2017-2018

Committee Responsibilities 

HLC Reaffirmation of Accreditation in AY17-18

The Vice Provost for Teaching, Learning Design and Assessment (TLDA) and the Project Director reporting to the Vice Provost – TLDA lead the HLC 17-18 reaffirmation and Open Pathways continuous improvement efforts. Responsibilities include and are not limited to the following:

  • Lead and direct the reaccreditation process
  • Oversee and coordinate the Steering Committee and Criteria Working Groups
  • Coordinate with the Strategic Planning and Budget Council to ensure NAU successfully completes the Quality Initiative project
  • Document with evidence that NAU meets accreditation criteria for the Quality Assurance process
  • Ensure NAU continually meets the HLC’s Assumed Practices
  • Communicate with President, Cabinet, Provost, Strategic Planning and Budget Council, ABOR, and HLC
  • Solicit Third-Party Comment
  • Implement HLC Student Survey
  • Coordinate the HLC Site Visit
  • Lead preparation of Institutional Response to Review Report
  • Provide on-going efforts to revise the Assurance Argument and supporting evidence ensuring continuous improvement for the Open Pathways process

17-18 HLC Steering Committee

HLC Steering Committee membership consists of representatives from the university and Flagstaff communities and provides leadership to ensure the campus and local community is knowledgeable about the reaccreditation process, ensure NAU meets HLC criteria for reaccreditation, and that the Assurance Argument reflects our achievements and mission. Responsibilities of the committee include and are not limited to the following:

  • Understand the HLC Obligations of Accreditation and Open Pathways Process
  • Review evidence used to document that NAU meets HLC’s criteria for reaccreditation
  • Review Assurance Argument drafts and provide feedback to Criteria Working Groups

Criteria Working Groups

There are five criteria working groups aligned with the HLC’s five criteria for reaccreditation as well as a working group for the Federal Compliance report. Each working group’s responsibilities include and are not limited to the following:

  • Identify evidence to support criteria, core components and Federal Compliance requirements
  • For each criterion and federal compliance requirement, identify strengths, gaps/areas for improvement and strategies to improve and rectify gaps
  • Draft Assurance Argument and Federal Compliance report
  • Incorporate feedback to Assurance Argument drafts and Federal Compliance draft report from Steering Committee and internal reviewers
  • Finalize Assurance Argument and Federal Compliance report

Strategic Planning and Budget Council

The Strategic Planning and Budget Council charged the Vice Provost – TLDA, the Director of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Analytics and Assessment, and the Associate Director of Curriculum and Assessment to successfully complete the Quality Initiative project.

HLC Steering Committee Membership

Committee Membership to Support Reaffirmation Accordion Closed

HLC Lead Team

  • Laurie Dickson and Becky Butcher

Title / UnitName
Dean of Students Cindy Anderson
Chief Marketing and
Communications Officer 		Ashley Chitwood
Associate Director,
Alumni Engagement Office 		Erin Bertelsen
Project Director for
Strategic University Initiatives 		Becky Butcher
Director,
e-Learning Center 		Don Carter
Provost Dan Kain
Undergraduate Student Marissa Anderson
Vice Provost/Teaching,
Learning Design and Assessment 		K. Laurie Dickson
Vice Provost/
Academic Affairs 		Pauline Entin
Vice President/
Government Affairs and
Business Partnerships 		Christy Farley
Vice President of
Institutional Effectiveness 		Bjorn Flugstad
President/Faculty Senate Gioia Woods
Associate Vice President/
Enrollment Management and
Student Affairs		Erin Grisham
Vice President/
Native American Affairs 		Chad Hamill
Director, Inclusion and
Multicultural Services 		Ivy Banks
Graduate Student Anthony Hessel
Associate Vice President/
Institutional Research and Analysis 		Laura Jones
Associate Vice President/
Extended Campuses 		Susan Johnstad
Executive Vice President/
Chief of Staff/
President’s Office 		Joanne Keene
Vice President/
Enrollment Management and
Student Affairs		Jane Kuhn
Chair/Service Professional
Advisory Council (SPAC) 		Cassie Petit
Assistant to the President,
EC & MR 		Kim Ott
President and CEO/
United Way of Northern Arizona 		Steve Peru
Staff/Vice Provost,
Academic Affairs 		April Peters
Assistant Vice President for
Equity Compliance 		Priscilla Mills
President, Associated
Students of NAU (ASNAU) 		Lauren L’Ecuyer
Associate Vice President &
Campus Executive Officer
for NAU Yuma		Michael Sabath
President/Classified Staff
Advisory Council (CSAC) 		Scott Halle
Executive Director/
Academic Chairs’ Council 		Roy St. Laurent
Associate Vice President
for Research 		Diane Stearns
Assistant Dean/
Cline Library 		Laura Taylor
Associate Athletic Director/
Athletics 		Beth Vechinski
Dean/
Office of Graduate and Professional Studies		Maribeth Watwood

Criterion Working Groups

Criterion 1 Accordion Open

Mission:  The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.

Lead: Arley Williams

  • Mission-driven strategic planning/budgeting and research: Paul Jagodzinski – Dean CEFNS
  • Visibility of Mission: Kim Ott – Communications
  • Public good: Carole Mandino – Center for Service and Volunteerism
  • Diversity: Kevin Chase – First Generation Programs & Initiatives

Criterion 2 Accordion Closed

Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct – The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible (including faculty, staff, and students)

Lead: Cynthia Chilcoat

  • Student records: Pam Anastassiou – Registrar
  • Personnel: Pam Heinonen – Affirmative Action
  • Faculty: Bruce Fox – Former President of Faculty Senate
  • Governing Board: Chad Sampson – ABOR designee
  • Clear communication to public: Kim Ott – Communications

Criterion 3 Accordion Closed

Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support

Lead: Laurie Dickson

  • Undergraduate/Graduate quality: Melinda Treml – Curriculum & Assessment
  • Co-curricular continual improvement: Margot Saltonstall – EMSA
  • Student support/advising: Terri Hayes – VPAA
  • Faculty for programs: Larry Gallagher – Faculty Development
  • Graduate quality: John Masserini – Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
  • Distance academic program quality: Susan Johnstad – NAU Online/Community Campuses

Criterion 4 Accordion Closed

Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement

Lead: Laurie Dickson

  • Undergraduate/Graduate quality: Melinda Treml – Curriculum & Assessment
  • Co-curricular continual improvement: Margot Saltonstall – EMSA
  • Student support/advising: Terri Hayes – VPAA
  • Faculty for programs: Larry Gallagher – Faculty Development
  • Graduate quality: John Masserini – Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
  • Distance academic program quality: Susan Johnstad – NAU Online/Community Campuses

Criterion 5 Accordion Closed

Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness

Lead: Laura Jones

  • Human Resources: Diane Verkest – Human Resources
  • Varied Program Delivery: Susan Johnstad – NAU Online/Community Campuses
  • Budget/Resource Allocation: Bjorn Flugstad – Budget and
  • Internal/External Constituents: Dan Kain – Provost’s Office
  • Governance:  Christy Farley – President’s office
  • Back-up: Julia Spining – PAIR

Federal Compliance Accordion Closed

Need to address federal regulations and ABOR reporting obligations

Lead: Becky Butcher

  • Student Support Services: Erin Grisham – EMSA
  • Financial Aid: Nydia Nittman — EMSA
  • Student Records: Andrea Stalker – ITS (formerly in Registrar’s Office)
  • Federal compliance: Provost’s Office