SACS - Document Room

Compliance Audit Report and Documentation
Austin Peay State University
August 15, 2003

Comprehensive Standards - Compliance Audit Narrative and Supporting Documentation

See Detail	Judgment (Yes/No)	Standard
I-1	Yes	Institutional Mission The institution has a clear and comprehensive mission statement that guides it; is approved by the governing board; is periodically reviewed by the board; and is communicated to the institution's constituencies.
I-2	Yes	Governance and Administration The governing board of the institution is responsible for the selection and the evaluation of the chief executive officer.
I-3	Yes	Governance and Administration The legal authority and operating control of the institution are clearly defined for the following areas within the institution's governance structure: a) the institution's mission; b) the fiscal stability of the institution; c) institutional policy, including policies concerning related and affiliated corporate entities and all auxiliary services; d) related foundations (athletic, research, etc.) and other corporate entities whose primary purpose is to support the institution and/or its programs.
I-4	Yes	Governance and Administration The board has a policy addressing conflict of interest.
I-5	Yes	Governance and Administration The governing board is free from undue influence from political, religious, or other external bodies, and protects the institution from such influence.
I-6	Yes	Governance and Administration Members of the governing board can be dismissed only for cause and by due process.
I-7	Yes	Governance and Administration There is a clear and appropriate distinction, in writing and practice, between the policymaking functions of the governing board and the responsibility of the administration and faculty to administer and implement policy.
I-8	Yes	Governance and Administration The institution has a clearly defined and published organizational structure that delineates responsibility for the administration of policies.
I-9	Yes	Governance and Administration The institution has qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience, competence, and capacity to lead the institution.
I-10	Yes	Governance and Administration The institution defines and publishes policies regarding appointment and employment of faculty and staff.
I-11	Yes	Governance and Administration The institution evaluates the effectiveness of its administrators, including the chief executive officer, on a periodic basis.
I-12	Yes	Governance and Administration The institution's chief executive officer has ultimate responsibility for, and exercises appropriate administrative and fiscal control over, the institution's intercollegiate athletics program.
I-13	Yes	Governance and Administration The institution's chief executive officer has ultimate control of the institution's fund-raising activities.
I-14	Yes	Governance and Administration An institution-related foundation, not controlled by the institution, has a contractual or other formal agreement that (a) accurately describes the relationship between the institution and the foundation, and (b) describes any liability associated with that relationship. In all cases, the institution ensures that the relationship is consistent with its mission.
I-15	Yes	Governance and Administration The institution's policies are clear concerning ownership of materials, compensation, copyright issues, and the use of revenue derived from the creation and production of all intellectual property. This applies to students, faculty and staff.
I-16	Yes	Institutional Effectiveness The institution identifies expected outcomes for its educational programs and its administrative and educational support services; assesses whether it achieves these outcomes; and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis of those results.
P-1	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs (Includes all on-campus, off-campus, and distance learning programs.) The institution demonstrates that each educational program for which academic credit is awarded is (a) is approved by the faculty and the administration, and (b) establishes and evaluates program and learning outcomes.
P-2	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs (Includes all on-campus, off-campus, and distance learning programs.) The institution's continuing education, outreach, and service programs are consistent with the institution's mission.
P-3	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution publishes admissions policies consistent with its mission.
P-4	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution has a defined and published policy for evaluating, awarding, and accepting credit for transfer, experiential learning, advanced placement, and professional certificates that is consistent with its mission and ensures that course work and learning outcomes are at the collegiate level and comparable to the institution's own degree programs. The institution assumes responsibility for the academic quality of any course work or credit recorded on the institution's transcript.
P-5	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution publishes academic policies that adhere to principles of good educational practice. These are disseminated to students, faculty, and other interested parties through publications that accurately represent the programs and services of the institution.
P-6	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution employs sound and acceptable practices for determining the amount and level of credit awarded for courses, regardless of format or mode of delivery.
P-7	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution ensures the quality of educational programs/courses offered through consortia relationships or contractual agreements, ensures ongoing compliance with the comprehensive requirements, and evaluates the agreement against the purpose of the institution.
P-8	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution awards academic credit for course work taken on a noncredit basis only when there is documentation that the noncredit course work is equivalent to a designated credit experience.
P-9	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution provides appropriate academic support services.
P-10	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution defines and publishes general education and major program requirements for all its programs. These requirements conform to commonly accepted standards and practices for undergraduate programs as well as graduate and post-baccalaureate professional degree programs.
P-11	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution protects the security, confidentiality, and integrity of its student academic records and maintains special security measures to protect and back up data.
P-12	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution places primary responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of its curriculum with its faculty.
P-13	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs For each major in a degree program, the institution assigns responsibility for program coordination, as well as for curriculum development and review, to persons academically qualified in the field. In those degree programs for which the institution does not identify a major, this requirement applies to a curricular area or concentration.
P-14	Yes	Standards for All Educational Programs The institution's use of technology enhances student learning, is appropriate for meeting the objectives of its programs, and ensures that students have access to and training in the use of technology.
P-15	Yes	Standards Specific to Undergraduate Programs The institution identifies competencies within the general education core and provides evidence that graduates have attained those college-level competencies.
P-16	Yes	Standards Specific to Undergraduate Programs The institution awards degrees only to those students who have earned at least 25 percent of the credit hours required for the degree through instruction offered by that institution.
P-17	Yes	Standards Specific to Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Programs The institution's post-baccalaureate professional degree programs, and its master's and doctoral degree programs are progressively more advanced in academic content than undergraduate programs.
P-18	Yes	Standards Specific to Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Programs The institution ensures that its graduate instruction and resources foster independent learning, enabling the graduate to contribute to a profession or field of study.
P-19	Yes	Standards Specific to Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Programs The majority of credits toward a graduate or a post-baccalaureate professional degree is earned through the institution awarding the degree. In the case of graduate and post-baccalaureate professional degree programs offered through joint, cooperative, or consortia arrangements, the student earns a majority of credits from the participating institutions.
P-20	Yes	Faculty The institution employs competent faculty members qualified to accomplish the mission and goals of the institution. When determining acceptable qualifications of its faculty, an institution gives primary consideration to the highest earned degree in the discipline in accord with the guidelines listed below. The institution also considers competence, effectiveness, and capacity, including, as appropriate, undergraduate and graduate degrees, related work experiences in the field, professional licensure and certifications, honors and awards, continuous documented excellence in teaching, or other demonstrated competencies and achievements that contribute to effective teaching and student learning outcomes. For all cases, the institution is responsible for justifying and documenting the qualifications of all its faculty. Credential Guidelines: a) Faculty teaching general education courses at the undergraduate level: a doctoral or a master's degree in the teaching discipline or a master's degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline). b) Faculty teaching associate degree courses designed for transfer to a baccalaureate degree: a doctoral or a master's degree in the teaching discipline or a master's degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline). c) Faculty teaching associate degree courses not designed for transfer to the baccalaureate degree: a baccalaureate degree in the teaching discipline, or an associate degree and demonstrated competencies in the teaching discipline. d) Faculty teaching baccalaureate degree courses: a doctoral or a master's degree in the teaching discipline or a master's degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline). At least 25 percent of the discipline course hours in each undergraduate major are taught by faculty members holding the terminal degree-usually the earned doctorate--in the discipline. e) Faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate course work: earned doctorate/ terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline. f) Graduate teaching assistants: master's in the teaching discipline or 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline, direct supervision by a faculty member experienced in the teaching discipline, regular in-service training, and planned and periodic evaluations.
P-21	Yes	Faculty The institution regularly evaluates the effectiveness of each faculty member in accord with published criteria, regardless of contractual or tenured status.
P-22	Yes	Faculty The institution provides evidence of ongoing professional development of faculty as teachers, scholars, and practitioners.
P-23	Yes	Faculty The institution ensures adequate procedures for the safeguard and protection of academic freedom.
P-24	Yes	Faculty The institution publishes policies on the responsibility and authority of faculty in academic and governance matters.
P-25	Yes	Library and Other Learning Resources The institution provides facilities, services, and other learning/information resources that are appropriate to support its teaching, research, and service mission.
P-26	Yes	Library and Other Learning Resources The institution ensures that users have access to regular and timely instruction in the use of the library and other learning/information resources.
P-27	Yes	Library and Other Learning Resources The institution provides a sufficient number of qualified staff--with appropriate education or experiences both in library or other learning/information resources-to accomplish the mission of the institution.
P-28	Yes	Student Affairs and Services The institution publishes a clear and appropriate statement of student rights and responsibilities and disseminates the statement to the campus community.
P-29	Yes	Student Affairs and Services The institution protects the security, confidentiality, and integrity of its student records.
P-30	Yes	Student Affairs and Services The institution provides services supporting its mission with qualified personnel to ensure the quality and effectiveness of its student affairs programs.
F-1	Yes	Financial and Physical Resources The institution's recent financial history demonstrates financial stability.
F-2	Yes	Financial and Physical Resources The institution provides financial statements and related documents, including multiple measures for determining financial health as requested by the Commission, which accurately and appropriately represent the total operation of the institution.
F-3	Yes	Financial and Physical Resources The institution audits financial aid programs as required by federal and state regulations.
F-4	Yes	Financial and Physical Resources The institution exercises appropriate control over all its financial and physical resources.
F-5	Yes	Financial and Physical Resources The institution maintains financial control over externally funded or sponsored research and programs.
F-6	Yes	Financial and Physical Resources The institution takes reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community.
F-7	Yes	Financial and Physical Resources. The institution operates and maintains physical facilities, both on and off campus, that are adequate to serve the needs of the institution's educational programs, support services, and mission-related activities.
FED-1	Yes	Federal Mandates When evaluating success with respect to student achievement in relation to the institution's mission, the institution includes, as appropriate, consideration of course completion, state licensing examinations, and job placement rates.
FED-2	Yes	Federal Mandates The institution maintains a curriculum that is directly related and appropriate to the purpose and goals of the institution and the diplomas, certificates or degrees awarded.
FED-3	Yes	Federal Mandates The institution makes available to students and the public current academic calendars, grading policies, and refund policies.
FED-4	Yes	Federal Mandates The institution demonstrates that program length is appropriate for each of the degrees offered.
FED-5	Yes	Federal Mandates The institution has adequate procedures for addressing written student complaints and is responsible for demonstrating that it follows those procedures when resolving student complaints. (See Commission policy "The Review of Complaints Involving the Commission or its Accredited Institutions".)
FED-6	Yes	Federal Mandates Recruitment materials and presentations accurately represent the institution's practices and policies.
FED-7	Yes	Federal Mandates The institution publishes the name of its primary accreditor and its address and phone number. (The publication of this information is presented so that it is clear that inquiries to the Commission should relate only to the accreditation status of the institution, and not to general admission information.)
FED-8	Yes	Federal Mandates The institution is in compliance with its program responsibilities under Title IV of the 1998 Higher Education Amendments. (In reviewing the institution's compliance with these program responsibilities, the Commission relies on documentation forwarded to it by the Secretary of Education.)(Applies only to those institutions receiving Title IV funding.)