Treasurer's Report

New Board Member and Resignation

July 1998 Retreat

President's Report

Update on CHEA Activities

Government Relations Report

Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (CRAC)

Discussions with Presidential Associations

Specialized/ Professional/ National Accrediting Association Advisory Panel

September 28, 1998
Washington, DC

Members Present: Chair Gordon Haaland, Vice Chair John Casteen, III, Secretary Vera King Farris, Treasurer Ira Lechner, Robert Glidden, Barbara Brittingham, Edward Donley, Eleanor Baum, William DeLauder, Thomas Jackson, John Keyser, and David Winter.

Members Absent: Jacquelyn Belcher, Alfredo G. de los Santos Jr. and Dolores Sandoval.

Staff and Consultants Present: President Judith Eaton, Vice President Teddi Safman, Assistant to the President Monica Chestnut, Business Manager Mike Shapiro, Administrative Assistant Beverly Harper, Receptionist Toni Wethington, Accountant Steve Viscarra, Attorney Martin Michaelson and Consultant Gregory Fusco.

Chair Gordon Haaland called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. and welcomed all board members, staff and guests.

Treasurer's Report

Treasurer Lechner informed the board that the organization was financially sound. He stated that he was very pleased that the number of institutions that paid dues in 1997-98 has increased compared to 1996-97. The overall financial health of CHEA is excellent.

New Board Member and Resignation

Chair Haaland reported that Dr. Jacquelyn Belcher has resigned from the CHEA board of directors. The responsibilities at her institution, Georgia Perimeter College, preclude her active participation on the board. Director William DeLauder, chair of the nominating committee, will work to identify an individual for the board members to consider to succeed Director Belcher.

July 1998 Retreat

Chair Haaland stated that the board retreat was substantive and useful. Richard Lewis, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, the Open University and John Petersen, Director Emeritus, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, gave excellent presentations. The major topic discussed was assuring quality in distance education. Three major challenges for CHEA were identified: addressing current issues in distance learning; public engagement in accreditation; and addressing the intellectual fundamentals of higher education, such as answering "what is a course?" and "what is a degree?"

President's Report

1998-99 Revised Budget
 The revised 1998-99 expenditure budget was unanimously approved.

Recognition Policy and Procedures
President Eaton stated that CHEA has been working on a recognition policy since May 1997. A Taskforce on Recognition of board members, accreditors, institutional representatives and public members participated in this challenging activity. A number of drafts of the policy have been generated for board review. CHEA participating organizations offered suggestions to the taskforce and the board during two comment periods. President Eaton introduced Lawrence (Mac) Detmer, Executive Director of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), who chaired the taskforce and thanked him for doing an excellent job. She quickly reviewed the key provisions of the document and changes made based on the most recent comment period.

 President Eaton informed the board that CHEA plans to begin recognition reviews in 1999.

Chair Haaland suggested sending a letter thanking the taskforce for a job well done.

Director Vera King Farris moved and Director David Winter seconded a motion to approve the recognition policy effective January 1999. The motion passed unanimously

 The board of directors approves the CHEA Recognition of Accrediting Organizations Policy and Procedures to become effective January 1999. The board will review the Policy and Procedures in approximately one year to consider how well implementation of the recognition process is proceeding and any suggestions for change

 Chair Haaland indicated that the board passed the following resolution:

The CHEA board is mindful that CHEA’s mission addresses higher education and that other forms of post-secondary education also serve the public interest. CHEA supports the principle that post-secondary education should have access to accreditation and to recognition processes for accrediting organizations. CHEA’s president and staff will use their good offices, in consultation with representatives of the post-secondary education community, to advance that principle.

Mediation
President Eaton stated that the CHEA bylaws call for CHEA to provide mediation assistance to participating members. CHEA will be available to organizations and institutions that need assistance. The board material describes how CHEA will carry out this responsibility.

Progress Report: 1997-98 Workplan
President Eaton reviewed the progress report on the 1997-98 CHEA workplan, outlining CHEA’s various accomplishments.

Update on CHEA Activities

The good practices database is expected to be on CHEA’s website by the end of October 1998. A common data taskforce has been formed to arrive at some agreement about data elements that can be used for accreditation review. Examples of inter-organizational efforts among accreditors will be published in the next CHEA Chronicle. The next "Enhancing Usefulness of Accreditation" conference will be held in Chicago on June 17-18, 1999.

Government Relations Report

The reauthorization of the higher education act has cleared the conference committee but has not yet been to the floor of the House or Senate. If passed, measures include the repeal of SPRE and reduction of administrative burdens in accreditation standards for institutions and accreditors. Distance education will be subject to the same criteria as other programs, without new and additional standards. The new Distance Education Demonstration Program will include some recognition of the role of voluntary accreditation. Overall, HEA 98 is a major step forward.

Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (CRAC)

In the absence of Jim Rogers, Executive Director, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, President Eaton and Vice President Safman reported that they attended the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (CRAC) staff retreat in August 1998.

Discussions with Presidential Associations

The CHEA board invited members of the presidential associations to discuss with them key issues in accreditation. Representatives included Stanley Ikenberry, President, American Council on Education (ACE); David Warren, President the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU); and Jennifer Wingard, Director, Urban and Academic Programs, National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC).

Specialized/Professional/National Accrediting Association Advisory Panel

Carl Monk, Chair of the Specialized/Professional/National Accrediting Association Advisory Panel and Executive Director of the Association of American Law Schools, addressed the board on the activities of the advisory panel. He stated that the panel is looking forward to its planned meetings with chief academic officers and, in 1999, with regional accreditors.


The board of directors adjourned at 11:55 am.