Criterion 4: Info and Co-Chairs
Criterion 4: Sustainability – Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning
What it means:
Criterion 4 is about making sure the College has the resources, structures, and planning processes needed to fulfill its mission now and into the future. It looks at whether we are organized effectively, have the financial and personnel resources to sustain operations, and engage in strategic planning for continuous improvement.
Why it matters:
Accreditors want to know that our institution is stable, forward-looking, and capable of responding to challenges and opportunities. They will look for evidence that we make decisions collaboratively, manage resources responsibly, and use planning and data to continuously improve programs and services.
Examples of Evidence You Might Have
Effective Administrative Structures (4.A):
- Lists of committees such as Faculty Council, assessment committee, or budget committee and descriptions of their roles
- Constituent group meeting minutes showing shared governance or collaborative planning
- Organizational charts
- Examples of decisions or changes made based on review of data
- Evidence of partnerships with local organizations or community entities
Resource Base and Sustainability (4.B):
- Audited financial statements and financial ratios over several years
- Campus master plan and documentation of facilities and technology investments
- Strategic plan investments and budget allocation documents
- Enrollment plans and projections
- Fundraising reports or foundation activities
- Professional development funding for faculty and staff
- Collective bargaining agreements (if applicable).
Planning for Quality Improvement (4.C):
- Strategic plan documents, creation process, and annual updates
- Budget requests and allocation processes tied to planning priorities
- Enrollment management plans and environmental scans
- Evidence of using external data (state demographics, labor market analyses) for planning
- Institutional effectiveness reports, KPIs, and dashboards
- Data on persistence, retention, and completion, disaggregated by student demographics
- Documentation of student advising policies, student satisfaction surveys, and resulting improvements
- Records of initiatives taken based on review of data (e.g., reducing DFW rates, supporting probation/suspension recovery, strengthening student success centers)
Co-Chairs
Dr. Peggy Sueppel, aka The Evaluator 
Coordinator, Assessment and Accreditation
Learn a little more about The Evaluator:
What’s the funniest or most unusual nickname you’ve ever had?
My elementary school P.E. teacher called me PegLeg. That probably says a lot about my athletic abilities.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
I would like to be able to talk to animals. Well, I already talk to them. I would just like to know what they are thinking.
Which emoji do you use the most?
The laughing emoji, because I crack myself up!
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Michelle Leidel, aka Tech Titan
Dean of Applied Sciences and Technologies
Learn a little more about Tech Titan:
If you could teleport anywhere right now, where would you go?
Governor’s Beach on the Cayman Islands with my family
What show or movie could you binge watch forever?
Pirates of the Caribbean
If you could instantly master any hobby or skill, what would it be?
Singing
