Chapter Nine: Summary of Self-Study Findings Request for Reaffirmation of Accreditation

 Southeast Arkansas College concluded its comprehensive self-study determining a number of strengths and challenges related to its programs, policies, practices, and processes. Many of the recommendations are the result of the rapid growth experienced by an emerging college. The College set into place the framework necessary to address each challenge identified as impediments to the continued success of the Institution. During the 2000-2001 academic year the College will study and provide recommendations to resolve these issues. Preliminary action plans dealing with major areas of concern were developed through the self-study process. 

The preliminary Strengths and Commendations, Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement are consolidated below. 

Criterion I: Strengths and Commendations

1. The 1991 Arkansas Legislature is commended for providing a comprehensive yet specific mission statement for the state's technical colleges to guide their institutions in their development. 
2. The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board is commended for approving a comprehensive role and scope statement for the College, which is consistent and supportive of its enabling legislation. 
3. The College Board of Trustees is commended for its continuous review of the College Mission statement. 
4. The College is commended for the documented relationship, which exists between its Mission and Purposes and its Systematic Planning for the Future process. 
5. The College is commended for the democratic structure of and open access to its systems of councils, committees, and senates. 
6. The College is commended for its evidence of support for freedom of inquiry for faculty and students.

Criterion I: Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement

It is recommended that the College: 

1. continue its efforts to communicate its Mission and Purposes to its various constituents. 
2. simplify its Vision Statement for ease in communication. 
3. develop a Statement of Philosophy of Technical Education for publication in the College Catalog. 
4. formalize and improve its council/committee/senate communication and feedback system relative to recommendations for action submitted to the College administration for consideration. 
5. that the College more prominently emphasize and communicate its support for academic freedom, including intellectual inquiry for both faculty and students. 
6. that the core Values of the College be revised to specifically state support for academic freedom, including intellectual inquiry for both faculty and students.

Criterion II: Strengths and Commendations

The College is commended for: 

1. hiring an exceptionally well-qualified faculty and professional, administrative, and support staffs. 
2. maintaining a framework for shared governance. 
3. maintaining a competitive faculty salary schedule. 
4. the frequency and use of admissions testing services. 
5. its success in job placement of its graduates. 
6. its Student Senate's involvement in enhancing student life on campus. 
7. its resourceful and efficient fiscal planning and use of funds. 
8. securing additional financial resources to aid in the operation of the College. 
9. its new and expanded bookstore facility. 
10. its emphasis on a safe and secure campus. 
11. its buildings and grounds staff's continuous efforts in campus beautification and work request response time. 
12. the development and implementation of long-range facilities master plans.

Criterion II: Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement

It is recommended that the College: 

1. review teaching loads, workloads, job descriptions and work responsibilities of all employee groups to determine the need for additional employees to effectively fulfill responsibilities. 
2. fulfill its commitment to Excellence in Education and a Quality Work Environment as expressed in its declaration of College Values by supporting fair and equitable faculty and staff workloads, applied institutional and classroom research, and professional development. 
3. increase relevant on-site training and professional development opportunities, including areas such as customer service, teaching in a two-year college, and others as indicated through the College's formal employee evaluation process. 
4. improve its internal communications processes. 
5. ensure the Financial Aid Office's promotion of all forms of available student financial aid including scholarships such as the Governor's Academic Challenge Scholarship, Trustee Scholarships, and business and industry sponsored scholarships. 
6. review its current academic advisement procedures to ascertain the effectiveness of the program including: advisor training, faculty advisors' access to student records, assignment of students to the appropriate advisor by program area, and accuracy of information shared in advisement sessions. Same as Recommendation #5, Criterion III.) 
7. review the process for the development of semester class schedules so that publication may occur well in advance of registration periods. 
8. the ADHE/AHECB, Arkansas General Assembly and Governor establish a more equitable system for funding the State's two-year colleges. 
9. pursue a local tax support initiative. 
10. provide minor first aid supplies and services through the Nursing Department. 
11. contract auxiliary services be systematically monitored for improvement. 
12. develop a method to optimize use of classrooms and other available space. 
13. furnish the existing natural sciences labs with adequate equipment and consumable supplies to conduct collegiate-level instructional experiments and limited applied research. 
14. provide spaces for private counseling and academic advisement, instructional texts and materials storage, and adjunct faculty office/work areas in planning new facilities.

Criterion III: Strengths and Commendations

The College is commended for: 

1. offering a comprehensive array of technical career programs. 
2. providing state-of-the-art curricular designs that are relevant to graduates seeking to enter the job market. 
3. attaining state-level achievements in Adult Education. 
4. improving access to higher education through flexible scheduling, affordable tuition, and distance learning opportunities. 
5. employing faculty who adhere to a learner-centered philosophy. 
6. maintaining learner-centered instructional support services. 

Criterion III: Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement

It is recommended that the College: 

1. further study the program advisory committee system to ensure that the College's students and the area businesses benefit from the advisory committees' input. 
2. form an ad hoc committee to study and provide recommendations that would improve retention and persistence rates. 
3. expand its educational programs and student support services to its six-county service area. 
4. formalize a focused faculty professional development program. 
5. fully implement the Assessment Plan in all instructional divisions and operational departments. 
6. review its current academic advisement procedures to ascertain the effectiveness of the program including: advisor training, faculty advisors' access to student records, assignment of students to the appropriate advisor by program area, and accuracy of information shared in advisement sessions. (Same as Recommendation #6, Criterion II.) 

Criterion IV: Strengths and Commendations

The College is commended for: 

1. deploying a systematic planning process. 
2. employing an institutional research officer and acquiring the computer resources to conduct comprehensive institutional research.

Criterion IV: Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement

It is recommended that the College: 

1. study and provide a recommendation regarding the need for a Strategic Planning Committee separate from the existing College Council. 
2. study and provide a recommendation through the College Council, which would simplify the College's Statements of Purpose or Primary Goals. 
3. organize and make available in the College Library all documents related to planning and operations. 
4. study its role in providing community education and avocation courses. 

Criterion V: Strengths and Commendations

The College is commended for: 

1. developing a set of Values as an ethical statement to guide its actions in pursuit of its Mission. 
2. building a culturally diverse educational community, representative of its service area. 

Criterion V: Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement

It is recommended that: 

1. the College develop and distribute to all employees a Policies and Procedures Manual and that the Faculty/Staff Handbook be updated to include the College's due process procedures available to an employee facing dismissal. 
2. a method be developed to ensure that copies of minutes of all councils, committees, and senates and other pertinent reports be placed in the College Library for public access, while protecting individual privacy as warranted. 
3. a plan be devised for the development, implementation, and oversight of a system to determine employee satisfaction. 
4. the College further study the committee, council, and senate composition, duties, and authority. 
5. the Faculty Senate guidelines be revised to define the Senate's authority and powers in matters relating to calling of faculty meetings, review and comment on proposed policies affecting faculty, and to facilitate communication between administration and faculty. 
6. an ad hoc committee be formed, with equitable representation of all affected employee groups, to develop recommendations for a merit pay system.

As evidenced by the findings of its self-study experience, Southeast Arkansas College has demonstrated its value to the State of Arkansas as an exemplary Institution of Higher Education. The College provides open access to educational pursuits designed to meet the current and future intellectual, occupational, and personal goals of its constituencies. Southeast Arkansas College practices sound fiscal planning and prudent use of financial resources. The College adheres to its Mission and Primary Purposes as demonstrated by its efforts to serve citizens of its entire six-county service area. Southeast Arkansas College has earned the respect of its constituents, business affiliates, and colleagues in higher education. Based upon these findings, Southeast Arkansas College requests the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education to reaccreditate the College for a full ten-year term, requiring no interim reports or visits.