What is HLC-NCA?

The Higher Learning Commission-North Central Association (HLC-NCA) is one of six regional institutional accrediting associations in the United States. It is committed to developing and maintaining high standards of excellence. HLC-NCA grants membership to educational institutions throughout the 19-state North-Central region.

Who is WATC’s HLC-NCA liaison?

WATC’s HLC-NCA liaison is Dr. Andrew Lootens-White.

Why is Accreditation important to WATC?

HLC-NCA accreditation provides assurance to the public that WATC has met the required criteria and that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the college can continue to meet them. It is a “stamp of excellence” that potential students and employers look for as they consider registering in our programs, hiring our graduates or contracting for customized training. Without accreditation, financial aid for students would be jeopardized. Without accreditation, the college would be unable to qualify for many grants that enable it to provide quality programming and support services throughout the communities that it serves.

The HLC-NCA accreditation process itself is important in that it provides enhanced opportunities for the college to assess its accomplishments, its strengths and challenges, and to use this information as a basis for continuous improvement.

What is the self-study process?

The self-study process is viewed as one important component of WATC’s ongoing Strategic Plan. It is a comprehensive periodic evaluation that focuses upon HLC-NCA’s designated criteria but can include other areas of emphasis selected by the college.

WATC’s Self-Study Steering Committee has created a self-study timeline, which outlines the proposed self-study process. The end result of this process will be a comprehensive self-study report that will be widely shared throughout the college prior to submission to HLC-NCA. This document will serve as the basis for HLC-NCA’s evaluation of WATC. It constitutes WATC’s formal application for accreditation.

Who will be involved in WATC’s self-study process?

All WATC employees are encouraged to become involved in the HLC-NCA self-study process. Input will also be solicited from students, employers, schools, governmental agencies and the communities that WATC serves. The process will be facilitated by the Self-Study Steering Committee.

What criteria will HLC-NCA use to evaluate WATC?

The five designated criteria that will create the framework for our self-study are as follows:

• Criterion One: Mission and Integrity
  The organization operates with integrity to ensure the fulfillment of its mission through structures and processes that involve the board, administration, faculty, staff and students.

• Criterion Two: Preparing for the Future
  The organization’s allocation of resources and its processes for evaluation and planning demonstrate its capacity to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its education and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

• Criterion Three: Student Learning and Effective Teaching 
  The organization provides evidence of student learning and teaching effectiveness that demonstrates it is fulfilling its educational mission.

• Criterion Four: Acquisition, Discovery and Application of Knowledge
  The organization promotes a life of learning for its faculty, administration, staff and students by fostering and supporting inquiry, creativity, practice and social responsibility in ways consistent with its mission.

• Criterion Five: Engagement and Service
  As called for by its mission, the organization identifies its constituencies and serves them in ways both value.

In addition, WATC must demonstrate that it meets the designated federal compliance issues and any other areas deemed pertinent to the self-study.

How can WATC use the HLC self-study process to help reach its goals?

WATC intends to utilize the HLC-NCA self-study process as a tool to help it accomplish the following goals:

• Continually assess and improve the effectiveness of the college.
• Recognize and celebrate WATC’s accomplishments.
• Create a more positive climate and cooperative culture.
• Assess and enhance progress in meeting the college-wide strategic plan.
• Become more learner-focused.
• Continually assess and improve the effectiveness of the college.

What will the HLC-NCA site visit in 2008 be like?

A team of consultant-evaluators will visit WATC to gather comprehensive information and visit with staff, students, and external parties. Prior to the team's arrival, they will have carefully reviewed the self-study report and other documents forwarded to them by the Self-Study Steering Committee. At the conclusion of their three-day visit, the HLC-NCA team will depart, and the college will receive an official written report stating the team’s recommendations approximately six weeks after the visit.

Who can I contact for additional information?

Contact any member of the Self-Study Steering Committee.

What opportunities are there for me to get involved in the HLC-NCA self-study process?

Involvement in the HLC-NCA self-study process is an excellent way for faculty and staff to learn more about the college. It is a way to help WATC identify and recognize its many accomplishments as well as opportunities for improvement. Participants in this process will be involved in creating WATC’s future!

Opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serve on a “feedback panel” in your area of expertise, responding to reports developed by various subcommittees.
• Act as a “reader” or “reactor” to drafts.
• Attend and participate in public input or dialogue sessions on specific topics.
• Help gather existing information and resources.
  Respond to surveys conducted.
• Help inservice other staff and communicate what HLC-NCA is all about.
  
  FAQ’s and answers compiled from other self-study sites.