After years of lackluster performance in such areas as
academic advising and customer service, those key functions
on campus began to improve after Eastern Michigan University
made a commitment to participate in the Academic Quality
improvement Program (AQIP) in 2004.
 |
READY FOR ACTION: Eastern Michigan University
is
currently seeking new AQIP Action projects for
2010
as part of the institution's ongoing commitment
to
continuous improvement. The deadline to submit
new action projects is Dec. 1. |
Academic advising and quality service delivery may have
been officially retired from EMU's AQIP Action Project
two years ago. But continuous improvement is expected to
move forward in all areas that have been determined to
be AQIP Action Projects in the past and for the foreseeable
future.
Now, the annual search is on to define new action projects.
"At any one time, we have to have three (action) projects
underway," said
Jeanne Thomas, an EMU professor of social work that serves
as the University's AQIP systems portfolio coordinator
and E-folio site administrator. "One of the projects has
to be focused on helping students learn."
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
(NCA) of Colleges and Schools accepted EMU to participate
in the AQIP process March 1, 2004. The University moved
to reaccredidation through AQIP because one of EMU's six
major strategic directions emphasizes improving institutional
effectiveness.
Launched in July 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 NCA. EMU received
its most recent 10-year reaccreditation from NCA in 2000.
AQIP distinguishes itself from traditional reaccredidation
through its concentration on systems and processes both
as the basis for quality assurance and as the lever for
enabling institutional improvement.
Eastern Michigan's initial AQIP action projects included
improving academic advising and customer service on campus
as well as incorporating writing across the curriculum
into new general education requirements. Other early action
projects have included an assessment of EMU's General Education
Program and the development of a balanced scorecard management
process, which would provide a data-driven culture a management
system that focuses resources on data collection and performance
on common key performance metrics.
Making career services more effective, building continuous
improvement into physical plant operations and starting
a recycling initiative are more recent AQIP action projects
that EMU has undertaken.
AQIP Action Projects close to wrapping up include 1)
a core competency project used to develop key areas of
ability for various EMU employee groups and integrate that
model into existing personnel processes, and 2) a balanced
scorecard implementation pilot project in the area of University
finances.
Regarding new AQIP Action project proposals, Thomas said
engaging a team of persons is key to success.
"If it's one person with a great idea, it can be a great
idea," Thomas said. "But that person needs to get others
passionate about that great idea ... It should be something
where you can see progress in one, two or three years."
Anyone interested in submitting a project idea should
check out the guidelines at http://www.emich.edu/aqip/actionprojects.html.
For the online electronic systems portfoilo, go to http://emichportfolio2.project.mnscu.edu/ The
deadline for submitting AQIP Action Projects is Dec. 1.
AQIP site visit scheduled next March
From March 10-12, 2010, the Higher Learning Commission
will make a site visit to campus for what Thomas terms "a
quality checkup." Of course, the commission will check
to make sure EMU is in compliance with various federal
standards. But the accrediting body also will determine
how well EMU responded to feedback provided last fall relative
to issues of concern in the University's systems portfolio.
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Thomas |
"The systems portfolio is the closest thing we have to
a self-study," Thomas said of the document sent to the
Higher Learning Commission in May 2008.
The systems portfolio includes information on EMU's AQIP
action projects and outcomes, as well as continuous improvement
that takes place on campus as part of the way the University
functions and operates on a daily basis.
"Under the old way (of accreditation), there was
a flurry of activity and a sigh of relief when we received
the stamp of approval," Thomas said in reference to EMU's
last 10-year accreditation renewal by the NCA in 2000. "With
continuous improvement, you receive a stamp of approval.
In addition, you have a campus community working to do
the job better and do all the things you need to do to
have a happy and vibrant campus life."
With AQIP, an institution demonstrates it meets accreditation
standards and expectations through sequences of events
that align with those ongoing activities that characterize
organizations striving to improve their performance.
"If all of the work in those areas is part of our accreditation
work, that is a better way to go rather than a fire drill
every so many years ... As a campus, we're going to need
to become more attentive between now and March," Thomas
said.
