Workshops on Verification: a) SSR and Display Materials, b) Evidence via Interviews – HAUI

Instructor:        Dr. Scott Danielson -- Arizona State University,  Mr. Thai Tran 
Attendees:     HAUI Quality Assurance Staff and Interested Program Accreditation Team Members

Background:     Most accrediting/evaluation agencies and organizations use a peer-review process to assure programs meet standards of compliance with evaluation criteria. Usually, this process utilizes a two-step process in which assessors first evaluate a program’s self-study report, SSR, or self-assessment report, SAR—sometimes called a desktop assessment. The second step usually involves a site visit, although in current times a site visit may be done via distance technology, e.g., Zoom. The first step, the initial review of the SSR forms a preliminary assessment of the program compliance with criteria. Thus, the SSR/SAR is a very critical document as it sets the stage for the rest of the evaluation. The SSR serves as the basis for an initial quantitative and qualitative assessment of program strengths and limitations. As the second step, the site visit allows the assessment team to evaluate factors that cannot be adequately described in written form and to confirm, via additional evidence, the statements made in the SSR/SAR. It is upon this more complete evaluation that the team makes its recommendations about program compliance with the criteria.

Expected Outcomes:  The workshops seek to provide information and “best practices” for HAUI leaders, quality assurance staff and program accreditation teams related to helping the evaluators verify SSR contents/statements during the onsite/Zoom evaluation phase. The first workshop focuses on techniques used by evaluators to verify key information and documents mentioned in the SSR/SAR using documents provided during the on-site visit (either hardcopy or electronic materials if a virtual visit). Selected evaluation criteria/standards will be used to provide context.  

The second workshop focuses on interviews—individual and group—with students, faculty members, administrators and staff. These interviews may be one-on-one for high level administrators and program leaders. Lecturers may have individual interviews or as groups of lecturers. Students and laboratory staff may also be group interviews. Different techniques and questions are often used with these groups—yet the questions are based on a common objective—providing evidence related to compliance with criteria.