The study groups are the backbone of the accreditation process. They provide a retrospective look at key areas of UMBC and assess how well it has achieved its mission and goals. The study groups are the analytical arms of the process, and through their work they provide evidence that supports their assessment of how well UMBC meets Middle States Characteristics of Excellence. They play a key role in helping to make a set of evidence-based recommendations to move UMBC forward.
In conjunction with the development of the campus strategic plan, the Self-Study provides the campus with an opportunity to reflect upon the past, discuss opportunities for institutional improvement, and help guide us to ways to improve as we move into the future.
Integrating the Work of the Strategic Planning Process into the Self Study’s Treatment of Mission and Goals
In addition to working closely with the Strategic Planning Steering Committees and Strategy Groups to summarize and condense the current and new strategic plan into the Self-Study, the Operating and Steering Committees of the Middle States Accreditation team will serve as a combined Study Group charged with preparing a draft chapter for the Self-Study that documents our compliance with the fundamental elements of Middle States Standard 1.
Study Group on Providing a Foundation for Effective Results: Planning, Budgeting, and Institutional Resources
In addition to coordinating their efforts with the Foundations Group that supports the Strategic Planning Process, the Planning and Budgeting Study Group is charged with preparing a draft chapter for the Self-Study that documents our compliance with the fundamental elements of Middle States Standards 2 and 3, and using assessment to improve Planning and Budgeting at the Strategic and Operational Levels.
Study Group on Assessing Results and Continuing the Development of a Formalized, Periodic, and Proactive Institutional Effectiveness Function
The Institutional Effectiveness Study Group is charged with preparing a draft chapter for the Self-Study that documents our compliance with the fundamental elements of Middle States Standard 7. Their report will help provide a foundation and benchmark for our institutional effectiveness efforts, using assessment to improve the performance of academic support units.
Study Group on Assessing Student Success and Learning Outcomes to Enhance Institutional Effectiveness
The Student Success Study Group is charged with preparing a draft chapter for the Self-Study that documents our compliance with the fundamental elements of Middle States Standard 14. Their report will help provide a foundation and benchmark for the portion of our institutional effectiveness efforts that focuses on student success and learning outcomes.
Study Group on Demonstrating Compliance through Document Review
This Study Group is charged with demonstrating our compliance with the standards and fundamental elements not covered in the selected topics design of the Self-Study by collecting relevant documents and developing an annotated bibliography, or roadmap, for each of the standards. In addition, the work of this group will extend further by using the accreditation efforts to take critical step towards the development of an enhanced information repository for our institutional effectiveness efforts as we move towards establishing a formal institutional effectiveness function.