ONE Northwood University

Nov 20, 2009

AQIP Review

Back in fall 2003, Dr. David Fry and others in the leadership of our University made a difficult decision to join the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP). In 2003, this was a relatively new program the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) offered as a way for institutions interested in continuous improvement to advance that cause and at the same time meet their accreditation requirements. In fall 2007, we completed our first AQIP Systems Portfolio which was a snapshot of our quality journey at that point in time. This Portfolio was then reviewed by a team of AQIP Systems appraisers with a feedback report received in March 2008.

The finals step in the process was a Quality Checkup site visit by a Systems Appraisal Team who had been reviewing all the AQIP documentation that had been created to date. That site visit occurred last week.

Some of us got a bit concerned when the Chair of the Systems Appraisal Committee, Dr. Christina Frazier of Southeast Missouri State University, began her report by noting she was giving the report on Friday the 13th, generally considered an unlucky day. However, as she and Mr. George Graw of the Raytheon Corporation, our other appraiser, continued with their report, it was clear the report was not bad news but rather just the opposite - a very positive appraisal of our quality journey to date.

Dr. Frazier and Mr. Graw reported the Systems Appraisal Team had concluded, upon review of our 2007 Systems Portfolio, Northwood University has presented evidence it complies with each of the five criteria for accreditation and each of their core components. And most importantly, they found nothing in their review last week to contradict this statement. Dr. Frazier and Mr. Graw had five tasks to perform as part of their site visit review. First, they were here to assure continued organizational quality improvement commitment through presentations, documents, meetings or sessions. In fact, our reviewers were very impressed with the Northwood commitment to quality improvement they observed from many constituents of our University including students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the Board of Trustees, and community supporters from all our campuses and all our programs. They encouraged us to celebrate our accomplishments to date but not to rest on our laurels, and to maintain the momentum of our institutional journey toward quality.

The Systems Appraisal Team’s second task was to verify compliance with federal regulations and requirements. Here, they found evidence we were in complete compliance with all federal regulations.

The third task was to review our approach to capitalizing on the recommendations made by the Systems Appraisal based on our 2007 Portfolio. Five of the six issues identified in the Systems Appraisal feedback report related to data, measures, targets, analysis and results. Here, our Review Team concluded they were “happy” to report in many of the sessions of which they were a part last week, evidence was presented indicating increasing maturity in this area. Much of this area deals with assessment of student learning. We were reminded by Dr. Frazier not to wait for a “perfect” assessment tool as she doubts such an item exists and believes unique tools need to be developed for each specific institution. She encouraged us to systematically describe and document all our processes to create effective assessment data. She encouraged us to follow the “KISS” (Keep is simple, stupid!) principle as we develop our documentation.

Our Systems Appraisers were very supportive of the ONE Northwood concept as a vehicle to help us consistently apply processes and best practices across all our operations.

The fourth required task for our reviewers was to affirm the accuracy of our organization’s online Systems Portfolio developed in 2007 and to verify the information included in the Portfolio. What they found is since 2007 we have continued our quality journey which has resulted in significant positive changes for our institution. They cited two examples of such changes. The first was a belief in 2007 we had no mechanisms in place to assist students to remediate specific deficiencies with which they came to our institution. In this case, the Team was very impressed with the Educational Success Program (ESP) which was piloted on our Michigan campus last year. Their findings were the initial data and strong endorsements from participating students indicate the ESP is very effective and they’ve asked us to expand the ESP across our system, which we are planning to do. The second positive example in this area was the improvements made in our online new employee orientation program which has quickly transformed how we bring our newest employees up to speed at our University.

The Team’s final task was to alert our University to areas that need attention. Here, Dr. Frazier and Mr. Graw encouraged us to ensure information is regularly flowing throughout our University. They shared with us their ideas on feedback loops to ensure effective participation of all parties in a decision-making process.

In addition, our reviewers were very impressed with our students. They found them to be extremely articulate and passionate about the quality, learning and service they have received from our faculty and staff. They were very impressed with the EXCEL program, the Omniquest program, our student leadership programs, the ONE Northwood activities of our librarians across our system, our Strategic Plan, and the Dashboard measurement systems which are now being put into place. They were extremely complimentary of the terms-to-semesters transition activities which have occurred as excellent examples of our quality improvement processes taking place across our entire University.

In short, they were very impressed with the high level of activities going on at Northwood and our momentum on our continuous improvement journey. Dr. Frazier’s final comment was a telling one as she urged us, as we move forward with our quality journey, not to lose the Northwood Idea or to lose the strong relationships which have been created between students, faculty and staff as these are two attributes that truly make Northwood University unique.

We are very thankful to Dr. Frazier and Mr. Graw for the time they spent on campus last week and in preparation for the many hours of the appraisal process they just completed. We look forward to their final report in the near future.

As I said in my closing comments at the broadcast forum last week, we can’t thank all of you enough for your long-term commitment to AQIP and the progress we have made to date on our continuous improvement journey. The absolute best example we have of this is the extraordinary progress our faculty, staff, students and all internal constituents have made on the huge transition from terms to semesters. This kind of change within our University would not have been possible without focus on continuous quality improvement, and the AQIP process has led us very strongly in that direction. Special thanks to Dr. Kristin Stehouwer, our Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer; and to Dr. John Jasinski, her predecessor in that role. Dr. Jasinski played a huge role in helping to create our Systems Portfolio in 2007 and the many institutional processes which have led us to this quality position. Dr. Stehouwer, on the other hand, celebrated her 100th day as an employee of our University while the AQIP appraisers were on our campus so she has quickly embraced the Northwood University Quality Improvement Process (NUQIP) and has helped structure all the activities which led to the strong positive appraisal last week.

Let’s celebrate our progress to date as our AQIP appraisers suggested, while staying focused on the continuing opportunities this quality journey will provide our University. For those of you who would like to see the broadcast of our quality appraisers from last Friday, the link is here.

Again thanks to all for this excellent progress. Enjoy your weekend!

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203 (phone)
989.832.9590 (fax)

pretty@northwood.edu

Nov 20, 2009
	AQIP Review Back in fall 2003, Dr. David Fry and others in the leadership of our University made a difficult decision to join the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP). In 2003, this was a relatively new program the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) offered as a way for institutions interested in continuous improvement to advance that cause and at the same time meet their accreditation requirements. In fall 2007, we completed our first AQIP Systems Portfolio which was a snapshot of our quality journey at that point in time. This Portfolio was then reviewed by a team of AQIP Systems appraisers with a feedback report received in March 2008. The finals step in the process was a Quality Checkup site visit by a Systems Appraisal Team who had been reviewing all the AQIP documentation that had been created to date. That site visit occurred last week. Some of us got a bit concerned when the Chair of the Systems Appraisal Committee, Dr. Christina Frazier of Southeast Missouri State University, began her report by noting she was giving the report on Friday the 13th, generally considered an unlucky day. However, as she and Mr. George Graw of the Raytheon Corporation, our other appraiser, continued with their report, it was clear the report was not bad news but rather just the opposite - a very positive appraisal of our quality journey to date. Dr. Frazier and Mr. Graw reported the Systems Appraisal Team had concluded, upon review of our 2007 Systems Portfolio, Northwood University has presented evidence it complies with each of the five criteria for accreditation and each of their core components. And most importantly, they found nothing in their review last week to contradict this statement. Dr. Frazier and Mr. Graw had five tasks to perform as part of their site visit review. First, they were here to assure continued organizational quality improvement commitment through presentations, documents, meetings or sessions. In fact, our reviewers were very impressed with the Northwood commitment to quality improvement they observed from many constituents of our University including students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the Board of Trustees, and community supporters from all our campuses and all our programs. They encouraged us to celebrate our accomplishments to date but not to rest on our laurels, and to maintain the momentum of our institutional journey toward quality. The Systems Appraisal Team’s second task was to verify compliance with federal regulations and requirements. Here, they found evidence we were in complete compliance with all federal regulations. The third task was to review our approach to capitalizing on the recommendations made by the Systems Appraisal based on our 2007 Portfolio. Five of the six issues identified in the Systems Appraisal feedback report related to data, measures, targets, analysis and results. Here, our Review Team concluded they were “happy” to report in many of the sessions of which they were a part last week, evidence was presented indicating increasing maturity in this area. Much of this area deals with assessment of student learning. We were reminded by Dr. Frazier not to wait for a “perfect” assessment tool as she doubts such an item exists and believes unique tools need to be developed for each specific institution. She encouraged us to systematically describe and document all our processes to create effective assessment data. She encouraged us to follow the “KISS” (Keep is simple, stupid!) principle as we develop our documentation. Our Systems Appraisers were very supportive of the ONE Northwood concept as a vehicle to help us consistently apply processes and best practices across all our operations. The fourth required task for our reviewers was to affirm the accuracy of our organization’s online Systems Portfolio developed in 2007 and to verify the information included in the Portfolio. What they found is since 2007 we have continued our quality journey which has resulted in significant positive changes for our institution. They cited two examples of such changes. The first was a belief in 2007 we had no mechanisms in place to assist students to remediate specific deficiencies with which they came to our institution. In this case, the Team was very impressed with the Educational Success Program (ESP) which was piloted on our Michigan campus last year. Their findings were the initial data and strong endorsements from participating students indicate the ESP is very effective and they’ve asked us to expand the ESP across our system, which we are planning to do. The second positive example in this area was the improvements made in our online new employee orientation program which has quickly transformed how we bring our newest employees up to speed at our University. The Team’s final task was to alert our University to areas that need attention. Here, Dr. Frazier and Mr. Graw encouraged us to ensure information is regularly flowing throughout our University. They shared with us their ideas on feedback loops to ensure effective participation of all parties in a decision-making process. In addition, our reviewers were very impressed with our students. They found them to be extremely articulate and passionate about the quality, learning and service they have received from our faculty and staff. They were very impressed with the EXCEL program, the Omniquest program, our student leadership programs, the ONE Northwood activities of our librarians across our system, our Strategic Plan, and the Dashboard measurement systems which are now being put into place. They were extremely complimentary of the terms-to-semesters transition activities which have occurred as excellent examples of our quality improvement processes taking place across our entire University. In short, they were very impressed with the high level of activities going on at Northwood and our momentum on our continuous improvement journey. Dr. Frazier’s final comment was a telling one as she urged us, as we move forward with our quality journey, not to lose the Northwood Idea or to lose the strong relationships which have been created between students, faculty and staff as these are two attributes that truly make Northwood University unique. We are very thankful to Dr. Frazier and Mr. Graw for the time they spent on campus last week and in preparation for the many hours of the appraisal process they just completed. We look forward to their final report in the near future. As I said in my closing comments at the broadcast forum last week, we can’t thank all of you enough for your long-term commitment to AQIP and the progress we have made to date on our continuous improvement journey. The absolute best example we have of this is the extraordinary progress our faculty, staff, students and all internal constituents have made on the huge transition from terms to semesters. This kind of change within our University would not have been possible without focus on continuous quality improvement, and the AQIP process has led us very strongly in that direction. Special thanks to Dr. Kristin Stehouwer, our Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer; and to Dr. John Jasinski, her predecessor in that role. Dr. Jasinski played a huge role in helping to create our Systems Portfolio in 2007 and the many institutional processes which have led us to this quality position. Dr. Stehouwer, on the other hand, celebrated her 100th day as an employee of our University while the AQIP appraisers were on our campus so she has quickly embraced the Northwood University Quality Improvement Process (NUQIP) and has helped structure all the activities which led to the strong positive appraisal last week. Let’s celebrate our progress to date as our AQIP appraisers suggested, while staying focused on the continuing opportunities this quality journey will provide our University. For those of you who would like to see the broadcast of our quality appraisers from last Friday, the link is here. Again thanks to all for this excellent progress. Enjoy your weekend! Keith A. Pretty, J.D. President and CEO Northwood University 4000 Whiting Drive Midland, MI 48640 989.837.4203 (phone) 989.832.9590 (fax) pretty@northwood.edu