Program Approvals and Accreditation Cycles Executive Summary June 2014 INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION

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1 Program Approvals and Accreditation Cycles Executive Summary June 2014 The following is a summary of the status of all programs that are subject to outside accreditation at Alvernia. The term recommendation, when used by an accrediting agency, means that improvement is advised in order to meet the requirements of a standard necessary to maintain accreditation. Sometimes a report will list concerns. Concerns indicate problem areas that could threaten future accreditation if deficiencies are not corrected. Sometimes the accrediting group requires annual or follow-up reports to ensure that the college or university maintains the necessary progress to remain in compliance. Each agency determines the nature, schedule and process for any reports. Changes since March 2014 are noted in blue. INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION Middle States Commission on Higher Education Institutional accreditation is intended to ensure that colleges and universities are fulfilling their stated purposes and addressing the publics expectations. Substantive Changes must be submitted to Middle States whenever an institution opens a new off campus site, develops a totally new on-line program, or offers a new degree. Last Decennial Evaluation Visit : Recommendations: Academic Assessment Plans, Program Review Process, Use of National Survey of Student Engagement beyond retention efforts, Assessment of general education, Completion of senior capstone project. Following the Five Year Periodic Review Report (June 2010), a monitoring report was due on November 1, 2011 documenting (1) full implementation of processes to assess program-level and general education student learning outcomes (2) evidence of faculty leadership in the assessment of student learning and (3) further use of systematic student learning assessment results to improve teaching and learning and inform planning and budget decisions. Directed a Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. Alvernia was notified that a follow-up visit to the monitoring report would not be necessary. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for Substantive Changes submitted and approved by Middle States for off-site locations of Montgomery County Community College (HCS and RN-BSN) and Penske (BUS). A substantive change was submitted to Middle States for the new Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in November and in a letter dated March 4, 2014, was provisionally approved pending CAPTE approval. Page 1 of 5

2 INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM ACCREDITATION Athletic Training Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Athletic Training Last Accreditation On-Site Visit: December Report of on-site evaluation from CAATE received February 2014 with noncompliance sited in seven (7) areas. A Rejoinder was submitted on May 19, 2014 with corrections in all areas. 78% Pass Rate on first attempt (final for May 2013 Graduates). The national average for first attempt pass rates was 80.8%. Behavioral Health (Addictions) PA Certification Board Annual application due each December Business Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs Following an Annual Report in January 2011 business programs were placed on Probation due to lack of assessment data and faculty mix. Resubmission and remediation was submitted and reviewed November 19, 2011 by ACBSP. Following the review of Alvernia s Quality Assurance Report, the Board of Commissions voted to accept the report, remove probation and complimented the quality of the report. The September 12, 2012 Quality Assurance Report was approved by ACBSP on December 10, 2012 and the following conditions noted: 1) Maintain Note on 5.2 related to faculty qualifications, 2) Remove Note on 5.4 (5.5) related to faculty load, 3) Place Note on 5.7 related to staff assessment, and 4) OFI on 3, 5.3, and 5.8. The next Interim Report is due September, Education Pennsylvania Department of Education Teacher Division The Education Department was placed in a 5-year cycle for PDE, with the next full Major Review to be completed during the year. The new online system for PDE s Annual Report is in place and was submitted for all undergraduate and graduate certifications in February. Tracking of certification exam (PECT) pass-rates for teacher candidates for the previous calendar year, a Title 2 Federal requirement, are reported. Pass Rate Updates Pre-Candidacy Tests (PAPA or Praxis I) Of the 125 undergraduates in Education, 95 have attempted to take the PAPA or Praxis I. 60/95 have passed all three modules (63.1%) 25/95 have passed one or two modules 10/95 have failed all 3 modules Of the 30 who have not attempted to take the PAPA yet, 20 are freshmen, one is changing majors, one is a first semester sophomore this Spring and 8 are new transfer students. Page 2 of 5

3 Pass Rate Updates Pre-certification Tests (PECT only) Taken in the senior year; must take at least once prior to student teaching and required to pass before PDE certification. a) PreK-4 Majors (PECT) Total PreK-4 seniors in the calendar year 17 8/17 have passed all three modules (47%) / State N/A Of the 9 who haven t passed, 4 were December graduates from Schuylkill and 5 will be May graduates from Reading campus b) Special Education PreK-8 (PECT) Total PreK-4 with Special Ed seniors in the calendar year 9 5/9 have passed both modules (55.5%) / State N/A Of the 4 who haven t passed, all 4 will be May graduates from Reading campus c) Middle Level (4-8) (PECT) Total Middle Level (4-8) seniors in the calendar year-4 3/4 have passed all modules for their chosen content area(s) (75%) / State 95% The one who hasn t yet passed will be a May graduate from the Reading campus d) Secondary Education Total Secondary Education seniors in the calendar year one (one other will student teach in the Fall 2014 term) This student has not yet passed his Math Praxis II exam, but is expected to graduate in May Students must pass Praxis II in their chosen content area; there is no pedagogy test for Secondary Education. (Note: The percentages noted above are for CURRENTLY enrolled students or those who completed their Education courses in December Students who completed prior to this year but did not take their certification tests until this year will be counted in the final pass rates to be calculated in August). Pre-License BSN and RN-BSN Completion Program in Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Last Accreditation Process: April 2005 received full 10-year approval with all standards met. A concern was noted that faculty did not have depth as evidenced by doctoral preparation and experience teaching in BSN-level program. (Only one faculty had a terminal degree in 2005; currently five faculty have terminal degrees, and five others are enrolled in programs.) A Substantive Change was submitted to CCNE on October 6, 2013 related to: 1) student retention rates in the pre-license program falling below the expected standard of 70%, 2) the significant increase in student enrollment, and 3) off-site RN-BSN program at Montgomery County Community College. Page 3 of 5

4 Master of Nursing Science Program (MSN) Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Initial Self-Study and On-Site Visit: April 1, 2011 Accreditation granted per CCNE letter dated for five years. All standards met; however, concerns identified include nursing faculty s heavy workload related to entire unit. A Substantive Change was submitted to CCNE January 2014 related to the new Leadership Track in the MSN program. Pre-License BSN Program PA State Board of Nursing (SBN) Full Approval: October 2004 For the May 2013 graduating class, first-time national licensure exam pass rates are: 80.43% with one outstanding. The national NCLEX first time pass rate average for was 84%. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing s benchmark is 80%. For the May 2013 graduating class, first-time national licensure exam pass rates are: NUR 81% 33/41 (1 outstanding) 86% reported on State Board of Nursing Website due to holdovers from previous year 98% all subsequent attempts The Nursing Department is engaged in a self-study in preparation for a full CCNE review for the pre-license BSN, RN-BSN and MSN Programs. The on-site evaluation visit is scheduled for September 29-October 1, Occupational Therapy Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) Accreditation Status: Accredited Term: 7 years Interim Report: April 2016 Next On-Site Evaluation: 2019/2020 Annual Report: Submitted online Accepted by ACOTE in letter dated May 28, 2013 Area of non-compliance cited May 27, 2010 the 3 year average pass rate for first time test takers on the NBCOT exam below the standard of 70%. March 25, 2013, Final Progress Report sent - accepted by ACOTE in letter dated May 28, 2013 stating that the area of non-compliance was considered fully corrected. No further action is required. A Substantive Change was submitted to ACOTE for the addition of an Entry-Level MSOT cohort. Approval received in letter dated August 12, Page 4 of 5

5 Comparison of Alvernia First-time test taker pass rate to national average: January-June Alvernia National Alvernia National Alvernia National 75% 91% 75% 85% 94% 84% To date, 92% of the class of 2013 passed when multiple attempts are included. No data available for state (PA) comparisons or for national data overall pass with multiple attempts. Social Work Council on Social Work Education Reaffirmation: Approval in November 2011 for full eight-year cycle. Concern: Clarify policy for Field Work Director assignment. Next Reaffirmation: October 2019 Physical Therapy Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) The Application for Candidacy was submitted to CAPTE on June 1, The on-site evaluation team visit will be the last of July A substantive change for new level of program (practice doctorate) was provisionally approved by Middle States, pending the outcome of the CAPTE approval. Blue changes Green above average Red below average Page 5 of 5