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Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP)

artAQIP

In 2006, Columbus State began participating in a new HLC accreditation program, the Academic Quality Improvement Program, or AQIP.  This annual program replaces the traditional ten-year review cycle and is based on the principles of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Program.

AQIP requires schools to complete a minimum of three measurable quality improvement projects each year.  Peer reviewers, assigned by AQIP, evaluate the work and provide timely feedback. After four years, schools are required to summarize all their quality improvement efforts in a Systems Portfolio which covers the following nine AQIP categories:

  •  Helping Students Learn
  • Accomplishing Other Distinctive Objectives
  • Understanding Students’ & other Stakeholders’ Needs
  • Valuing People
  • Leading and Communicating
  • Supporting Institutional Operations
  • Planning Continuous Improvement
  • Building Collaborative Relationships
  • Measuring Effectiveness

AN HLC/AQIP Peer-Review Team is scheduled to visit Columbus State in 2012 to confirm our overall compliance with accreditation expectations.

Other components of AQIP include:

  • Strategy Forum - this regional meeting brings together teams from diverse colleges and universities for three days to generate and test new improvement strategies in a creative, supportive environment.
  • Action Projects – a minimum of three substantive and measurable quality improvement undertakings per year.
  • Systems Portfolio – a comprehensive report about the institution documenting school efforts in each of the nine AQIP categories.
  • Systems Appraisal - an evaluation of the Systems Portfolio performed by AQIP reviewers every four years. This is an opportunity for an institution to receive expert feedback on its strengths and opportunities for improvement.
  • Quality Check-up – a visit by a team of trained evaluators  to affirm the accuracy of the institution's Systems Portfolio; progress of Action Projects and the school’s overall compliance with accreditation expectations. 

 

Organizing Principles

At a recent Strategy Forum, College leadership selected five organizing principles to guide future accreditation work:

  • Collaboration - Cross-campus teams foster strength.
  • Communication - A transparent process allows everyone to contribute
  • Data-driven - Measurable outcomes underlie all improvement  work.
  • Integration - Improvements become part of the College culture.
  • Implementation - Successful use of data improves College processes.


Other AQIP Links

AQIP Frequently Asked Questions

2009 Systems Portfolio

Columbus State's AQIP Site