Northwestern Health Sciences University Continues Work on Re-accreditation Process
Site Review Will Take Place in May 2010
Posted on Sept. 21, 2009
Northwestern Health Sciences University continues to make steady progress in preparation for re-accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The Self-Study Steering Committee (SSSC) is editing and compiling chapter drafts into what will become the final self-study report. A site review will take place in May 2010.
The primary focus for the coming weeks is completing a draft of the final report, which is due in early 2010. The goal of the writing team is to combine the drafts into one comprehensive, highly-readable and evaluative report. They must also make sure there is supporting evidence for all content, and find ways to describe and illustrate that evidence.
The process is on track, according to Noni Threinen, DC, EdD, Northwestern’s associate vice president for institutional effectiveness, and chair of the NCA Self-Study Steering Committee. “We’re on target for completing the report, and ready to take the next steps in communicating and engaging the campus community in the process,” Dr. Threinen said.
Northwestern will soon launch an NCA Self-Study website that will allow easy access to the report, and help facilitate feedback from the campus community and other key stakeholders. A mock site visit is also planned, and will be scheduled in the next few weeks.
The team members for Northwestern’s site visit have been named by the NCA, and the University has been in contact with the site team chair. The members of the site team include: David Wantz, EdD, Associate Vice President, Development, and Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Indianapolis; Terese (Terri) Burch, RN, PhD, President/Dean, Saint Anthony School of Nursing, Rockford, Ill.; Diane Fladeland, Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Mary, Bismarck, N.D.; Michael Mestan, DC, DACBR, Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, New York Chiropractic College, Seneca Falls, N.Y.; and Rosemarie Suhayda, RN, PhD, Director, University Assessment and Student Learning, Rush University, Chicago, Ill.
“Each member was chosen by the coordinator so they have an understanding of the type of health care education Northwestern offers,” notes Dr. Threinen. “Not only is this important for the review itself, but the team also serves as a useful resource for consultation during the site visit.”
Students, staff and faculty are encouraged to be active participants in the re-accreditation process, and will have many opportunities in the coming months to provide feedback on the report.