AQIP News

These are AQIP news items of interest to the broader campus community. Please check back often.

Fort Hays State University hosted its AQIP Quality Checkup Visit January 30 - February 2, 2007. The purpose of this accreditation visit was for improvement. The visit was designed to accomplish the following five tasks:

• Clarify questions about our Systems Portfolio (especially those identified opportunities for improvement)
• Check status of changes from our Systems Appraisal and second Strategy Forum
• Follow-up on Accreditation Issues (none have been identified for FHSU)
• Review federal compliance documents
• Assure FHSU's commitment to academic quality

Keep in mind, the United States Department of Education requires this visit to maintain eligibility for financial assistance.

FHSU received its Quality Checkup Report from the Higher Learning Commission in May 2007 resulting from the visit in early February.

On February 1-4, 2006, FHSU attended our second AQIP Strategy Forum. FHSU attended our first Strategy Forum in 2002, which allowed us to derive several AQIP Action Projects that have been implemented over the last three years. FHSU was represented by President Hammond, Provost Gould, Vice-Presidents Songer and Barnett, Senate President Jordan, SGA President Eisenhour, and Classified Senate President Woodford, Assistant Provost Crawford, and Regent Chair Donna Shank. AQIP asks each institution to build a set of approximately three Action Projects to take back to campus and implement, and this was the explicit goal of the FHSU team upon walking in.

Perhaps the best word to describe the results of our recent event is the word consensus. Be assured that constituencies were well represented, but each session was marked by a willingness to accomplish whatever was needed to propel the university forward.

Based on the information provided from our Systems Appraisal and the campus processing/ synthesizing of that information, the team was able to derive five strategic projects that the campus should address over the next four years. One particular project, however, takes precedence over the other four. The team determined that a review and revision of the current strategic plan would be useful. It was also decided that this review process would occur as soon as possible. Furthermore, it was also determined that the other four strategic projects would be entered into the revised strategic planning process. It is anticipated that substantial campus input will be required.

In short the list of strategic projects to be considered includes:
1. Review and revise the university strategic plan.
2. Improve the planning and assessment of student learning.
3. Enhance our mobile computing initiative.
4. Internationalize the campus.
5. Improve strategic enrollment management and retention.

If you have any questions concerning the new Action Projects, feel free to email or call Chris Crawford.

FHSU wins five Kansas Award of Excellence "Commitment to Excellence" Awards in 2003.

The outstanding quality improvement efforts for some departments and the university have been recognized by the Kansas Award for Excellence. The departments of Teacher Education, Justice Studies, Educational Administration and Counseling, and Forsyth Library were recognized for their efforts in committing to excellence in their respective areas. FHSU was also recognized as having a commitment to excellence, as is demonstrated through our on-going focus on the AQIP Quality Criteria.