From posters plastered all over the campus to mentions in a stream of online feeds, 51ԹϺ’s Top Tier 2.0 mission statement is proudly displayed and discussed, but how do we we achieve it?
Lindsay Couzens, associate vice provost of academic effectiveness, is one of the people working behind the scenes to show how 51ԹϺ does that. She also is leading the charge to demonstrate how 51ԹϺ rises up to the standards set forth by the Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
“Accreditation is a marker of quality,” Couzens said. “It's an indication that the institution has a rigorous mission and that we are educating our students appropriately to our mission. It signals that students are able to obtain their degrees in a manner that is not only understandable to them, but that they are meeting their own personal goals by graduation from their programs.”
Couzens, a three-time 51ԹϺ graduate, is diligently preparing for the April's Year Seven Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness site visit. Here she gives us some background on what that entails.
How do faculty and staff engage with or support the work of your office?
The NWCCU accreditation evaluators want to hear directly from people on campus to accurately assess how well we're fulfilling our mission.
We'll hold open forum sessions for faculty, staff, and students — these sessions are a crucial way for the campus community to have their voices heard. We're going to be sending out 51ԹϺ Today announcements that will have information about the open forum sessions. Additional information can be found on the accreditation website.
Additionally, the evaluators may be walking around campus, taking tours, and occasionally stopping faculty, staff, or students to ask questions. That's another direct way to contribute. Beyond those opportunities, simply being open to sharing how you fulfill your own role and mission helps us tell our story as an institution.
How has the accreditation process changed in your time here?
Looking back at our assessment journey, assessment isn't most people's idea of fun. Historically, it's been challenging to engage faculty and demonstrate the value of assessment. It can feel like a burden, and admittedly, it does add to their workload. We're asking them to do something that might be time-consuming. Under [Officer in Charge] Chris Heavey's leadership, we transformed our approach with a complete revamp of our requirements. We simplified the process significantly, which dramatically changed faculty interaction. By making it as straightforward as possible and accommodating most requests, we helped faculty find personal meaning in assessment, rather than just viewing it as a required task.
What inspired you to get into your field?
I came to 51ԹϺ as a student in 1997. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, a master’s degree in educational psychology, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology, as well. I got my first job on campus in 2012.
During my doctoral studies in educational psychology, I was searching for a graduate assistantship. A friend, who was graduating and working as a graduate assistant in the Office of Academic Assessment, asked if I was interested. It seemed like a good fit for my studies, so I accepted.
Honestly, I never imagined it would become my career, but working with Beatrice Babbitt, the director of assessment at the time, I discovered it aligned perfectly with my interests and education. When she retired, I became the coordinator of academic assessment and began my full-time work in this field. Over time, my expertise grew. Because accreditation is so closely tied to assessment, it naturally became part of my responsibilities, and my portfolio expanded significantly.
As I often joke, I didn't dream of assessment or accreditation as a child, but I always knew I'd be involved in education, like my mother, a teacher. And somehow, I ended up here.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m kind of an open book. When I’m not in the office, I enjoy trips to Disneyland. I calm my mind and express my creativity with acrylic pour paints. I love my family. I love to travel. We have a trip to Canada planned for next year. We want to do a train journey across Canada. Peru was one of my favorite places that I've ever been to. I loved it so much. The people were incredible. The food was wonderful. The architectural sites, everything about it was so amazing. New Zealand ranks at the top because that's where I met my husband. We used to go to Comic Con every year and dress up in Star Wars cosplay.
Tell us about an object in your office and what it represents to you.
I have a Taco Bell certificate of academic achievement tacked on my office wall. They used to give us these in school back in 1991. I would say that my career is a full circle moment in life.
Like I previously mentioned, my mom was a teacher. She taught at a couple of local elementary schools and was an administrator for CCSD. Then she worked at 51ԹϺ for a few years. Education has always been a big part of my life.
