Academic Quality Community
Faculty Members
Quality in Teaching and Learning
National accreditation standards emphasize that the quality of an academic program is measured by the extent to which students achieve the intended learning outcomes. Faculty members play a central role in translating these outcomes from written statements into effective teaching practices.
What Does Quality Mean for Faculty Members?
• Teaching based on clear and measurable learning outcomes
• Alignment between course content, learning activities, and program learning outcomes
• Use of diverse assessment tools to measure actual student learning
• Analysis of assessment results and implementation of improvement actions
Key Concepts
• Learning Outcomes: Statements describing what students are expected to know or be able to do upon completing a course or program
• Assessment: A systematic process of measuring, analyzing, and improving learning, not merely testing
• Continuous Improvement: Enhancing teaching practices based on documented evidence
Link to Accreditation Standards
• Program Accreditation: Teaching and Learning, Faculty Members, Learning Outcomes Assessment
• Institutional Accreditation: Teaching and Learning, Human Resources
Quality teaching ensures that every learning activity has a purpose, every assessment has meaning, and every result leads to improvement.
Academic Leaders
Quality as a Leadership and Decision-Making Tool
Accreditation standards view academic leadership as a key driver of strategic alignment, quality implementation, and sustainable improvement.
What Does Quality Mean for Academic Leaders?
• Data-informed decision-making
• Clear roles, responsibilities, and authorities
• Continuous monitoring of program and college performance
• Support for a culture of quality and continuous improvement
Key Concepts
• Institutional Accreditation: Evaluates governance, leadership, and resource management
• Program Accreditation: Evaluates the quality of academic programs
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Tools for monitoring progress and institutional effectiveness
Link to Accreditation Standards
• Institutional Accreditation: Governance and Leadership, Planning and Performance Management, Quality Assurance
• Program Accreditation: Program Management, Quality Assurance
In accreditation, leadership effectiveness is measured by the ability to translate data into informed improvement decisions.
Quality Units
From Documentation to Improvement
Quality units are responsible for establishing and sustaining quality systems, not merely fulfilling documentation requirements.
What Does Quality Mean for Quality Units?
• Developing integrated assessment and improvement systems
• Supporting programs in analyzing assessment results
• Standardizing quality tools and practices
• Monitoring the implementation of improvement plans
Key Concepts
• Quality Assurance: Ensuring that educational practices achieve intended objectives
• Improvement: Evidence-based actions derived from systematic analysis
• Evidence: Demonstration of actual practices, not just written documents
Link to Accreditation Standards
• Institutional Accreditation: Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement
• Program Accreditation: Quality Assurance, Learning Outcomes Assessment
Effective quality systems measure, analyze, improve, and reassess.
Students
Students at the Center of Quality and Accreditation
National accreditation standards place students at the heart of the educational process, evaluating program quality through student learning outcomes and the overall learning experience.
What Does Quality Mean for Students?
• Clear and transparent study plans and learning outcomes
• Fair and consistent assessment practices
• Access to academic and learning support services
• Opportunities to provide feedback and participate in improvement
Key Concepts
• Learning Outcomes: What students are expected to achieve by the end of their studies
• Assessment: A tool for improving learning, not only for assigning grades
• Feedback: A critical component of program improvement
Link to Accreditation Standards
• Program Accreditation: Teaching and Learning, Student Affairs and Support
• Institutional Accreditation: Students, Student Learning Experience
Student participation in evaluation and feedback is an essential component of educational quality.