Reporting

Guidelines for Reports

The Working Group reports are a vital part of the Self-Study Report process.  However, they are not the final Self-Study Report.  The final Self-Study Report is created through collaboration among the Working Groups, the Steering Committee, and the Self-Study Co-Chairs.  The Working Group reports will be combined into one document by the Writing/Editorial Team to ensure consistent style, voice, and format.  The resultant final draft will be subject to extensive feedback from the Steering Committee and the Self-Study Co-Chairs.  The Steering Committee has the final responsibility for the content of the Self-Study Report.  Once the final Self-Study Report is approved by the Steering Committee, it will be reviewed and approved by the President’s Cabinet before being forwarded to the MVCC Board of Trustees for consideration and approval.  It will then be sent to the layout/formatting editor for final publication.

Organization of the Final Self-Study Report

The final Self-Study Report will reflect MVCC’s institutional perspective and focus on self-analysis that determines not only how the Standards are met but also provides future recommendations and plans to support and guide the institutional priorities reflected in MVCC’s Strategic Plan.

The self-study will consist of four major sections: Executive Summary, Introduction, Individual Standard Analyses and Recommendations, and the Conclusion.

The Executive Summary section will provide a brief (1-5 pages) summary of the major findings and recommendations of the self-study.

The Introduction section will provide a brief overview of the College and description of the self-study process.

The Individual Standard Analyses and Recommendations section will include the following information for each accreditation standard:

  • Heading indicating the standard under consideration.
  • Cross-references to relevant materials in other parts of the Self-Study Report.
  • Analytical discussion of the data reviewed, and the inquiry undertaken.
  • Conclusions including strengths and challenges, with references to appropriate criteria and supporting data.
  • Any assertions must be supported by data.
  • Recommendations for ongoing institutional improvement based on data analysis.
  • References to sources of data tracked through the Document Roadmap.

In the final Self-Study Report, there will be a chapter for each Working Group report which should adhere to the following template:

  • Overview: Provide an overview of the Working Group’s charge as it relates to the assigned accreditation standard and identified linkages with institutional priorities.
  • Connection with Other Groups: Discuss how the Working Group’s work is connected with that of other groups and describe the collaboration that occurred with other groups.
  • Analysis of Information Reviewed: Present and discuss the Working Group’s major findings in relation to the assigned accreditation standard and identified linkages with MVCC’s institutional priorities, describing identified strengths and challenges.
  • Recommendations for Ongoing Improvement: Present recommendations based on the identified strengths and challenges for improving MVCC’s achievement of its Mission and Strategic Goals in relation to the assigned accreditation standard and identified linkages with the College’s institutional priorities. Where appropriate, also include recommendations for measures of program sustainability (e.g., cost, revenue generation, impact, quality of program outcomes, contribution to institution’s reputation or mission, etc.) that should be included in a common, MVCC-wide framework for ongoing program evaluation.  Recommendations and improvements identified by the Working Groups will be vetted through a collaborative review process involving the ALO, Self-Study Co-Chairs, representatives from relevant departments, and senior administration.  Final approval will be granted by senior administration and/or the Board of Trustees to ensure alignment with institutional goals and strategic priorities.
  • The Conclusion section will provide a summary of the major conclusions reached and MVCC’s recommendations for self-improvement.

Editorial Style and Format

The following guidelines are provided to facilitate consistency of style across all documents (i.e. Working Group drafts, supporting documentation, and the final Self-Study Report).  While the writing and editing of the Self-Study is an ongoing process that will include input and feedback from the entire MVCC community, final editorial changes will be made by the Steering Committee Co-Chairs and the Writing/Editorial Team.

Though the Steering Committee will be responsible for the final Self-Study Report, each Working Group will be responsible for writing a draft report for its assigned Standard.  The Working Groups are encouraged to submit their materials in a concise fashion to enable the one-voice writer to easily combine the seven Working Group documents.  To ensure that each section is concise and will fit well with the Self-Study Report as a whole, each Working Group will assign one person as the primary writer for its standard and will use the following specifications:

  • Microsoft Word for text with embedded tables
  • 12-point Times New Roman font
  • Single spaced with 1.15 spacing for bullets and numbering
  • Fully justified
  • Moderate margins (1.0” top and 0.75” left, right, and bottom margins)
  • Present tense with active voice, written in third person
  • NLM format for citations with supporting documents in an appendix with appropriate numbering
  • Main headings in bold and in capital letters, left justified, all headers in 12-point font
  • Subheadings in italics and in upper and lower case, left justified, all headers in 12-point font
  • Page numbers listed on bottom/middle of page
  • Tables will be numbered and titled
  • Attachments/evidence should be numbered