IUS Times

Chancellor's Outlook - The Proof of the Pudding

Over the past several weeks I have noticed how holiday advertisements emphasize facts and figures indicative of product quality and performance: machines that wash 16 pairs of jeans, high-thread-count suits specially tailored in 24 hours, communication networks with broader coverage, and vacuums weighing less and cleaning more. We all like to know that our resources -- time, effort, and money -- are being spent on high-calibre products or worthwhile enterprises. Consequently, we expect some sort of validation regarding the quality and serviceability of what we invest in.

Higher education is no different. At IU Southeast we are serious about demonstrating and verifying the high quality of the teaching, learning, and support on our campus. For example, our School of Education has recently completed an accreditation review by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). In the exit interview I was pleased to learn that there were no citations whatsoever for areas in need of improvement and that we received very high praise from reviewers with extensive national experience. Although this report was preliminary, it was extremely positive and highlighted the careful preparation of the School of Education and its overall quality. Other solid indicators of fine educational practice include our School of Business again scoring in the 95th percentile on the ETS national exam and the many top rankings of our Social Science students at the Model UN competition. Achievements like these indicate that our motto "Excellence Close to Home" has real meaning.

In line with the goals and initiatives of our Strategic Plan, IU Southeast has implemented assessment programs across campus to help us strengthen our courses and degrees and demonstrate student progress. We aspire to become -- and to be recognized as -- a top-notch regional university. We can only achieve this through setting high standards and verifying the educational excellence which we practice and pursue.

Stephen Covey once wrote, "Your attitude determines your altitude." At IU Southeast we are greeting the New Year with a positive outlook and high aspirations. Happy New Year!

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