Campbell University was one of three schools in the country to receive the 2022 State Authorization Network’s SANsational Award, given to schools for their efforts in developing “high-quality, comprehensive solutions” to challenging state issues. Along with the University of Cincinnati and Utah Tech University, Campbell was recognized for its innovative approach to regulatory compliance.
Campbell is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which facilitates the school’s offering of distance education (including online and clinical rotations/internships) outside of North Carolina. According to Dr. Bill Hall, Director of Institutional Research and State Authorization, part of Campbell’s annual renewal with NC-SARA includes affirming the school will abide by the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC) Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education.
Hall says Campbell developed a “more robust compliance evidence folder” to demonstrate compliance — a “crosswalk document” was developed to show where all standards were touched.
“The evidence folder was a collaborative effort between Dr. Ellen Dobson, Director of University Assessment, and myself,” said Hall, who works with Dobson in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, under the direction of Associate Provost Maren Hess. “Discussion of how to address the compliance need revealed significant overlap between materials for the University’s recent SACSCOC Decennial Reaffirmation of Accreditation and the C-RAC Guidelines. The compliance work Ellen and I undertook was facilitated in part by the organizational structure of the IE Office, and our reliance on the extensive effort already undertaken by the Decennial Reaffirmation leadership team.
“To various extents, multiple parties lent a helping hand for Campbell to achieve this honor.”
According to the State Authorization Network, works recognized by the SANsational Awards present solutions that meet the needs of regulators, the institution and the students. These efforts serve as models which can be adapted or replicated by others. All three recipients were honored for their work in compliance innovation.
“The SANsational Awards recognize outstanding efforts and innovative solutions created by members of the State Authorization Network,” said Cheryl Dowd, SAN Senior Director.
The winners of this annual award display diligence and commitment to improving their institutional compliance functions to better serve their students. Each winner has approached their respective challenge in a methodical and practical manner, which lends their system and results to be easily adapted by other institutions. We’re thrilled to acknowledge the great work of these winners and to help elevate collaborative and creative approaches to what can often be a complex, yet critically important institutional responsibility.”
SAN officials visited Campbell University’s main campus in Buies Creek on Nov. 4 to present the award.
Photo: (L-R) Dr. Bill Hall, Dr. Mark Hammond, Dr. Ellen Dobson, Maren Hess, Kathryn Kerensky (SAN) and Dr. Jana Walser-Smith (SAN).