[The memorandum below was sent on March 1 to all unit heads (department chairs, deans, directors, and vice chancellors) requesting a unit self-study follow-up report. All faculty and staff are asked to assist and cooperate with your unit head in addressing weaknesses identified in your unit self-study report.]

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MEMORANDUM

TO: (This memorandum was sent to heads of all units that prepared self-study reports in Fall 2000.)

FROM: Ken Spackman, Self-Study Director

SUBJECT: Follow-up to unit self-study reports

DATE: March 1, 2001

The SACS Self-Study Steering Committee requests each unit that prepared a self-study unit report to prepare a follow-up report.

Purpose The purpose of a unit self-study follow-up report is to “close the loop” in the self-study process. A successful self-study identifies opportunities to improve, results in formulation of actions to be taken toward improvement, and then actually follows through with those plans. Follow-up reports from each unit will document that UNCW has conducted a thorough Self-Study that possesses each of the characteristics required by SACS.

Deadline October 15, 2001

Format The report should contain: 1) a general discussion of ways in which weaknesses identified by your self-study (or by the University’s Self-Study process in general) have been addressed; and 2) an itemized follow-up to each “recommendation” listed in your report, to include (not more than one page for each recommendation): text of recommendation, page number in your self-study report, relevant must statement (if applicable), responsible official, completed action (with completion date), anticipated action (with timeline), limitations to timely completion (if any), assessment (if appropriate), documentation (please supply copies of new policies, memoranda, etc.), and compliance status (if applicable). An e-mail reminder will be sent to you in September 2001. A template for preparation of your follow-up report will be available on the Self-Study Web site at that time.

Reason for early notification It takes time to remedy deficiencies, to plan and implement significant improvements, to formulate new policies and have them approved and implemented, or to put in place new assessment measures and use the results to improve operations. The time to begin the follow-up process is now. A belief that the Self-Study is completed for departments and units would be an error that would signal a serious deficiency in UNCW’s incorporation of institutional effectiveness.