WNCC 2010 Self-Study Report - Western Nebraska Community ...

Structuring the self-study with such a broad base of involvement, while presenting challenges with
regard to scheduling meetings and integrating disparate viewpoints, proved, ultimately,
constructive. Committee members worked across disciplines and formed connections.
Conducting the institutional audit and creating the self-study document was the primary task, but
the secondary effect of engaging the larger community and fostering cooperation is perhaps
equally important. The document was assembled and edited for final copy by the Dean of
Educational Services.
The self-study project has been a difficult but an informative process. Some faculty members, for
instance, had never even been to the campus at Sidney, although it has existed in its present form
since 1995. Employees found policies and procedures of which they had been unaware. Perhaps
the greatest benefit accrued from colleagues coming to appreciate the challenges faced by other
people in doing their jobs well, and with that came a sense of respect and appreciation for all the
other folks working side-by-side to serve students. Naturally, the final written document can serve
as a resource for employees, a comprehensive snapshot of the place and its purpose. In the end,
the long process reminded everyone who worked on the project of why we are here—to influence
lives through education.
Organization of the Self-Study Report
This self-study report begins with an overview of the College’s history and location, its accreditation
history, followed by responses to the 1990 NCA report recommendations. Following those
sections is a chapter detailing compliance with federal regulations. The remainder of the report is
organized around the prescribed five criteria for accreditation. The body of each section is used to
describe and evaluate the College’s resources and to present patterns of evidence that the College
meets the criterion objectives.
Each section closes with a listing of highlighted strengths and existing challenges or opportunities
for improvement. At the end of the document, a brief summary and request for accreditation
renewal is attached. An institutional snapshot is included to provide a graphic summary of key
demographic information, and four appendices include documents such as a service-area map, an
assessment initiative timeline, and a chart of scholarly work performed by faculty members and
administrators at the College. Key documents or sources cited within the report are reproduced in
part or in whole in the electronic resource room. The entire written report is available electronically
on flash drives and in hard-copy print. The document can also be found on the College website
(www.wncc.edu) under the “About” heading and in the A-Z index under the link “self_study.”
Western Nebraska Community College Page 13