SMU One Step Closer to Strategic Vision with New Capacity Review

A recently completed evaluation of Samuel Merritt University's institutional resources and ability to support student learning is required for reaccreditation, but it is much more than that. The review will bolster the University's efforts toward achieving national recognition as a premier health sciences institution.

This self-analysis, called the "Capacity and Preparatory Review," reveals that SMU is well positioned to fulfill its educational objectives. In particular, the review noted that the University's mission, vision and values statements - adopted in 2007 to better reflect its growth in students and programs - "brought new clarity, focus and vision to the institution as a whole."

Even when considering the impact of the current economic downturn, the report concluded that fiscal stability continues to be a strength of the University.

"This review was the result of two years of broadly based campus collaboration and enables us to move forward with bold steps to gain name-brand recognition in the higher educational marketplace," said Stephanie Bangert, Executive Director in the Office of the President.

At the start of the accreditation review in 2007, the University identified two guiding themes: achieving the vision to become nationally recognized and strengthening the culture of assessment.

To better measure performance, the University last year inaugurated an iPortfolio, an online repository of institutional facts, assessment activities, evidence and analysis of SMU's efforts to achieve and sustain its mission and core purposes. The data links measures of achievement and strategic goals in areas of student/faculty experience, learning, resources and financial performance. The data is available to prospective students, grant funding sources, accrediting agencies, college counselors and alumni.

"University leaders are proud of the progress we have made in developing effective systems of appraisal and are committed to cultivating a culture of continuous improvement," said Academic Vice President and Provost Scot Foster.
The study concluded with the following recommendations:

• Refine and establish metrics by which the University can measure attainment of the vision to be nationally recognized.
• Implement the full academic assessment system by March 2010.
• Develop the assessment system for co-curricular programming by March 2010.
• Evaluate the number of staff and job competencies required to achieve service goals set by the University.
• Expand institutional capacity for support of faculty scholarship, commensurate with graduate education.
• Refine Diversity Plan to incorporate indicators and goals for achieving a culture of inclusivity.
• Refine mechanisms of communication between and among divisions, schools, departments and programs.
• Continuously reevaluate student learning experiences and student services in the off-campus learning centers.
• Implement the master facilities plan developed between the University and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center to strengthen the student learning environment and accommodate capacity potentials.

The next step in the accreditation review will be a site visit by a team from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) on Nov. 17-19. The University will incorporate the team's recommendations with its own and then begin to implement an action plan. Progress on achieving the recommendations will be included in the Educational Effectiveness Review, a rigorous study of student learning outcomes required by WASC as the second stage of the review scheduled for 2011.

Article Contributed by Debra Holtz, writer

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