Academic Quality Improvement Program

What We Do

Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Overview

Augsburg College elected to join the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) in 2001. AQIP is an alternative process through which Augsburg can maintain its accredited status with The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. AQIP's seven-year continuous improvement cycle replaces the comprehensive self-study and site visit that occurred every ten years . Reaffirmation of Accreditation is based on Augsburg's active participation in AQIP, on evidence of progress and improvement in the organization, and on evidence that the College continues to fulfill the Commission's Criteria for Accreditation (The Higher Learning Commission, 2003, p. 6.1-2)1.

Summary of AQIP Requirements/Augsburg's Timeline

Completed organizational self-assessment as part of the AQIP application process (Summer 2001)

Sent AQIP team to Strategy Forum in Chicago to identify Action Projects that would advance the institution's goals (Spring 2002)

Implemented three Action Project plans to be emphasized by Augsburg over a three to four-year period (2002-2006):

Added new three-year Action Projects Fall 2004 as directed by the AQIP Graduate Program Site Visit Team in Spring 2004:

Submitted Systems Portfolio three years after attending the first Strategy Forum (May, 2005)

Received Appraisal Feedback Report on the Systems Portfolio from AQIP Systems Appraisal Team (March, 2006)

Repeat cycle of attending Strategy Forum in Chicago to identify new Action Projects (May, 2006)

Host Quality Checkup Site Visit one to two years before Reaffirmation of Accreditation (February 7-9, 2007).

Submit application for Reaffirmation of Accreditation within seven years of initial year in AQIP (2007).

Augsburg receives Reaffirmation of Accreditation (November 2007)

Added four new Action Projects (September 2008)

Augsburg begins the second 7-year cycle by submitting the AQIP Systems portfolio for appraisal (November 2008)

Received Appraisal Feedback Report on the Systems Portfolio from AQIP Systems Appraisal Team (February, 2009)

1 The Higher Learning Commission (2003). The handbook of accreditation (3 rd ed.). Chicago: Author.