Reporting

Guidelines for Reports

The Steering Committee is responsible for the Self-Study report, and each work group is responsible for a portion of the Self-Study document. The product of each work group’s efforts will be summarized in the final report to Middle States. In fact, the majority of the final Self-Study report will be comprised of Working Group reports. In addition to editorial standards, Working Groups have been directed to conform to formatting standards to provide consistency in the structure of each chapter. A concise, content-rich report that is no more than twenty-five single-spaced pages in length is the goal for each Working Group. Each Working Group has been asked to assign one person as the primary writer of the draft chapter. 

Organization of the Final Self-Study Report

The work of each of the seven Working Groups will be merged into UMB’s Self-Study Report. The final report will integrate the questions, methodologies, data reviewed, findings, and recommendations of each Working Group. Additional sections of the report will provide an executive summary, an overview of the Self-Study process, and the conclusions/summary of all recommendations of the Self-Study. 

Directives for report development are minimal so that all Working Groups can use their autonomous judgment in the development of their Self-Study activities. Simultaneously, the final report needs to be a concise, understandable document for a variety of audiences, including the internal constituencies. To assure a level of consistency in the reports from the Working Groups, each Working Group report must adhere to the following minimum standards for the preparation of reports: concise writing style; emphasis on analysis; conclusions and recommendations based on evidence; and minimal repetition. 

An editing team will receive the reports from the work groups and develop a draft Self-Study report that meets the Middle States Commission on Higher Education guidelines, speaks with a consistent voice, and accurately reflects the product of the work groups. The final Self-Study report will conform to the following outline: 

I. Executive Summary 

II. Overview of UMB’s Self-Study Process 

III. Institutional Profile 

IV. Chapter 1 – Standard I Mission and Goals

a. Introduction 

b. Approach to determining compliance 

c. Institutional Priorities 

d. Determinations 

e. Recommendations 

f. Summary 

 

V. Chapter 2 – Standard II Ethics and Integrity

a. Introduction 

b. Approach to determining compliance 

c. Institutional Priorities 

d. Determinations 

e. Recommendations 

f. Summary 

 

 

VI. Chapter 3 – Standard III Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience

a. Introduction 

b. Approach to determining compliance 

c. Institutional Priorities 

d. Determinations 

e. Recommendations 

f. Summary 

 

VII. Chapter 4 – Standard IV Support of the Student Experience

a. Introduction 

b. Approach to determining compliance 

c. Institutional Priorities 

d. Determinations 

e. Recommendations 

f. Summary 

 

VIII. Chapter 5 – Standard V Educational Effectiveness Assessment

a. Introduction 

b. Approach to determining compliance 

c. Institutional Priorities 

d. Determinations 

e. Recommendations 

f. Summary 

 

 

IX. Chapter 6 – Standard VI Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvement

a. Introduction 

b. Approach to determining compliance 

c. Institutional Priorities 

d. Determinations 

e. Recommendations 

f. Summary 

 

X. Chapter 7 – Standard VII Governance, Leadership, and Administration

a. Introduction 

b. Approach to determining compliance 

c. Institutional Priorities 

d. Determinations 

e. Recommendations 

f. Summary 

XI. Conclusion 

XII. Index of Recommendations