Section 2: CORE REQUIREMENTS

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)
 

TTU has recently undergone an extensive strategic planning process throughout the entire university. Established to be an evolutionary, ongoing process with annual assessment reports based on the written strategic plans of all units, the CVPA Strategic Plan along with the strategic plans of its constituent units can be found in the same locations as noted in #2.4 above. Assessment of Texas Tech is web-posted http://www.ttu.edu/stratplan/Assessment.php. Annual assessment reports for the CVPA http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/18_0_2003.pdf and its constituent units are web-available. Hard copies are located in college/school/departmental offices noted in #2.4 above. The planning and evaluation processes are consistent with the mission of TTU, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Catalog.html#Mission  and with the mission statements of the CVPA and its constituent units, http://www.vpa.ttu.edu/CGI/framesrv.cgi?loc=mission_strat_plan.shtml , http://www.art.ttu.edu/SOASTRAT.htm, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/theatreanddance/mission.htm. Visitors’ reports from NASAD, NASM, and NAST note favorably the ongoing planning and evaluation processes that have been taking place relative to the university initiatives and to the preparation of the accreditation self-studies of the three units of the CVPA. Each association notes specific initiatives within their respective units and provide additional suggestions for further consideration (NASAD, pp.27-28; NASM, p.22; NAST, p.10).

Eighty-four full-time faculty members serve approximately 1000 majors in the CVPA in addition to offering the visual and performing arts component in the general education curriculum of the university. All full-time faculty in the CVPA hold appropriate terminal degrees or qualifying experiences that meet the TTU Certification of Faculty Qualifications, OP 32.02, section 2, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.02.pdf. The NASAD Visitors Report (p.5) states that the overall numbers of faculty relative to enrollment would suggest that sufficient faculty resources are available to serve the size and scope of the Art program with the exception of Design Communications. The NASM Visitors Report (p.22-23) states that it is not clear that the Master of Music in Music Theory and the Master of Music in Music History programs have sufficient advanced faculty to support those degrees. The NAST Visitors Report (p.1) notes that growth in enrollments of Theatre majors has outpaced that of faculty resources and states (p.3) that the number of faculty is small when compared to the multiplicity of degrees and specializations. In all three visitors’ reports, mention is made regarding perceived heavy teaching loads, loads that could be further exacerbated by increasing enrollments at TTU and in the units of the CVPA. Faculty loads, however, reflect appropriately the TTU Faculty Academic Workload Policy, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.18.pdf . Efforts are underway to study possible load redistribution among existing faculty coupled with requests for additional faculty lines in specific areas of need in all units of the CVPA. 

The College of Visual and Performing Arts is in compliance with this requirement.

Student support programs, services, and activities in the CVPA are consistent with the mission of TTU, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Catalog.html#Mission  , and with the mission statements of the CVPA and its constituent units, http://www.vpa.ttu.edu/CGI/framesrv.cgi?loc=mission_strat_plan.shtml, http://www.art.ttu.edu/SOASTRAT.htm, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music , http://www.depts.ttu.edu/theatreanddance/mission.htm. A listing of TTU facilities and services is located in the 2004-2005 Catalog, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Facilities.html. The CVPA has two associate deans who work with students (one with undergraduate and the other with graduate students), and an Academic Program Advisor who manages a myriad of issues related to matriculation such as degree audits, graduation checkouts, and other academic matters. Each of the three units in the CVPA has academic advising specialists. All of the units have active student organizations that support and complement the academic mission of the college and the university. The Wall-Gates residence complex houses the Fine Arts Living/Learning Community. The CVPA web site http://www.vpa.ttu.edu/ contains a great deal of information directed toward students both graduate and undergraduate, for current and prospective students, advisement, scholarship opportunities, the Fine Arts Living/Learning Community, calendars and schedules, study programs, plus youth and outreach, among other informational items. 

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)

(Not applicable for the Compliance Certification submitted by institution).

Section 3:  COMPREHENSIVE STANDARDS

Institutional Mission, Governance, And Effectiveness

The College of Visual and Performing Arts is in compliance with this standard.

TTU publishes its mission statement in the  2004-2005 Catalog http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Catalog.html#Mission  and is appropriate to an institution of higher education. The mission statement of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is in accordance with the mission of the university. It is located on p.1 of the CVPA Strategic Plan http://www.vpa.ttu.edu/CGI/framesrv.cgi?loc=mission_strat_plan.shtml and in hard copy form in the Office of the Dean, 224 Administration Building. Mission statements contained in strategic plans for the three units that comprise the CVPA are in accordance with those of the CVPA and the university. School of Art http://www.art.ttu.edu/SOASTRAT.htm -- hard copy located in 101 Art Building; School of Music http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music -- hard copy located in 101 Music Building; and Department of Theatre and Dance http://www.depts.ttu.edu/theatreanddance/mission.htm-- hard copy located in 125 Maedgen Theatre Building. Accrediting associations for all three units of the CVPA, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), made site visits during the 2002-2003 academic year. Visitors Reports from all three associations state that the mission statements of the units are clear and appropriate for a comprehensive research institution with the scope of TTU, that unit activities appear to be carefully linked to the mission, goals and objectives, and that they appear to form the current and future basis for educational and artistic decisions (NASAD, p.4; NASM, p.3; NAST, p.1). Visitors’ reports for each unit are available in the locations noted above.

The institution has qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience,
competence, and capacity to lead the institution.

The institution defines and publishes policies regarding appointment and employment of
faculty and staff.

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.

PROGRAMS

  b.

All three units offer a variety of continuing education, outreach, and service activities as described in the self-studies of the units (hard copies: Art – 101 Art Building; Music – 101 Music Building; Theatre – 125 Maedgen Theatre Building. School of Art initiatives (S-S pp.59, 71) include a number of recruitment activities on and off campus and throughout the state, workshops and summer sessions on campus and at the Junction campus, visiting artists and lecturers, and exhibitions arranged by the Landmark Arts Gallery. School of Music activities (S-S pp.58-59, 111-112) include community and civic outreach initiatives, educational outreach with regional public schools and the University Interscholastic League (UIL), festivals, workshops, regional contests, summer music camps, and the Recording Project. Theatre and Dance (S-S pp.41-42, 70-71) is actively involved with University Interscholastic League theatre competitions, Angel Fire Mountain Theatre (New Mexico), Summer Theatre Arts Camp, a number of professional theatre association and festivals, internships with arts organizations, and other partnerships throughout the state and nation. Information regarding other TTU programs can be found in the 2004-2005 Catalog, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/OffCampus.html#Distance  for the university, and for the CVPA here: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Visual.html . The activities described above are consistent with the mission statement of the 2004-2005 TTU Catalog http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Catalog.html#Mission, and with the mission statements of the CVPA and its constituent units, http://www.vpa.ttu.edu/CGI/framesrv.cgi?loc=mission_strat_plan.shtml, http://www.art.ttu.edu/SOASTRAT.htm, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/theatreanddance/mission.htm. 

Information on admissions can be found in the 2004-2005 Catalog,  http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Admission.html  for the university, and for the CVPA, here: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Visual.html  . Policies within the CVPA are consistent with the mission of TTU, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Catalog.html#Mission , and with the mission statements of the CVPA and its constituent units, http://www.vpa.ttu.edu/CGI/framesrv.cgi?loc=mission_strat_plan.shtml, http://www.art.ttu.edu/SOASTRAT.htm, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/theatreanddance/mission.htm. 

Information on evaluating, awarding, and accepting credit outlined in this standard can be found in the 2004-2005 Catalog, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Admission.html  for the university, and for the CVPA, here: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Visual.html   . Policies within the CVPA are consistent with the mission of TTU, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Catalog.html#Mission , and with the mission statements of the CVPA and its constituent units, http://www.vpa.ttu.edu/CGI/framesrv.cgi?loc=mission_strat_plan.shtml, http://www.art.ttu.edu/SOASTRAT.htm, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/theatreanddance/mission.htm. 

Information on academic policies can be found in the 2004-2005 Catalog, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/AcademicsRegulations.html  for the university, and for the CVPA, here: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Visual.html . The policies are consistent with the mission of TTU. Operating Policies 10.01-10.11 (Administration), 30.01-30.27 (General), 32.01-32.34 (Faculty), and 34.01-34.23 (Students) also address academic policies http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts is in compliance with this standard.

Courses and/or programs delivered at sites other than the Lubbock campus, such as at Junction, and courses/programs using alternative modes of delivery, comply with the same standards for evaluating, awarding, and accepting credit as at the Lubbock campus and conform to the standards of our national accrediting organizations, NASAD, NASM, and NAST.

Uniform undergraduate degree requirements are located in  the TTU Catalog http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Academics.html#DegreeReqs , with the Core Curriculum requirements listed here: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/AcademicsCore.html . Program requirements for graduate studies are located here for Master’s http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GRADMasters.html,  and here for Ph.D.: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GRADDoctoral.html. . Requirements specific to the CVPA and its three units are located here: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Visual.html  . No mention was made in the Visitors’ Reports of any of the three accrediting bodies about the general education components of the degrees offered through the CVPA. Therefore, it is assumed that all degrees conform to standards for general education of the accrediting bodies. Formal written responses to each of the three Visitors Reports should clear up factual errors and/or misperceptions on the part of the reviewers regarding compliance with academic standards that are noted. Any issues that are indeed not in compliance with standards will be corrected.

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.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts is in compliance with this standard.

 All full-time faculty in the CVPA hold appropriate terminal degrees or qualifying experiences that meet the TTU Certification of Faculty Qualifications, OP 32.02, section 2, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.02.pdf .   Note that the appropriate terminal degrees in the visual and performing arts are not necessarily the doctorate. “NASAD recognizes the Master of Fine Arts as the appropriate terminal degree for studio [art] faculty.” (NASAD Handbook, p. 57); “NAST recognizes the Master of Fine Arts as the appropriate terminal degree for performance, design-technology, and playwriting [theatre] faculty.” (NAST Handbook, p. 62); “A person’s qualifications to teach performance, composition, and other applied subjects are significantly revealed by the individual’s past and/or present involvement as a presenting performer or composer. NASM recognizes the availability of doctorates for specialists in performance, composition, and some other applied disciplines. At the same time, the Association recognizes that some highly qualified artist-teachers may hold other academic degrees; others may not hold any academic degrees. In such cases, the institution should base appointments on experience, training, and expertise at least equivalent to those required for the master’s degree in music or another appropriate field.” (NASM Handbook, p. 61-62).

Generally, the TTU main Library supports the mission, objectives, degree programs, and research needs of the units of the CVPA. Additional holdings are housed in the School of Art Visual Resource Center (VRC), of particular note, the slide collection. The NASAD Visitors Report (p.16) notes a certain amount of duplication between the main library, the Art VRC, and the Architecture library. It is suggested that greater cooperative planning should be pursued to enhance resource distribution. The School of Music has a Music Listening Library that houses the collection of sound recordings, multiple scores, and a very small reference collection. The NASM Visitors Report (p.23) states that “Staffing in the University Library does not appear to comply with the standard that the music collection ‘be staffed by qualified personnel sufficient to meet the various needs of the music unit’ (NASM Handbook, p.65, II.G.3).” The NAST Visitors Report (p.5) states that library holdings and electronic access are sufficient to meet the goals and objectives of the theatre unit. Beyond the resources cited above, the School of Art and School of Music also house technology laboratories and computer access in various locations of their respective buildings. The School of Music houses a small music education reference library and the Department of Theatre and Dance houses a set design lab in its annex. Facilities, services, and other learning information resources within the CVPA are consistent with the mission of TTU, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Catalog.html#Mission , and with the mission statements of the CVPA and its constituent units, http://www.vpa.ttu.edu/CGI/framesrv.cgi?loc=mission_strat_plan.shtml, http://www.art.ttu.edu/SOASTRAT.htm, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music , http://www.depts.ttu.edu/theatreanddance/mission.htm.

RESOURCES

Section 4:  FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate degree programs are comprised of at least 120 hours, 2004-2005 TTU Catalog, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Academics.html#DegreeReqs; with masters degree programs consisting of 30-36 hours http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GRADMasters.html, and doctoral degree programs consisting of at least 60 hours, exclusive of the dissertation http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/GRADDoctoral.html, 2004-2005 TTU Catalog..