EMILY RICHARDSON, Widener University
STEVEN CROW, President, The higher Learning Commission

    The recent release of the Spellings Commission Report on the Future of Higher Education calls upon institutions of higher education to be accountable for student learning. Yet, during the past few years, all of the regional accreditation agencies have had an increased focus on “outcomes.” This half-day event will provide all continuing education professionals an opportunity to understand how regional accreditation is not only holding colleges and universities accountable, but also how peer institutions are meeting this new challenge of measuring student learning outcomes.

    The Spellings Commission report tended to blur the lines between institutional accountability and accreditation. The Commission recommended the establishment of an easily accessible accreditation framework and reporting system that would allow comparisons of student learning outcomes among institutions nationally. Also, accreditation agencies were faulted for recommending that institutions hire additional staff rather than promote efficiencies in the face of rising tuition fees. Crow will discuss accreditation’s decade-long focus on student learning outcomes, why the one-size-fits-all approach to college performance is problematic, the type of conflict that can emerge when cultures of evidence diverge, and the need for higher education institutions to better connect with the public and its needs.