GUIDELINES FOR COMPLETING ACCREDITATION READINESS AUDIT

The numbering system used in this audit corresponds to the current SACS Principles of Accreditation.

You may find the entire SACS Principles at http://www.sacscoc.org/principles.asp

The numbering system we will use at NSU follows:

Other useful sites for interpreting these principles (to see how two of the pilot institutions completed their compliance certificates) are www.etsu.edu [sacs, compliance reports] and http://sacsreview.tamu.edu/

Finally, note that the Nicholls web page has a host of information and data at your fingertips. For example, the Strategic Plan, Faculty Governance documents, and University Bulletin are published there, and you may access our "Fact Book" at the Institutional Research page.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PERSON COMPLETING READINESS AUDIT REPORT:

E-mail me at MNMK-ABP saying you received this packet, and I will send you electronic Readiness Audit Forms customized for your reports.

Save each form (if you have more than one) to separate files. You may want to create a folder for all of them so you can easily access them for the final report due in 2005. A recommended name for the file is simply the Reference Number (Ex: CSI-15.yourlastname or CR-9.yourlastname).

FYI: A template of this audit report, along with a complete list of the SACS Principles of Accreditation Leadership Team Responsibilities and a list of who will be completing audits for each principle, is on the Nicholls web page. At the Nicholls web page (www.Nicholls.edu) go to the Site Map, and then "Accreditation-SACS" page. Enter User ID as "sacs" and password as "scas".

To complete the audit, add the following:

1) At "Readiness Report from:" in addition to your name, also include your title and department, e-mail address and phone number

2) At "Persons/Units Responsible" type in any additional persons/units you identify as having a responsibility to maintain, initiate or implement the corresponding principle of accreditation; or would be valuable to interview regarding the principle.

3) At "Assessment of Compliance" circle the appropriate words to indicate your personal assessment of your unit's or department's compliance with the stated principle of accreditation. Note that the SACS review team will issue a "recommendation" (not a good thing) for any item that doesn't have absolutely clear documentation to support it. Thus, for the purpose of this internal audit you are encouraged to recommend improvements if the information available indicates that full compliance would be questionable and that we would be likely to receive a "recommendation" from the SACS team.

4) At "Supporting Documents . ." List documents that would serve as evidence of NSU's compliance with the stated principle. Also, please indicate if these documents are in electronic form by placing an "E" in front of the list number or indicate if you believe that the document could be placed into an electronic format by placing a "W" in front of the list number). Example:

    E 1. NSU 2002-2003 Bulletin, "Academic Procedures and Requirements," p. 25.
    E 2. Course syllabi located in 146 Powell.
    W 3. Faculty vitas located in 146 Powell.

5) At "Related Activities Underway . " indicate those activities or situation(s) which may have an impact on retaining or gaining compliance. (Example of activities underway: accreditation processes underway; current study of issues being conducted; recommendations forwarded) (Examples of issues that may affect compliance: No published policy regarding this; student learning outcomes not measurable; new president may redefine goals . . .)

6) At "Recommendation" or "Narrative": If you find that you ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE or that you RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENT, list those actions that must be taken for NSU to maintain compliance, or to be in compliance with the stated principle of accreditation if currently not in compliance. Also identify what person/unit/department should conduct these activities. For example, "XWY Department Head must complete letters of exception for all adjunct faculties who do not meet 18 hour graduate requirement." If you mark that you are IN COMPLIANCE, include a brief narrative explaining why or how the process/documentation demonstrates compliance.

7) At "Completion date" indicate the date you completed this report. Please keep an electronic copy of this document in your files, and then email your completed report as an attachment to the team member listed at the top of the readiness audit report form.

That's it! You're done for now! Much thanks to you!