AQIP Quality Check Up

• Introduction

• Summary of Teams’ Findings

• Visitors

• The Visit in Pictures

INTRODUCTION

As part of its participation in the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), Moraine Valley Community College underwent an onsite Quality CheckUp Visit on Feb. 17–19, 2010. Two trained AQIP Reviewers representing The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools visited the college to help us take actions that will move us toward actualizing our mission, vision, and potential. In preparation for this visit, Moraine Valley prepared this summary of our quality program.

The AQIP reviewers met with a variety of stakeholders, asking questions and learning more about the college’s programs and services – particularly those related to the AQIP reaccreditation process. The two-day visit included in-depth discussions of the following AQIP and accreditation components.

SUMMARY OF TEAMS’ FINDINGS

Team’s Summary: A review of the Systems Portfolio resulted in Moraine Valley’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) setting a collegewide priority focused on measuring data and using the results for improvement. A key effort will be made to use results trend data and benchmarking techniques to continue to improve college initiatives. The report was also reviewed to determine what the college is doing well and what opportunities could be used for improvement. The opportunities were coded into three categories: 1) miscommunication, 2) initiatives currently being addressed, and 3) opportunities that will be reviewed to determine how/if/when these recommendations will be pursued

In the team’s judgment, Moraine Valley Community College presented satisfactory evidence that it met this goal of the Quality Checkup. The institution’s approach to the issue, documentation, and performance were acceptable and comply with Commission and AQIP’s expectations.

Strategic Issue 1: Alignment the AQIP quality initiatives to the institutional strategic plan - Moraine Valley has made a concerted and sincere effort to align its quality initiatives with the college’s strategic plan as demonstrated by the Continuous Improvement Objective/Results (CIOR) Process and Planning Calendar

Strategic Issue 2: Designation of Moraine Valley as a Learning College – Moraine Valley continually asks itself: How will this action benefit learning, and how will we know?

• Strong evidence that Moraine Valley asks the first question consistently.
  o The college adopted CQI well before joining AQIP.
  o The college’s analysis and application of its Systems Appraisal Feedback Report is exemplary and should stand as a model for other AQIP colleges.
• The second question, “How do you know?” is being asked more consistently than in the past. A Culture of Evidence is slowly but consistently being built.
  o Qualitative evidence is used consistently, and now Moraine Valley needs to make decisions based on quantitative data.

Strategic Issue 3: Consistent application of the college’s CQI model - Moraine Valley has made determined progress in this area.

Strategic Issue 4: Systematize community outreach

• Moraine Business and Conference Center – opened fall 2009
• Southwest Education Center – opening in Tinley Park in fall 2010
• Expanding contract training activities

Strategic Issue 5: Utilize benchmark data – Moraine Valley is making determined and sincere efforts to utilize benchmark data with similar institutions in order to calculate its position nationally with regard to its quality efforts.

• Joined the National Community College Benchmarking Project
• Uses an effective approach to data collection by focusing on those student surveys that produce the most useful data and evidence.
• The college is cognizant of its position as a League for Innovation board school and seeks best practices when planning new initiatives.

Final Team Statement: In the team’s judgment, Moraine Valley Community College presented satisfactory evidence that it met this goal of the Quality Checkup. The institution’s approach to the issue, documentation, and performance were acceptable and comply with Commission and AQIP’s expectations.

• Moraine Valley is to be commended for its consistency in communicating its quality results.
• Moraine Valley has approached its Action Projects systematically and has consistently demonstrated quality improvement in addressing them.
• The college has learned that it needs to do better in focusing and prioritizing institutional initiatives.

Final Team statement: In the team’s judgment, Moraine Valley Community College presented satisfactory evidence that it met this goal of the Quality Checkup. The institution’s approach to the issue, documentation, and performance were acceptable and comply with Commission and AQIP’s expectations.

Additional Team Feedback: During the visit, the team met with a group of student leaders and a group of faculty and asked for the comments concerning what they liked best about Moraine Valley and what they would like to see improved.

Student Input—Without exception, the students highly respect the college's faculty and staff, and they all indicated that their Moraine Valley experience has changed their lives positively. Some of the comments included:

• “The school is always trying to improve."
• "The level of support is phenomenal, and the atmosphere is always welcoming."
• "The level of teaching is amazing."
• From a first-generation student: "Before I came here, I had no one to help me out. But here, the people at Moraine will always help you out."
• From a non-traditional student: "Cultural diversity is so natural here. There is no obvious racism."
• From a disabled vet: "Because of my disability, some days I can't get my work done. The instructors always understand and help me make it through my assignments."
• From a homeless student: "The staff here goes above and beyond their job descriptions; they have a genuine love for you."
• Comments for improvement centered around tuition and book cost and parking.

Faculty Input—The faculty made strongly positive statements about the college and its management. Even when offering suggestions for improvement, they would qualify themselves by saying that their offering these suggestions does not in any way mean that they are dissatisfied with their employment at the college. It was also apparent that professional respect exists among faculty. Some of the comments included:

• "The college is continually investing in our professional development."
• "Everybody, faculty and staff, is involved in student learning."
• "Considering the economic hardships off other colleges in the state, Moraine Valley is very well-managed."
• The relationship between the faculty association and the administration was characterized as "collegial" and "very professional."
• When asked if all faculty knew about AQIP, the statement was made that "AQIP has been talked about so much that everyone would know what part it plays here."
• "AQIP for faculty means assessment, and assessment, like the CIOR forms, makes what we are doing more transparent to everyone."
• Suggestions for improvement focused on the number of institutional projects and initiatives that are active at any one time. The desire was to restrict and prioritize them.

Assessment of Student Academic Achievement—The team also recognized Moraine Valley’s forward movement of assessment initiatives, and credited the support and resources provided by the college. Moraine Valley should be commended on the fact that, to one degree or another, all full-time faculty participate in outcomes assessment at the course level. This demonstrates a deep level of understanding of and commitment to quality improvement by the college’s faculty.

The full Quality Checkup Report is available here

AQIP QUALITY CHECK UP VISITORS

Moraine Valley acknowledges the hard work and support we received from our two trained AQIP reviewers conducted Moraine Valley’s AQIP Quality CheckUp Visit.

Dr. Dana Grove
Executive Vice President, Educational Planning and Development
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, Kansas

Ms. Barb Williams
Instructor
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Superior, Wisconsin

The Visit in Pictures