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Name of Unit:
Division of Information Technology |
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Date:
January
30, 2004
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Section 2: CORE REQUIREMENTS |
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For
every Core Requirement mandating a policy or procedure, it is
implicit that the policy or procedure is in writing, approved
through appropriate institutional processes, published in
appropriate institutional documents accessible to those affected by
the policy or procedure, and implemented and enforced by the
institution.
For obtaining or maintaining accreditation with
the Commission on Colleges, an institution must meet the following
Core Requirements:
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2.1
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The institution has degree-granting authority from the
appropriate government agency or agencies.
(Degree-granting Authority) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.2
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The institution has a governing board of at least five members
that is the legal body with specific authority over the
institution. The board is an active policy-making body for the
institution and is
ultimately responsible for ensuring that the
financial resources of the institution are adequate to provide a
sound educational program. The board is not controlled by a
minority of board members or
by organizations or interests
separate from it. Neither the presiding officer of the board nor
the majority of other voting members of the board have
contractual, employment, or personal or familial
financial
interest in the institution.
A military institution authorized
and operated by the federal government to award degrees has a
public board in which neither the presiding officer nor a
majority
of the other members are civilian employees of the
military or active/retired military. The board has broad and
significant influence upon the institution’s programs and
operations, plays an active role in
policy-making, and ensures
that the financial resources of the institution are used to
provide a sound educational program. The board is not controlled
by a minority of board members or by organizations
or interests
separate from the board except as specified by the authorizing
legislation. Neither the presiding officer of the board nor the
majority of other voting board members have contractual,
employment, or personal or familial financial interest in the
institution. (Governing Board)
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.3 |
The institution has a chief executive officer whose primary
responsibility is to the institution and who is not the
presiding officer of the board. (Chief Executive
Officer) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.4
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The institution has a clearly defined and published mission
statement specific to the institution and appropriate to an
institution of higher education, addressing teaching and
learning and, where applicable, research and public service.
(Institutional Mission) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.5
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The institution engages in
ongoing, integrated, and institution-wide research-based
planning and evaluation processes that incorporate a systematic
review of programs and services that (a)
results in continuing
improvement and (b) demonstrates that the institution is
effectively accomplishing its mission.
(Institutional
Effectiveness) |
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The Information Technology Division has incorporated systematic
evaluation and planning processes as a part of a dynamic
strategic plan that is integrated with the TTU Strategic Plan.
The Information Technology Division Strategic Plan may be viewed
at:
http://www.infotech.ttu.edu/strat/itsp.html.
The Information Technology Division is
achieving its mission and goals as shown in its recent annual
report:
http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/55_0_2003.pdf
In addition to the above two, the
Information Technology Division has performed a very thorough
study of information technology at Texas Tech University in 2000
that resulted in the creation of the Information Technology
Division. The full report can be found at
http://www.infotech.ttu.edu/cio/report.html.
The Information Technology Division publishes a progress report
at
http://www.infotech.ttu.edu/cio/progress.html.
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2.6 |
The institution is in
operation and has students enrolled in degree programs.
(Continuous Operation) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.7 |
The institution |
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2.7.1 |
offers one or
more degree programs based on at least 60 semester credit hours or
the equivalent at the associate level; at least 120 semester credit
hours or the equivalent at the baccalaureate level; or at least 30
semester credit hours or the equivalent at the
post-baccalaureate, graduate, or professional level. The institution
provides a written justification and rationale for program
equivalency. (Program Length) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.7.2 |
offers degree programs that embody a coherent
course of study that is compatible with its stated purpose and
is based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education.
(Program Content) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.7.3 |
requires in each undergraduate degree program
the successful completion
of a general education component at the collegiate level that is
(1) a substantial component of each undergraduate degree, (2)
ensures breadth of knowledge, and (3) is based on a coherent
rationale. For degree completion in
associate programs, the component constitutes a minimum of 15
semester hours or the equivalent; for baccalaureate programs, a
minimum of 30 semester
hours or the equivalent. These credit
hours are to be drawn from and include at least one course from
each of the following areas: humanities/fine arts;
social/behavioral sciences; and natural
science/mathematics. The
courses do not narrowly focus on those skills, techniques, and
procedures specific to a particular occupation or profession.
The institution provides a written
justification and rationale
for course equivalency. (General Education) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.7.4 |
provides instruction for all course work
required for at least one degree program at each
level at which if awards degree. If the institution
makes arrangements for some
instruction to be provided
by other accredited institutions or entities through contracts
or consortia, or
uses some
other alternative approach to meeting this requirement, the
alternative approach must be approved by the Commission on
Colleges. In all cases, the institution demonstrates that
it controls all aspects of its educational program.
(Contractual Agreements for
Instruction) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.8 |
The number of full-time faculty members is
adequate to support the mission of the institution. The
institution has adequate faculty resources to ensure the quality
and integrity of its academic
programs. In addition, upon
application for candidacy, an applicant institution demonstrates
that it meets the comprehensive standard for faculty
qualifications.
(Faculty) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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2.9. |
The institution, through ownership or formal
arrangements or agreements, provides and supports student and
faculty access and user privileges to adequate library
collections as well as to other
learning/information resources
consistent with the degrees offered. These collections and
resources are sufficient to support all its educational,
research, and public service programs. (Learning
Resources and Services) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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| 2.10 |
The institution provides student support
programs, services, and activities consistent with its mission
that promote student learning and enhance the development of its
students. (Student Support Services) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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| 2.11 |
The institution has a sound
financial base and demonstrated financial stability, and
adequate physical resources to support the mission of the
institution and the scope of its programs and services.
The
member institution provides the following financial statements: (a)
an institutional audit (or Standard Review Report issued in
accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and
Review Services issued by the AICPA for those institutions
audited as part of a systemwide or
statewide audit) and written institutional management letter for the most recent
fiscal year
prepared by an independent certified public
accountant and/or an appropriate governmental auditing agency employing the
appropriate audit (or Standard Review Report) guide; (b) a
statement of financial position of unrestricted net assets,
exclusive of plant assets and plant-related debt, which
represents the change in unrestricted net assets attributable to
operations for
the most recent year; and, (c) an annual budget
that is preceded by sound planning, is subject to sound fiscal
procedures, and is approved by the governing board.
Audit
requirements for applicant institutions may be found in the
Commission policy entitled "Accreditation Procedures for
Applicant Institutions.
(Resources) |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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| 2.12 |
The institution
has developed an acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan and
demonstrate that the plan is part of an ongoing planning and
evaluation process. (Quality Enhancement Plan).
(Not
applicable for the Compliance Certification submitted by
institution). |
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Section 3: COMPREHENSIVE STANDARDS |
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Institutional
Mission, Governance, And Effectiveness |
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3.1 Institutional
Mission |
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3.1.1
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The institution
has a clear and comprehensive mission statement that guides it;
is approved
by the governing board; is periodically reviewed by the board;
and is communicated to the
institution’s constituencies. |
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The Information Technology Division Mission, Vision, and Values
statements may be found at:
http://www.infotech.ttu.edu/strat/itsp.html.
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3.2 Governance and
Administration |
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3.2.1 |
The governing
board of the institution is responsible for the selection and
the evaluation of
the chief executive officer. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.2.2 |
The legal
authority and operating control of the institution are clearly
defined for the following
areas within the institution’s governance structure: |
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3.2.2.1 |
the institution’s
mission; |
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3.2.2.2 |
the fiscal
stability of the institution; |
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3.2.2.3 |
institutional policy, including policies concerning related
and affiliated corporate
entities and all auxiliary services; |
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3.2.2.4 |
related foundations (athletic, research, etc.) and other
corporate entities whose
primary purpose is to support the institution and/or its
programs. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.2.3 |
The board has a policy
addressing conflict of interest for its members. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.2.4 |
The governing board is free
from undue influence from political, religious, or other
external
bodies, and protects the institution from such influence. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.2.5 |
Members of the governing
board can be dismissed only for cause and by due process. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.2.6 |
There is a clear and
appropriate distinction, in writing and practice, between the
policy-making
functions of the governing board and the responsibility of the
administration and
faculty to administer and implement policy. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.2.7 |
The institution
has a clearly defined and published organizational structure
that delineates
responsibility for the administration of policies. |
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The organizational chart of the Information Technology Division
may be found at:
http://www.infotech.ttu.edu/org.pdf.
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3.2.8 |
The institution has
qualified administrative and academic officers with the
experience,
competence, and capacity to lead the institution.
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The
Information Technology Division administrative officers are all
hired according to existing
Texas
Tech University employment Operating
Procedures, which require minimum standards of education. The
Employment Operating Procedures can be found at
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP70.11.pdf.
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| 3.2.9 |
The institution
defines and publishes policies regarding appointment and
employment of
faculty and staff.
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The
Information Technology Division administrative Officers are all
hired according to existing
Texas
Tech University employment Operating
Procedures, which require minimum standards of education. The
Employment Operating Procedures can be found at
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP70.11.pdf. |
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3.2.10 |
The institution evaluates
the effectiveness of its administrators, including the chief
executive
officer, on a periodic basis. |
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The
Information Technology Division does annual performance
standards of all staff. The Operating Policy can be found at
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP70.12.html,
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP70.12_A-A.PDF. |
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3.2.11 |
The institution’s
chief executive officer has ultimate responsibility for, and
exercises
appropriate administrative and fiscal control over, the
institution’s intercollegiate athletics
program. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.2.12 |
The institution’s
chief executive officer has ultimate control of the
institution’s fund-raising
activities. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.2.13 |
Any
institution-related foundation not controlled by the
institution has a contractual or other
formal agreement that (a) accurately describes the relationship
between the institution and
the foundation, and (b) describes any liability associated with
that relationship. In all cases,
the institution ensures that the relationship is consistent with
its mission. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.2.14 |
The institution’s
policies are clear concerning ownership of materials,
compensation,
copyright issues, and the use of revenue derived from the
creation and production of all
intellectual property. This applies to students, faculty and
staff.
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When
employees are hired, as part of the hiring process all employees
must sign a document notifying of copyright issues, material,
and intellectual property. This document can be found at
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/personnel/Conduct-Property-GovtCode-approp.pdf.
The Information Technology Division also
publishes and markets information about intellectual property
and copyright issues. This information can be found at
http://www.itts.ttu.edu/laws/copy01.html,
http://www.itts.ttu.edu/laws/,
http://www.itts.ttu.edu/laws/lpc2003.pdf,
http://www.ttu.edu/dmca.php,
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP74.04.html,
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP30.22.html.
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3.3 Institutional
Effectiveness |
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3.3.1 |
The institution
identifies expected outcomes for its educational programs and
its
administrative and educational support services; assesses
whether it achieves these
outcomes; and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis
of those results.
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Through its
strategic planning process, the Information Technology Division
conducts outcomes assessments. Research and assessments may be
reviewed at the Web sites for the Strategic Plan:
http://www.infotech.ttu.edu/strat/itsp.html. |
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PROGRAMS |
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3.4 Educational
Programs
Standards for
All Educational Programs: |
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(Includes all
on-campus, off-campus and distance learning programs) |
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3.4.1
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The institution
demonstrates that each educational program for which academic
credit is
awarded (a) is approved by the faculty and the
administration, and (b) establishes and
evaluates program and learning outcomes. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.2 |
The institution’s
continuing education, outreach, and service programs are
consistent with
the institution’s mission. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.3 |
The institution
publishes admissions policies consistent with its mission. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.4 |
The institution has a
defined and published policy for evaluating, awarding, and
accepting
credit for transfer, experiential learning, advanced placement,
and professional certificates
that is consistent with its mission and ensures that course work
and learning outcomes are
at the collegiate level and comparable to the institution’s own
degree programs. The
institution assumes responsibility for the academic quality of
any course work or credit
recorded on the institution’s transcript. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.5 |
The institution publishes
academic policies that adhere to principles of good educational
practice. These are disseminated to students, faculty, and other
interested parties through
publications that accurately represent the programs and services
of the institution. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.6 |
The institution employs
sound and acceptable practices for determining the amount and
level of credit awarded for courses, regardless of format or
mode of delivery. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.7 |
The institution
ensures the quality of educational programs/courses offered
through
consortia relationships or contractual agreements, ensures
ongoing compliance with the
comprehensive requirements, and evaluates the
consortial relationship and/or agreement against
the purpose of the
institution. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.8 |
The institution
awards academic credit for course work taken on a noncredit
basis only
when there is documentation that the noncredit course work is
equivalent to a designated
credit experience. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.9 |
The institution provides
appropriate academic support services.
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The Information Technology Division
provides a complete list of IT Services available for academic
support.
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/helpcentral/students/,
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/helpcentral/faculty/,
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/helpcentral/staff/ |
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3.4.10 |
The institution defines and
publishes general education requirements for its undergraduate
programs and major program requirements
for all its programs. These requirements conform to commonly
accepted standards and
practices for degree programs. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.11 |
The institution
protects the security, confidentiality, and integrity of its
student academic
records and maintains special security measures to protect and
back up data. |
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The Information Technology Division
employs multiple levels of security and processes. Security
policies may be found at
http://www.infotech.ttu.edu/ops/op.html,
http://www.itts.ttu.edu/documentation/laws/privacy2.html,
http://www.net.ttu.edu/security/. The
Information Technology Division also has physical software,
hardware, and personnel in place to protect security and
confidentiality of certain records, and specific continuity
plans are in place to back up data. |
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3.4.12 |
The institution
places primary responsibility for the content, quality, and
effectiveness of its
curriculum with its faculty. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.13 |
For each major in
a degree program, the institution assigns responsibility for
program
coordination, as well as for curriculum development and review,
to persons academically
qualified in the field. In those degree programs for which the
institution does not identify a
major, this requirement applies to a curricular area or
concentration. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.4.14 |
The institution’s
use of technology enhances student learning, is appropriate for
meeting the
objectives of its programs, and ensures that students have
access to and training in the use
of technology.
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The Institution is building a
wireless system so students can be mobile in the academic
environment.
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/helpcentral/general/wireless.php
Partnerships with major vendors that are
customized for the University learning environment are in place.
All students have access to both hands-on training and online
electronic training.
http://www.itts.ttu.edu/training/ |
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3.5 Standards
Specific to Undergraduate Programs: |
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3.5.1
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The institution
identifies college-level competencies within the general
education core and provides evidence that graduates have
attained those competencies. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.5.2 |
The institution awards
degrees only to those students who have earned at least 25
percent of the credit hours required for the degree through
instruction offered by that institution. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.6 Standards
Specific to Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional
Programs: |
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3.6.1 |
The institution’s
post-baccalaureate professional degree programs, and its
master’s and
doctoral degree programs are progressively more advanced in
academic content than
undergraduate programs. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.6.2 |
The institution ensures that
its graduate instruction and resources foster independent
learning, enabling the graduate to contribute to a profession or
field of study. |
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Not applicable to
unit level. |
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3.6.3 |
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