2018 AALS Site Evaluation Workshop January 4, 2018

Transcription

1 2018 AALS Site Evaluation Workshop January 4, 2018 Judith Areen, AALS Executive Director William Adams, ABA Deputy Managing Director Barbara Cox, AALS Membership Review Consultant, California Western School of Law Maddi Durbin, AALS Membership Review Coordinator Austen Parrish, AALS Membership Review Committee Chair, Indiana University Maurer School of Law Barbara Studenmund, AALS Director of Membership Review

2 1. Welcome and Introduction 2. Overview of the AALS Process 3. Workshop Handout 4. The AALS Reporter 5. Finalizing the AALS Report 6. Overview of the ABA Process Overview

3 Welcome and Introduction Austen Parrish Indiana University Maurer School of Law Chair, AALS Membership Review Committee

4 Programs for Faculty Quick Overview Advancing Excellence in Legal Education The Membership Review Process ABA Accreditation v. AALS Membership Review Regulatory Review v. Peer Review List of Requirements v. Adherence to Core Values.

5 AALS Core Values Scholarship and Teaching Diversity and Nondiscrimination Self-Governance Academic Freedom Honesty and Integrity AALS Bylaw Article 6. Requirements of Membership

6 AALS Review s Prior Focus Regulatory In Nature Detailed review and search for areas of non-compliance Many schools requested to report back

7 A Renewed Focus An Emphasis on Peer Review and Mutual Support Presumption that member schools desire to adhere to core values Peer Review, including: Peer Counsel when member school appears to be struggling. Fewer report backs only if member school is not willing or able to take appropriate steps to correct serious shortcomings involving core values. Praise for innovation Recognition that schools can be different while pursuing core values Process remains confidential

8 Overview of the AALS Process Judith Areen AALS Executive Director

9 Membership Review Process q Member Schools reviewed every seven years Bylaw 6 standards; Regulations and Policy q Change of Operation Significant major programmatic, locational or institutional change (such as merger, new entity, new degree, new division, new branch, affiliation, closure)

10 AALS Membership Review Process q School Visit AALS Sabbatical Questionnaire ABA Materials q AALS Report Sent to member school Any response by member school q Membership Review Committee Reads AALS Report, Sabbatical Questionnaire, ABA materials, school responses Recommendation to Executive Committee q Executive Committee Decides Letter to the School

11 Membership Review Committee q Who? Law school faculty Law school deans q What? Relies primarily on AALS reporter to be fact finder q When? Meets in April and October

12 Executive Committee q Who? Law school faculty and deans Elected by member schools q What? Determines compliance with AALS Bylaws and Executive Committee Regulations Interprets and Implements AALS requirements q When? May and November

13 Executive Committee Letter to Member School qpeer Advice Strengths and achievements; suggestions for improvement qmore Information Cannot determine compliance with membership requirements qprogress Report Concern about compliance with requirements qsanction Material failure to comply with membership requirements

14 Support for the AALS Reporter Maddi Durbin AALS Membership Review Coordinator

15 Workshop Handout Contents qaals Process and Role of the AALS Reporter qsabbatical Visit Timeline qreporter Appointment Letter Enclosed: Instructions to the AALS Reporter qclassroom Visit Form qdiscussion with Dean qaals Questionnaire qformat of the Report qec Letter to School qaals Bylaw and EC Regulations

16 AALS Reporter Materials qdropbox invitation sent via qincluded materials: AALS Membership Requirements Memo to Dean AALS Questionnaire Report Format Outline Reporter Instruction Memo ABA Conduct Memo ABA Site Report Template Classroom Visit Form Confidentiality

17 Changes to the AALS Membership Review Process qaals Questionnaire More information from the ABA Site Evaluation Questionnaire Addition of Online Distance Education Information q New communications with AALS Reporters Know Before You Go s Reporter Survey q New Annual Report sent to Member Schools and Reporters

18 The AALS Reporter Barbara J. Cox California Western School of Law AALS Membership Review Consultant

19 What have I gotten myself into?

20 The AALS Reporter 101 q Represents the AALS q Independent of ABA/different focus Faculty Governance Faculty Scholarship Faculty and Student Diversity Nondiscrimination q Fact-finder q You re it

21 The AALS Reporter Preparing for the visit The Visit Writing the Report

22 Preparing for the Visit q Coordinate with key people Team chair Team members (class visits) The dean* On-site point persons Faculty chairs, staff

23 Preparing for the Visit q Review key documents AALS Site Questionnaire & Prior Report ABA documents: Self Assessment (Self Study, Questionnaire) & Prior Report The website

24 Preparing for the Visit q Review suggested format of the AALS Report q Follow suggested AALS Format for the Report q When surveyed, Reporters are split on whether to write a draft before the visit or wait until after the visit.

25 Preparing for the Visit q Meet alone with Dean By phone works In person early in the visit q Communicate the AALS role q What is the school doing right?

26 The Visit q First meeting with the team q At the school The dean and president (in and out) Meet with key people Class visits (team effort) Due Diligence (trust but verify) q Fill in the blanks

27 Writing the Report q Make sure all the blanks are filled q Ask chair for team members drafts q Incorporate ABA Report by reference q Conform final ABA draft to your draft q Be factual; avoid using adjectives q No judgments or conclusions q No names q Polish/edit

28 Submit Your Report to the AALS Office qexpect to hear from me with any questions or suggested changes qrespond to my as soon as possible with your comments qfinalize the report

29 It s done!

30 The AALS Questionnaire and Finalizing the AALS Report Barbara Studenmund AALS Director of Membership Review

31 The AALS Questionnaire qfaculty and Scholarship qteaching Course Hours Summary and alternatives qimprovements Since the Last Site Visit New emphasis on positive changes qnondiscrimination and Diversity AALS Bylaw 6-3.a updated in January 2016 New section on claims of discrimination Addition of ABA 509 report qfaculty Profile

32 AALS Questionnaire for q Information from the ABA Site Evaluation Questionnaire q Supplemental information: Teaching quality and effectiveness Scholarly productivity q Replacement information: Faculty diversity efforts Online and distance education q Information we continue to ask for: Course Hours Summary charts 509 Standard Information Reports

33 Wrap Up: AALS Staff Review qaals Staff and the Membership Review Consultant reviews AALS report for: Completeness Consistent data Facts qensures that report: Does not indicate AALS compliance Does not inappropriately identify faculty

34 Wrap Up: Committee Review qaals Membership Review and Executive Committees review materials for each school: AALS Report AALS Questionnaire ABA Report Dean s comments on ABA and AALS Reports qmembership Review Committee makes recommendations to the Executive Committee Executive Committee sends final action letter to the school AALS Reporter will receive a copy of the final action letter

35 Overview of the ABA Process William Adams ABA Section of Legal Education Deputy Managing Director

36 Planning for the Visit at the School Sabbatical Review of Fully Approved School Every Seven Years Self Study--Changes -Site Evaluation Questionnaire (SEQ) -Self-Assessment -Respond to Standard 204 (b)

37 The Site Visit Process Appointment of Site Team Chair Appointment of Other Site Team Members -Chair coordinates Team Member Assignments Organization of Visit -Librarian -Clinician -Judge/Practitioner -Academic -Univ. Admin. -AALS Representative

38 Site Report Template -Materials -Preparation for the Visit -Prior Site Visit History -SEQ -3 AQs Site Visit -Team Meetings -Entrance Meeting -Interviews with Faculty, Administrators, Staff -Class Visits -Meeting(s) with Students -Exit Interview

39 Post-Visit Preparation of Site Report Site Report Template Office Review Review of Site Report and Response by School

40 Evaluation of Site Team -by Dean -by Chair -by Team Members -by Report Reviewer -by AC Monitor Consideration of Site Report by Accreditation Committee/Decision Letter -RFI -12(a)(2) -12(a)(3)

41 12(a)(4) Report Back by School on Any RFI s, 13(a) s, 13(b) s Rule 14 Hearing School Remains on List of Approved Law Schools