Date: February 23, 2005 2:50:30 PM MST
To: dl-mc@memo.maricopa.edu
Subject: Self Study FAQ
In preparation for MCC's fourth comprehensive accreditation visit, the
college conducted a self study addressing criteria set forth by the
Higher Learning Commission. Several related questions and their
answers are below.- Is it true that the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has developed new criteria for the self-study process?
- Yes. The HLC recently underwent a comprehensive examination of its accreditation criteria to ensure they reflect expectations for higher education for the 21st Century. MCC will be one of the first colleges in the HLC region to be evaluated based upon these new criteria.
- What are the HLC accreditation criteria?
- The criteria include:
- Criterion 1: Mission and Integrity
- Criterion 2: Preparing for the Future
- Criterion 3: Student Learning and Effective Teaching
- Criterion 4: Acquisition, Discovery and Application of Knowledge
- Criterion 5: Engagement and Services, plus distance learning.
- The criteria are quite broad. What was the actual work or focus of the criterion committees?
- Committee work focused on interpreting the criteria in relation to
MCC's mission and identifying patterns of evidence that demonstrate
how the college meets the expectations specified with each criterion.
Related strengths and future challenges were also identified. These
are summarized in the The Self-Study Report Executive Summary at
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/selfstudy
/selfstudy_report.html.
