The Concordian

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of CU Public Relations

Dr. Jane Smith will train as "consultant evaluator" for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

As consultant evaluator, Smith will visit institutions that are members of the HLC across the nation that are similar in size and mission to Concord. She will review, from a "peer" standpoint, the self-study report that was submitted to the HLC for approval.

Institutions must, on a regular basis, conduct a self-study and submit the report to the HLC. The HLC then sends a team of evaluators to review and critique the report. The team makes recommendations to the institution to bring programs of study or administrative processes into alignment with "best practices" demonstrated by similar institutions.

Concord University just completed their self study, which was successfully coordinated by Dr. Smith. She assigned faculty and staff members to serve on one of five teams that reported on: mission and integrity; preparing for the future; student learning and effective teaching; acquisition, discovery, and application of knowledge; and engagement and service.

Smith will attend a three-day training program in November.

"They want to make sure that the universities are offering quality programs of study," she said. "We can look at other institutions and learn how they solve problems that we might have faced as well."

Currently, there are three people associated with Concord who are consultant evaluators: Dr. Stephen Rowe, interim vice president and academic dean; Dr. Jerry Beasley, president emeritus; and, until her retirement, Dr. April Puzzoli, professor of early childhood education emerita. Dr. Rowe is a very active consultant evaluator and team chair for the HLC.

Dr. Rowe encouraged Smith to apply after she successfully coordinated Concord's two-year-long self-study.

"I think it will be enjoyable and I'm looking forward to this experience," she said.

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