in January 2020.
UAA's Current Cycle
Using the results of the 2018 comprehensive review and site visit, UAA is building capacity to fulfill its distinctive mission as a comprehensive, open access, community-connected, public university that is committed to meeting students where they are and supporting them to achieve their personal and professional goals.
UAA's current accreditation cycle includes the following milestones:
Fall 2025: Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness (EIE – Year Seven, Report and Visit) - In Process
Fall 2024: Policies, Regulations, and Financial Review (PRFR – Year Six, Report and Review)
- Submitted
Fall 2021: Mid-Cycle Evaluation (Year Three, Report and Visit) - Completed
Accreditation Advisory Committee
An Accreditation Advisory Committee, charged in January 2020, supports university-wide engagement with accreditation, particularly around mission fulfillment, student learning, and student achievement. The committee draws its membership from across the institution, governance groups, and campuses. Members have been selected for their experience, expertise and areas represented; demonstrated commitment to institutional-level thinking; ability to contribute to a variety of tasks; and willingness to work collaboratively. The Committee is chaired by Dr. Carrie King, a faculty member in the College of Health, and by Dr. Susan Kalina, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. The accreditation effort is supported by the Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Institutional Research, and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
Tri-Chairs:
Susan Kalina, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness
Carrie King, Professor, Dietetics and Nutrition
Terrence Kelly, Associate Professor, Philosophy (2020-2022)
Members:
Ray Ball, Vice Provost, Student Success
Jennifer Brock, Associate Dean, College of Engineering and Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Matt Calhoun, Executive Director, ANSEP and Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
Rhiannon Calkins, Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Administrative Services
Dan Campbell, Director, Institutional Research
Jackie Cason, Professor, Writing, and Faculty Senate President
Scott Downing, Academic Affairs Director, Kenai Peninsula College, and Associate Professor, English
Mary Jo Finney, Dean, Graduate School
Rachel Graham, Co-Chair, General Education Council, and Professor, Mathematics
Erin Hicks, Professor, Astronomy
Ryan Hill, Director, Residence Life
Jacelyn Keys, Director, Kodiak College
Ryan McDaniel, Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Services
Colin McGill, Vice Provost, Faculty Success
John Moore, Research Laboratory Manager, CAS, and Past Co-President, Staff Council
Harrison Morgan, Research and Assessment Coordinator, Student Affairs
Kristen Ogilvie, Associate Dean, CAS, and Associate Professor, Anthropology
Austin Osborne, Director of Marketing & Relations, Advancement
Tom Rosko, Dean, Consortium Library
- Agendas
THE AGENDAS BELOW WERE DEVELOPED PRIOR TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS MOTION OF FEBRUARY 21, 2025 AND REMAIN POSTED FOR REAFFIRMATION OF ACCREDITATION PURPOSES.
Agendas will be posted
Deliberative, Transparent Process
Working with stakeholders, four institutional core learning competencies were adopted in Spring 2020. At the same time, metrics for student success and disaggregation of student success data were developed. With standards for student learning and student success in place, UAA will implement mission fulfillment assessment aimed at continuous improvement of student learning and student success and the closing of gaps in student achievement. These efforts will be the heart of the Mid-Cycle Evaluation Year Three Report submitted in Summer 2021. Based on feedback from the mid-cycle site visit from NWCCU and their evaluation of the Mid-Cycle report, student learning and success assessment, as well as institutional interventions to improve learning and success and close achievement gaps in achievement will be refined. These continuing efforts will be assessed in UAA’s comprehensive self-study process (Fall 2023/Spring 2024), and described in the Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness Report, which will be drafted in Summer 2024, shared out for feedback over the academic year, and submitted in Summer 2025. That report, and the NWCCU’s site visit in Fall 2025, will form the basis of NWCCU’s assessment of UAA’s worthiness for accreditation.
Milestones
Below describes some milestones along the way:
May 8, 2025 Annual Accreditation/Assessment Retreat, 9:00-12:00, LIB 307 & Zoom | Register for May Retreat
March 21, 2025 Accreditation Open Forum, 71 Participants. | March 2025 Program | March 2025 Slides | Mission Fulfillment Data | Breakout Worksheets: Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4
February 28, 2025 Accreditation Open Forum, 115 Participants. | February 2025 Program | February 2025 Slides
January 7-8, 2025 Winter Teaching Academy and Adjunct Orientation & Academy
September 13, 2024 Annual Accreditation Kickoff, 141 Participants.
September 2024 UAA Policies, Regulations, and Finances Review (PRFR) Report Submitted
August 19, 2024 Fall Teaching Academy
May 9, 2024 Annual Academic Assessment Retreat, 95 Participants.
March 29, 2024 Accreditation Workshop, 41 Participants.
March 1, 2024 Open Forum on Core Competencies, 76 Participants.
January 19, 2024 Mission Moments Workshop at Professional Excellence and Knowledge Summit Development Day
January 9-10, 2024 Winter Teaching Academy
November 3, 2023 Mission Moments Workshop, 49 Participants.
October 20, 2023 Accreditation Kickoff, 167 Participants.
September 15, 2023 Annual Academic Assessment Seminar, 107 Participants.
May 11, 2023 Annual Academic Assessment Retreat, 92 Participants.
February 10, 2023 Open Forum on Core Competencies, 99 Participants.
January 12, 2023 Winter Teaching Academy
November 16, 2022 Accreditation Workshop, 65 Participants.
October 28, 2022 Open Forum on Core Competencies, 83 Participants.
September 27, 2022 Accreditation Workshop, 49 Participants.
September 16, 2022 Annual Accreditation/Assessment Seminar, 114 Participants.
May 5, 2022 Annual Assessment Retreat, 140 Participants.
February 18, 2022 NWCCU Acceptance of UAA Mid-Cycle Report (NWCCU Acceptance Letter)
October 7-8, 2021 NWCCU Mid-Cycle Evaluation Visit
September 17, 2021 Annual Accreditation/Assessment Seminar, 103 Participants.
May 6, 2021 Annual Assessment Retreat, 97 Participants.
March 5, 2021 Open Forum on Core Competencies, 70 Participants.
November 13, 2020 Open Forum on Core Competencies, 39 Participants.
October 16, 2020 Open Forum on Core Competencies, 82 Participants.
September 18, 2020 Annual Academic Assessment Seminar/Core Competency Kick Off, 111 Participants.
May 7, 2020 Annual Academic Assessment Retreat, 83 Participants.
May 2020 Endorsement of the Core Competencies
The tri-chairs presented a status update to the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and USUAA student government, including a written Accreditation 2025 Summary for Academic Year 2020. Faculty Senate Endorsement. Staff Council Endorsement.
April 2020 Core Competency Final Naming Survey
184 responses, distributed to the UAA Community. Core Competency Final Naming Survey Results.
April 3, 2020 Open Forum: Naming Our Core Competencies, 52 Participants.
March 2020 Core Competency Naming Survey
226 responses, distributed to stakeholder groups and core competency forum participants. Core Competencies Naming Survey Results.
February 7, 2020 Open Forum: Dialing In the Core Competencies, 62 Participants.
January 2020 Accreditation Advisory Committee
The Accreditation Advisory Committee was established and held its first meeting. The major tasks for the spring were to finalize the Core Competencies and the student achievement metrics.
December 2019 Status Update
The tri-chairs presented a status update to the Chancellor’s Cabinet and Academic Deans, as well as a written update to the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and USUAA student government. The update includes the final list of 31 candidates for UAA’s Core Competencies.
Fall 2019 Stakeholder Outreach
Over the fall semester, the tri-chairs engaged stakeholders from across the university to lay the foundation for selecting a set of core competencies. They met with the following groups: Academic Assessment Committee, Administrative Services Senior Executive Team, Advancement Leadership, Alumni Association Board, General Education Advisory Committee, Graduate Academic Board, Staff Council, Student Affairs Leadership Team, Undergraduate Academic Board, and USUAA (student government). Members of these groups also responded to the Taking a Pulse Survey, which was distributed to participants of the October and November forums below.
November 15, 2019 Open Forum: Honoring Your Work and Building Forward, 55 Participants.
October 4, 2019 Annual Academic Assessment Seminar and Accreditation Kick Off, 106 Participants.
Broad engagement with the new cycle began with a kick off on October 4, 2019. Over 100 faculty, staff and students joined Dr. Natasha Jankowski, Director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA) to explore what moving from Core Themes to Core Competencies means for an institution.
Summer 2019 Accreditation Metrics Team
An Accreditation Metrics Team drafted a set of student achievement metrics, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic class, first generation, part time, and transfer. The team also proposed leading indicators for improved retention, persistence, and graduation rates.
Preliminary Timeline
Year 1
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
|
Fall |
|
| Spring 2019 |
|
| Summer 2019 |
|
Year 2
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| September 2019 |
|
| October 2019 |
Accreditation Kick Off (October 4)
|
| November 2019 |
Open Forum: Honoring Your Work and Building Forward (November 15)
|
| December 2019 |
Core Competencies Compilation to Cabinet, Faculty Senate, Staff Council, USUAA
|
| January 2020 |
|
| February 2020 |
|
| March 2020 |
|
| April 2020 |
|
| May 2020 |
Annual Academic Assessment Retreat (May 7)
|
| Summer 2020 |
|
Year 3
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| Fall 2020 |
Annual Assessment Seminar/Core Competency Kick Off (September 18)
|
| Spring 2021 |
|
| Summer 2021 |
Annual Assessment Retreat (May 6)
|
Year 4
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| Fall 2021 |
Annual Accreditation/Assessment Seminar (September 17)
|
| Spring 2022 |
|
| Summer 2022 |
Annual Assessment Retreat (May 5)
|
Year 5
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| Fall 2022 |
Annual Accreditation/Assessment Seminar (September 16)
|
| Spring 2023 |
|
| Summer 2023 |
Annual Academic Assessment Retreat (May 11)
|
Year 6
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| Fall 2023 |
Annual Accreditation Kickoff (October 20)
|
| Spring 2024 |
|
| Summer 2024 |
Annual Academic Assessment Retreat (May 9)
|
Year 7
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| Fall 2024 |
Annual Accreditation/Assessment Seminar (September 13)
|
| Spring 2025 |
Annual Academic Assessment Retreat (May 8)
|
| Summer 2025 |
|
Year 1 (Fall 2025)
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| Fall 2025 |
Annual Accreditation/Assessment Seminar (September TBD)
|
Roles and Responsibilities
- Chancellor
- Set the agenda and direction and promote a culture that prioritizes student learning and student success
- Facilitate high-level oversight by the Cabinet and ensure accreditation is an institutional priority
- Connect accreditation to institutional planning and budget allocation
- Inform and update the Board of Regents and UA Statewide System
- Engage the broader internal and external communities
- Approve all final reports and submissions
- Communicate with NWCCU
- Meet with site visit teams
- Chancellor’s Cabinet, Deans, Campus Directors
- Implement the agenda and direction within their units
- Ensure accreditation is a priority and promote a culture that prioritizes student learning and student success
- Oversee assessment and improvement of the functions in their areas
- Connect continuous improvement to student learning and success
- Connect accreditation to planning and budget allocation
- Promote alignment of accreditation, strategic planning, budget planning and other key planning processes
- Engage faculty, staff and students in their units
- Engage their communities, including advisory councils and boards
- Contribute to and review reports and submissions
- Meet with site visit teams
- Accreditation Advisory Committee
- Design and facilitate the processes by which the institution engages in accreditation
- Develop a communication plan
- Provide guidance in the selection and presentation of data and in developing a long-term approach to ensuring these data are embedded in decision making processes
- Serve in an advisory role for developing reports and preparing for site visits
- Provide regular updates to the Chancellor, campus leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders
- Meet with site visit teams
- Office of Academic Affairs
- Coordinate the accreditation process and co-chair the Accreditation Advisory Committee
- Communicate with the NWCCU throughout the process
- Support the Accreditation Advisory Committee and the Tri-Chairs
- Oversee and ensure compliance, including federal mandates
- Coordinate reporting, including annual, mid-cycle, and comprehensive
- Gather documentation to support the compliance Standards
- Office of Institutional Research
- Provide data as needed
- Design data visualization for mission fulfillment, institutional effectiveness, student learning, and student achievement data in consultation with the Accreditation Advisory Committee, Academic Affairs, and Cabinet
- Assist in developing a structure of data presentation for mission fulfillment that will be consistent throughout the cycle
- Build and maintain accreditation-related sections of the SharePoint site (Core Competencies, Student Achievement, Mission Fulfillment, Program Student Learning Outcomes Assessment, Program Review, Student Complaints)
- Build the structure for the electronic evidence room
- Office of Institutional Effectiveness
- Contribute to developing and writing reports, including annual updates to the campus and community
- Format final report and appendices
- Campus Community (Faculty, Staff, Students, Administrators)
- Apply student learning and student success insights into the learning experience
- Use student learning and achievement data in continuous improvement, decision making, and resource allocation
- Contribute to the institution’s approach to student learning and success
- Participate in opportunities, including surveys and open forums, and provide input, information, and feedback
- Review report drafts
- Prepare for the campus visits
- Participate in the campus visit sessions for faculty, staff, and students