Accreditation Working Groups:
Charges and Memberships

We take advantage of the 2010 re-accreditation self-study process by identifying a set of important topics that reflect the criteria for accreditation, but that are also of intrinsic interest to the University of Michigan. The formation of accreditation working groups (AWGs) provides us with a structure to identify questions we wish to explore, to engage people across campus in discussion over those questions, and to consider and formulate strategies for action. Each AWG broadly links to accreditation criteria, while focusing on aspects that are of greatest relevance to the campus.

The leaders of five accreditation working groups (AWGs) are committed to assisting the University in this self-study. The five working group topics are: the organizational dimensions of internationalization; the academic dimensions of internationalization; the student learning environment; the University's knowledge environment; and the University’s role in engagement, service, and outreach.

Chair: Eric Dey, Associate Professor in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, School of Education

Charge: Assessing how and why our educational programs contribute to the learning and development of our students is an important concern at the University of Michigan, and we wish to expand on our collective understanding of the wide range of related activities. The accreditation working group on the learning environment seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current conditions of and opportunities for developing effective programs of educational assessment at the University. The goal of the group is not simply to identify and showcase the best and most promising assessment practices on campus, but also to uncover the current range of ongoing activities, and to uncover both barriers and enabling mechanisms.

Drawing upon faculty from various academic programs the working group seeks to identify and learn from a broad range of expertise embedded within the University community. The effort is made more complex by the distributed nature of the University and by assessment efforts that span the range of our enterprise. Such efforts include the work of individual educators, efforts aligned with academic majors and programs, and efforts in the Schools and Colleges. As such, the working group will connect to faculty colleagues who are currently engaging in (or interested in developing) assessment work, but also to individuals working in critical educational support roles throughout the University, including student affairs personnel, learning support staff, assessment and technical experts. (Mapping to Criterion 3: Student Learning and Effective Teaching. The organization provides evidence of student learning and teaching effectiveness that demonstrates it is fulfilling its educational mission.)

Membership:
James Cogswell, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Art, Art & Design
Brian Coppola, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Chemistry, LSA
Deborah Goldberg, Elzada U. Clover Collegiate Professor of Biology, LSA
Pat Gurin, Nancy Cantor Distinguished University Professor Emerita of Psychology and Women's Studies, LSA
Rajesh Mangrulkar, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School
Perry Samson, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Atmospheric Science, Engineering
Rich Tolman, Professor of Social Work, Social Work

Report

Chair: June Howard, Professor of English, American Culture and Women’s Studies, LSA

Charge: The University promotes a life of learning for its faculty, administration, staff, and students through inquiry, creativity, practice and social responsibility. The working group on the knowledge environment will explore the distinctive role of research, professional and creative practices at the University. These activities are intertwined, in many ways and at every level, with our educational work. Knowledge production is not only responsive to changing social needs, but is also itself an engine of change. The working group will examine how understandings of our research mission are consistent or varied across the campus; what is distinctive or even unique about the knowledge environment at the University of Michigan; how research and creative practices are integrated in graduate, professional, and undergraduate education. It will work to identify key emerging trends and opportunities. (Mapping to Criterion 4: Acquisition, Discovery, and Application of Knowledge. The organization promotes a life of learning for its faculty, administration, staff, and students by fostering and supporting inquiry, creativity, practice, and social responsibility in ways consistent with its mission.)

Membership:
Mark Burns, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, LSA
Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Distinguished University Professor of Middle Eastern and South Asian History, LSA
Jane Dutton, Robert L. Kahn Distinguished University Professor of Business Administration and Psychology, Ross School of Business and LSA
Scott Page, Professor of Political Science, Complex Systems, and Economics, LSA
James Shayman, Professor of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, Medical School
John Wilkin, Associate University Librarian, University Library
Marianetta Porter, Professor of Art, Art & Design

Report

Chair: Margaret Dewar, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture + Urban Planning, and Director of the Ginsberg Center

Charge: The University cares deeply how its work intersects with the lives of individuals and organizations on and off campus, through local, state, national and international interactions and endeavors. The societal value of our activities is deep and we interact with a great number of individuals and groups. After defining our constituents and their needs, a dialogue about the services of the University is needed to map effective engagement and outreach activities. The working group on the University’s engagement and service activities will explore the role of engagement and service activities in our educational, research, professional, and creative endeavors, and how they benefit and serve the needs of our constituents and their communities. (Mapping to Criterion 5: Engagement and Service. As called for by its mission, the organization identifies its constituencies and serves them in ways both value.)

Membership:
Julie Ellison, Professor of English and American Culture, LSA, and Professor, Art & Design
Tony England, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, Engineering
Lorraine Gutierrez, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Social Work, Social Work & Professor of Psychology, LSA
Barbara Israel, Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education, Public Health
Richard Redman, Professor, Nursing
Alford Young, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor & Associate Professor of Sociology and Afroamerican and African Studies, LSA
Thomas Kinnear, Eugene Applebaum Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies & Professor of Marketing, Ross School of Business

Report

Chair: Mark Tessler, (Samuel J. Eldersveld Collegiate) Professor of Political Science, LS&A and ISR, Vice Provost for International Affairs, and Director of the International Institute

Charge: An increasingly interconnected world demands that our students be aware of and appreciate its social and cultural diversity. Developing students’ global awareness calls for campus discussion and, perhaps, enrichment and refinement of the teaching and research goals of the University of Michigan. Operating in today’s global environment requires ever greater attention to developing the knowledge and skills both of faculty and of students in our undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The accreditation working group on the academic dimensions of internationalization will explore the academic needs and goals born of a broadened international perspective, and will work toward strengthening our students’ international exposure and experience. Understanding of global perspectives can be achieved, for example, through curricular innovations and education abroad experiences, each of which poses both opportunities and challenges. The working group will explore these opportunities and challenges, suggesting possibilities for action where appropriate, with a view toward sustaining, expanding and bringing increased distinction of the international dimension of the University’s mission. (Mapping to Special-Emphasis Study on Internationalization)

Membership:
Kathleen Canning, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of History, LSA
Alan Deardorff, John W. Sweetland Professor of International Economics, and Economics and Public Policy, Ford School of Public Policy
Mary Gallagher, Associate Professor of Political Science, LSA
Daniel Herwitz, Professor of History of Art, Philosophy, and Comparative Literature, LSA, and Professor of Art & Design
James Holloway, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor & Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, Engineering
Peggy McCracken, Professor of French & Professor of Women's Studies, Romance Languages, LSA
Rachel Snow, Associate Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education, Public Health

Report

Chair: John Greisberger, Director of the International Center

Charge: Offering expanded opportunities for our students to experience today’s interconnected world places new organizational demands on the supporting infrastructure at the University of Michigan. Whereas thousands of undergraduate and graduate students already have international educational experiences, the expectation that their numbers will significantly increase requires a campus-wide analysis of the existing support structures and especially of our future needs. The accreditation working group on the organizational dimensions of internationalization will examine the current structures in support of a wide array of international activities including study, research, internships and service abroad, international students and visiting scholars, and collaborations with other institutions. The group will also focus on the expected increase in international activities during the coming decade. (Mapping to Special-Emphasis Study on Internationalization)

Membership:
Amy Conger, Director, International Programs in Engineering
Evans Young, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education, LSA
Amy Kehoe, Academic and Research Program Officer Associate, International Institute
David Baum, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Law
Joe Trumpey, Associate Professor of Art, Art & Design

Report

U-Record: Provost appoints accreditation working groups

May 7, 2009 Forum: Agenda and Presentations
U-Record: Working groups present initial findings at provost's forum

AWG reports