During the past 2 1/2 years, Eastern Michigan University
has explored the Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP)
accreditation process.
During that period, EMU has applied for and been accepted
by AQIP; presented its continuous improvement action projects
at an AQIP strategy forum; taken feedback and tweaked its
projects before submitting to AQIP; and has created campus
teams to see the projects through to completion.
Sounds
like a lot. But, in reality, the work has really just
begun.
To signify EMU's commitment to the AQIP process, a kick-off
event took place in Halle Library Feb. 14. During the event,
University officials outlined EMU's history with the AQIP
process and teams assigned to each of the four continuous
improvement projects met for the first time.
"I thank you for your willingness to work in your roles.
We need to take these projects and embed them in every
enterprise in the University," Interim Provost Don Loppnow
told the 60-plus members in the audience.
EMU's action projects include: improving delivery of academic
advising; improving customer service to students, faculty
and staff; incorporating writing across the curriculum
into lower-level writing courses; and creating metrics
or a campus scorecard for campus-wide institutional assessment.
 |
Fallon |
AQIP distinguishes itself from traditional accreditation
through its concentration on systems and processes both
as the basis for quality assurance and as the lever for
enabling institutional improvement.
"I like this project because it deals with real live things.
It's not an exercise," said EMU President John Fallon. "It
typically focuses on things that need to be changed. It's
the new way of doing things. It's not the whole command-and-control
thing, shouting orders with a bullhorn. We have enough
evidence that that doesn't work.
"These systems don't work without support from the top,
Fallon continued. "I can tell you I support this with both
barrels blazing. I support this in every single way and
don't plan to be a stranger to this process."
Launched in 1999, AQIP attempts to infuse the principles
and benefits of continuous improvement into the culture
of colleges and universities by providing an alternative
process through which an already-accredited institution
can maintain its accreditation from the North Central Association,
also known as The Higher Learning Commission. EMU received
its most recent 10-year accreditation from the NCA in 2000.
NCA accepted EMU to participate in the AQIP process March
1, 2004. The University moved to reaccreditation through
AQIP because one of EMU's six major strategic directions
emphasizes improving institutional effectiveness.
"Thank you for agreeing to embark on this EMU journey," Ellen
Gold, chair of the University's Continuous Improvement
Advisory Committee and director of University Health Services,
told the audience. "It's been a long journey. For some
of us, we've spent 2 1/2 years on this journey to get to
this point."
As teams work to achieve their action projects, Gold urged
that they ask themselves two questions: "Are we doing the
right things to achieve our institution's goals?" and "Are
we doing things right?"
"It's a multi-year, ongoing accreditation. It's
not a one-time thing we do every 10 years," Loppnow said. "This
is a very important launch date."
