From the Desk of the Chancellor, March 28, 2011

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While the city is gearing up for hosting Super Bowl 2012, IUPUI is also preparing for a visit—from the  Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

Every 10 years, the HLC sends an evaluation team to review  IUPUI’s accreditation and recommend whether it be renewed. (Accreditation is required to receive federal funds and be eligible for accreditation by disciplinary and professional accreditors). The focus of the upcoming review is developing assessment rubrics, especially those relevant to our award-winning Principles of Undergraduate Learning (PULs). These rubrics constitute a scoring or rating guide that is intended to standardize the evaluation of courses for purposes of comparison.

With the leadership of our 2012 Committee, much work has already taken place. So far, faculty in virtually every undergraduate department have identified for each of more than 1,500 courses one, two, or three PULs emphasized through class activities and assignments. Drawing on this information, staff in the Offices of the Registrar and Information Management and Institutional Research have created a database identifying PULs associated with courses. With this information, faculty members and advisors can readily determine which PULs are addressed in an academic program or individual student’s plan of study. Campuswide summaries will supply evidence for accreditors and other external stakeholders of students’ attainment of the PULs as they near graduation. Similar summary reports will provide evidence for use at the school level as faculty seek the most effective pedagogy and curriculum for advancing student achievement of the PULs. This monumental effort by faculty and staff across campus is compelling evidence of IUPUI’s commitment to forward-looking best practices in teaching and learning, and my thanks go to all those involved.

Our commitment to this project is a new example of why IUPUI was recognized for “Building a Culture of Evidence to Improve Learning,” by the National Consortium for Continuous Improvement.

To learn more about the 2012 reaccreditation, plan to attend the upcoming Town Hall meetings, each of which is focused on criteria under which we will be evaluated. For more information, and to preregister, go to http://academicaffairs.iupui.edu/events/. All meetings take place in the University Library’s Ruth Lilly Auditorium.

Criterion 5: Engagement and Service
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
3:30 – 5 p.m.

Criterion 4: Acquisition, Discovery, and Application of Knowledge
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
3:30 – 5 p.m.

Criterion 3: Student Learning and Effective Teaching
Thursday, April 14, 2011
10:30 a.m. - Noon

Criterion 1: Mission and Integrity
Criterion 2: Preparing for the Future
Monday, April 18, 2011
3:30 – 5 p.m.

Comments? Write chancllr@iupui.edu.