Kaua‘i community college

Self Evaluation

While all units are represented on the College Council, the participation of ASUH-KCC and Unit 1 has been sporadic (College Council Notes).

The accreditation self study process includes all units of the campus, administration, faculty, staff, and students. Participation in this process is informative and provides opportunities for input on institutional efforts to improve learning and to review the mission and the goals of the college.
Each unit is scheduled to do a program review and/or an annual program review update (APRU) and this involves all members of the unit (APRUs and Program Review Calendar).
New students are given a Student Handbook. All students belonging to ASUH-KCC are invited to participate at the ASUH-KCC meetings. Meeting notice flyers are posted throughout the campus. ASUH-KCC meeting minutes are posted on the ASUH-KCC bulletin board located at the Learning Center. ASUH-KCC is exploring the development of a website which would include its constitution and bylaws.
Improving collegial communication and cooperation are priorities of the institution. Each constituent group has an avenue and means by which its comments and concerns are being heard (e.g., College Council and ASUH-KCC Meetings).
According to the Kaua‘i Community College Self Study Survey conducted on October 21, 2005:

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  54.4 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that, “Every effort is made to keep faculty, staff, students, and administrators informed of their respective roles.”
  

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  50.6 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that, “The staff at the college is given essential information about institutional efforts to achieve goals and improve learning.”
  

This indicates that about 50 percent of the respondents may feel that communication across the campus could be more effective.

Planning Agenda

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  The college generally meets the standard. However, improvement is clearly needed.
  

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  Each unit should explore the need for periodic meetings to further discuss campus issues. More time should be allowed in order that input from each unit is considered before the College Council makes any decision.
  

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  After analyzing the current survey results, the Kaua‘i Community College Self Study Survey questions should be re-evaluated. Thereafter, conducting an ongoing survey would be beneficial in collecting data for improvement.
  

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  For important issues, the following means of communication could be explored: general assembly for entire college with oral presentation of findings along with a hard copy and email sent to everyone so that those who are not present at the general assembly can also be informed. Whenever there is important news, information could be disseminated through these three means.
  

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  The college is exploring the possible reorganization of the operational structure to a more clearly defined responsibility. A Kaua‘i Community College Governance Manual could facilitate communication to all units of the campus. This manual should include all governance policies, duties and responsibilities of each unit, the schedule of deadlines, and flow charts that indicate chain of command and flow of information.
  

IV.A.4. The institution advocates and demonstrates honesty and integrity in its relationships with external agencies. It agrees to comply with Accrediting Commission standards, policies, and guidelines, and Commission requirements for public disclosure, self study and other reports, team visits, and prior approval of substantive changes. The institution moves expeditiously to respond to recommendations made by the Commission.

Descriptive Summary

Kaua‘i Community College demonstrates honesty and integrity in its relationships with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges in the Western Associate of Schools and Colleges through its actions and responses to Commission recommendations.

In October 2000, Kaua‘i Community College submitted its institutional self study to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The college was later visited by a seven-member team appointed by the ACCJC to conduct a comprehensive visit to validate the college’s self study report in relationship to the ten standards of accreditation, to evaluate the progress made on previous recommendations, and to provide additional recommendations to assist the college. The accreditation commission reaffirmed Kaua‘i Community College’s accreditation and required the campus to submit an interim report. The interim report was to address the seven recommendations made by the evaluation team.
In October 2002, Kaua‘i Community College submitted its Interim Accreditation Report addressing the seven recommendations made by the Accreditation Commission in 2000. Kaua‘i Community College was issued a warning and asked to correct the deficiencies noted. The warning was issued because the college did not show progress on the development of a comprehensive and formal program review process. Three other focus recommendations were also made.
In October 2003, Kaua‘i Community College submitted a Focus Midterm Report addressing all four of the focus recommendations and describing the progress made on all seven recommendations made in 2000. Although the college was able to satisfy some of the recommendations, the primary recommendation that triggered the warning was not adequately addressed. The warning status continued with recommendations for the UH System and Kaua‘i Community College.
In October 2004, Kaua‘i Community College submitted a Progress Report addressing Recommendation #4 (Program Review), Recommendation #6 (Technology Plan) and recommendation for the UH Community College System. After a visitation by an evaluation team, the Accreditation Commission accepted the progress report but continued the warning and asked the campus to address the deficiencies noted. Recommendations were made for the UH System on governance and the following three recommendations to Kaua‘i Community College: (#2) Dissemination of course frequency and anticipated time, (#4) Program Review, and (#6) A Technology Plan. Progress was made on Program Review but there is a need to refine the process to become more data rich and informative.

In October 2005, Kaua‘i Community College submitted a Progress Report addressing the recommendations made by the Commission in 2004. The college addressed Recommendation #2 by developing a Multi Year Plan of Offerings. This format provides data that is useful in program review. The college addressed Recommendation #4 by completing the program reviews, engaging in Annual Program Review Updates, adhering to the schedule of reviews for 2004-2005 and using data from review in decision-making processes. The college addressed Recommendation #6 by fully implementing its technology plan. Systemwide recommendations were addressed. Upon review of the progress report and the recommendation of the evaluation team, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges removed the warning, with requirements that the college complete a progress report in October 2005.

The college conveys accurate information on institutional effectiveness and accreditation through its general catalog. On the college website under annual Institutional Effectiveness the college presents its mission, long-range plans, goals and Student Learning Outcomes. The website also contains the college reports submitted to the Accreditation Commission. The college’s Reports to the Accreditation Commission and the Accreditation Commission’s responses and recommendations are available in the college library for public viewing. There are also copies of the Accreditation Commission responses and recommendations on CampusDocs.

Course offerings are presented in a schedule of courses published each semester in the local paper. General information about the college and its programs are also available in a campus view-book. In 2003, the college began using a website, kauai.hawaii.edu, to supplement and enhance printed documentation. Every effort is made to insure accuracy and timeliness of information provided to our students and the public.

Multiple reviews of the material by the division, Dean of Instruction, Curriculum Committee and Media Services are done to eliminate errors. The ability to amend errors found in electronic materials also provides for accurate and current information.

Title III funding program requires annual reports, budgetary readjustments and data analysis before the release of subsequent year allocations. Kaua‘i Community College was successful over the past five years in obtaining each year’s allocation (Exhibit IV-5: Title III Annual Report). Kaua‘i Community College was also successful in securing new Title III allocations under The Native Hawaiian Service Institution Program for another five-year period. The college is audited annually because it administers federal funds through the U.S. Department of Education. We have addressed findings in Institutional Corrective Responses (Exhibit IV-6: Kaua‘i Community College Audit and Corrective Responses).

Self Evaluation
Kaua‘i Community College, through its efforts to comply and respond to the recommendation by the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and its dealings with the U.S. Department of Education demonstrates integrity and its willingness to be open and honest.
In the past, some units of the college have had a difficult time with understanding the mechanisms and implications of the recommendation based on program reviews. Time was spent to define the parameters, develop the mechanism, change mindsets, and generate the result for program review. The campus now recognizes the importance of the program review process as revealed in a recent KCC self study survey where 58 percent of the campus agreed that program review has been useful, 28 percent were neutral, and only 10 percent were in disagreement. Enrichment and refinement of program reviews with more data that can be used by individual faculty will accelerate the use of program review information to make decisions on all levels.
The college makes every effort to provide accurate and timely information to its students. The college has been forthright with the public and students about accreditation and has provided them access to the appropriate documentation. The college website has increased in popularity among students; still, a printed version of the catalog is available at the KCC Bookstore. In a recent KCC Self Study Survey, 79 percent of the campus agreed that Kaua‘i Community College provides accurate updated class schedules, catalogs and promotional information on its website. The catalog lists all courses but not the frequency of offerings. Some courses have not been offered for several semesters. In addition, it is difficult to search the electronic catalog.
Kaua‘i Community College also demonstrates honesty and integrity with the US Department of Education through financial audits and annual reports.
Planning Agenda

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  The process of self evaluation is essential and integral to the institution’s ability to demonstrate integrity, effectiveness and quality. Kaua‘i Community College will continue to actively evaluate its programs through the program review process and continue to address recommendations by the Accreditation Commission that will improve our ability to meet the needs of our community.
  

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  The electronic catalog should be revised so that students can search directly by keyword or alphabet. The list of courses in the catalog should be revised to reflect the courses that are currently offered on the campus.
  

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  The college will continue to demonstrate its fiduciary responsibility by audits of its handling of federal funds and continue to provide annual accounting and data analysis.
  

IV.A.5. The role of leadership and the institution’s governance and decision-making structures and processes are regularly evaluated to assure their integrity and effectiveness. The institution widely communicates the results of these evaluations and uses them as the basis for improvement.