Accreditation

Information for Campus

Six peer reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission will be on campus on Monday, March 25, 2013, until Wednesday, March 27. They will hold formal meetings with faculty, staff, and students and may also talk with you as you walk on campus. Be sure you are familiar with Butler's mission and commitments and look over the self-study report prior to the visit.

Possible Questions for the Butler Campus

The following is a list of questions peer reviewers have asked in the past regardless of the institution they were visiting. The list is not exhaustive and some of the questions overlap. Undoubtedly, there will be additional questions.

Questions for Faculty ~ Show Information

  1. Have you read or seen the self-study?
  2. What do you know about accreditation?
  3. How would you describe Butler's mission? Do you know where to find the official statement?
  4. How are your departmental and/or divisional policies and procedures consistent with Butler's mission? How do you contribute to the mission?
  5. What are Butler's greatest strengths? Greatest weaknesses?
  6. What do you see as special about a Butler education?
  7. What do you think about campus climate? About diversity on campus? How do you contribute positively to campus climate?
  8. There has been significant change administratively in the past 18 months.  How do you think that is changing Butler? For better or not?
  9. Talk about the tenure and promotion process. Do you have particular concerns about any of this?
  10. The Faculty Senate model is still relatively new - how's it working?  Strengths and weaknesses?  Talk about shared governance in general and how faculty participate in decision-making.
  11. How would you characterize the communication between faculty and administration? What works, what needs improvement?
  12. Describe the relationship(s) among the six colleges.  Are there areas of consensus or examples of working together?
  13. Talk about resources that support faculty - e.g., library, internal grants, external grant assistance, faculty development, etc.  What are particular unmet needs in these areas?
  14. What's the culture of assessment on campus? Has your department or program contributed? Where do you need more help?
  15. For some usual faculty issues: teaching load, salary, sabbatical leaves, etc., what works well and where do you have areas of concern?
  16. What's it like to work here? How's morale?
  17. What are the biggest challenges for your program or department?
  18. Do you feel as if academics is the "driver" of the university? Why or why not?

Questions for Staff ~ Show Information

  1. Have you read or seen the self-study?
  2. What do you know about accreditation?
  3. How would you describe Butler's mission? Do you know where to find the official statement?
  4. How are your departmental and/or divisional policies and procedures consistent with Butler's mission? How do you contribute to the mission?
  5. What are Butler's greatest strengths? Greatest weaknesses?
  6. What do you see as special about a Butler education?
  7. What do you think about campus climate? About diversity on campus? How do you contribute positively to campus climate?
  8. Talk about what it is like to be a staff member at Butler. What opportunities do you have for professional development? Are they adequate?
  9. What kind of changes are taking place within the university? Do you see these as positive or not?
  10. How would you characterize communication between staff and administration? Between staff and faculty?
  11. What are some important benefits to working here? What do you like best about your job?  What things do you wish could be changed or improved? How is staff morale in general?
  12. Can you give some examples of different units across campus working together? Where do opportunities exist to improve this?
  13. What opportunities exist to improve processes or efficiencies on campus?
  14. How effective is Staff Assembly at giving the staff a voice in institutional governance?

Questions for Students ~ Show Information

  1. Have you read or seen the self-study?
  2. What do you know about accreditation?
  3. How would you describe Butler's mission? Do you know where to find the official statement?
  4. What are Butler's greatest strengths? Greatest weaknesses?
  5. What do you see as special about a Butler education?
  6. Why did you choose Butler? Have your expectations been met?
  7. Would you recommend Butler to other students?
  8. What would you change about Butler if you could?
  9. What do you like best about Butler? Least?
  10. Can you get the courses you need in a timely way?
  11. Do you have the opportunity to provide input to the administration?
  12. Do you know where to go to:  Get academic advice? Get Career advice? Receive personal counseling? Make a complaint?
  13. Do you use the library? Tutoring services? Other academic support services such as the LRC? How are they working for you?
  14. Describe the relationship between students and faculty. How could it be improved?

Town Hall Meetings

Pre-Visit Faculty/Staff Open Fora ~ Show Information

  • Thursday, February 28, 3-4 p.m., JH 141
  • Friday, March 1, 10-11 a.m., JH 141

HLC Visit Open Meetings ~ Show Information

  • Faculty (non-administrative) on Monday, March 25 at 4:15 p.m. in Jordan Hall, Room 141
  • Staff (non-administrative) on Tuesday, March 26 at 2 p.m. in Jordan Hall, Room 141
  • Students on Tuesday, March 26 at 4 p.m. in Jordan Hall, Rm. 141

HLC Site Visit Team

Team Members ~ Show Information

Dr. Susan Wright (Team Chair)
Deputy Provost
Drake University

Dr. Margaret L Bloom
Professor, Education/Counseling Psychology
Marquette University

Dr. Scott A. Chadwick
Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Xavier University

Dr. Nancy J. Holland
Professor of Philosophy
Hamline University

Dr. Susan J. Lindahl
Chief Operating Officer
Baker University

Dr. C. Pat Taylor
President
Southwest Baptist University