William C. Phillips III

An SIUC search committee has selected a faculty member to lead the University in analyzing its academic programs after the University’s failure to meet a mandate by an accreditation group.

Sheila Brutten, associate professor of linguistics, was chosen by a University search committee last semester to lead a group of SIUC educators to assess the academic programs at SIUC. She began working at her new position on Jan. 1.

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Brutten said the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Institutions of Higher Education is a university and college accreditation group that requires universities to send in assessment plans during a ten-year accreditation period.

Brutten said the University sent in an assessment program, but North Central sent it back with a letter requesting revision.

They sent it back for revision, and the University has to put something together that North Central will accept, she said.

Brutten said a letter from the group said SIUC’s assessment did not meet the commission’s expectations.

Allen Kyle Perkins, vice-chancellor for academic affairs, said the assessment plan was sent back because SIUC did not have an overall assessment plan related to the University’s focus.

We sent in what each department academic plans were, he said. I collected each college assessment of their department and put them together.

Perkins said accredited universities meet the guidelines stipulated by North Central.

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North Central has a long list of requirements that we must meet, Perkins said. Generally, accredited schools have higher recognition than unaccredited universities.

The campus-wide assessment committee is co-chaired by Perkins and Donald Beggs, Dean of the College of Education. Representatives from eight academic colleges and the Faculty Senate are also on the committee.

Perkins said Brutten was selected because she is a self-starter and her past research has focused on testing and assessment.

She has the necessary background and training for the position, Perkins said.

Brutten said the assessment program is vitally important.

Brutten will be responsible for developing a master plan with the assistance of a committee of college administrators for ongoing student assessments by all academic units, Perkins.

Brutten is responsible for coordinating, implementing and supervising the assessment program at department levels, Perkins said.

Beggs said the committee is planning to let students know how well they are doing in their programs.

The effort in the assessment program is to provide feedback to students and let them know how well they are doing and the criteria they will be judged by, he said.

Brutten said the committee meets regularly to establish a protocol from each of the appropriate degree programs, core curriculum, undergraduate programs and graduate programs.

Once all the additional information is received from the various departments and faculty, an entirely new document will have to be sent in by this June, she said.

After the various departments assess the objectives of the programs and how students are meeting those objectives, positive changes will be made to enhance the education students are receiving, Brutten said.

We want to offer the best possible education to students. By looking at programs and seeing how can we can make them better will only help students, she said. We are trying to gather information in order to make improvements where improvements need to be made.

Brutten said SIUC’s goal is not to harm the students but to improve the education they are receiving, ultimately improving the students themselves.

Once programs are assessed, courses will be added and changed, she said. Brutten said they want students to be better prepared when they leave this University.

If programs are doing a great job, that’s good, but if they are not, then we need to improve them for students, Brutten said.

The assessment is not just for the North Central report, Brutten said.

The assessment is not a one-shot deal, she said. It is an ongoing process.

Brutten, originally from New York, has been with the University since 1968. She received a bachelor of arts degree in speech and English from Adelphi University in New York and a master’s degree in speech pathology and audiology at SIUC.