The University of Nebraska at Omaha is accredited by the North Central Association/ Higher Learning Commission. UNO has chosen the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) path for accreditation. For more information regarding accreditation and the AQIP process, follow the links below.

At the campus level, the quality improvement process is led by the AQIP Steering Committee, which is composed of the following members:

• Neal Topp, Chair
• Deborah Smith-Howell, Action Project Leader
• Rita Henry, Action Project Leader
• Bill Conley, Action Project Leader
• Griff Elder, Faculty Senate Representative
• Kent Lavene, Staff Advisory Council Representative
• Russ Smith, Institutional Research

The purpose of this group is to work closely with the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and other relevant groups to provide a tactical approach for developing quality improvement initiatives across campus.

The Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP)

The Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) infuses the principles and benefits of continuous improvement into the culture of colleges and universities by providing an alternative process through which an already-accredited institution can maintain its accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. With AQIP, an institution demonstrates it meets accreditation standards and expectations through sequences of events that align with those ongoing activities that characterize organizations striving to improve their performance.

UNO's 2008 AQIP Systems Portfolio

• Title Page
• Organizational Overview
• Category One: Helping Students Learn
• Category Two: Accomplishing Other Distinctive Objectives
• Category Three: Understanding Students' and Other Stakeholders' Needs
• Category Four: Valuing People
• Category Five: Leading and Communicating
• Category Six: Supporting Institutional Operations
• Category Seven: Measuring Effectiveness
• Category Eight: Planning Continuous Improvement
• Category Nine: Building Collaborative Relationships
• Index

Systems Appraisal Report: 2009

This report provides commentary from external reviewers on UNO's 2008 Systems Portfolio. The appraisal highlights UNO's strengths and potential opportunities for improvement.

• Appraisal Report

Nine AQIP Categories

As an AQIP institution, we are responsible for assessing and documenting continuous improvement in the following key areas or 'categories':

1. Helping Students Learn
2. Accomplishing Other Distinctive Objectives
3. Understanding Students and Other Stakeholders' Needs
4. Valuing People
5. Leading and Communicating
6. Supporting Institutional Operations
7. Measuring Effectiveness
8. Planning Continuous Improvement
9. Building Collaborative Relationships

Full explanations of AQIP principles and processes are available at: Accreditation (AQIP Process)

For more information about UNO's accreditation process, contact Dr. Neal Topp, Administrative Fellow, Academic & Student Affairs.

AQIP Action Projects

One aspect of AQIP accreditation is the identification of institutional action projects. Within the larger sequence of activities and services that constitute AQIP, Action Projects strengthen an organization's commitment to continuous improvement; educate and motivate faculty, staff, and administrators; and improve systems and processes that will lead to success in achieving organizational goals.

Organizations choose their own Action Projects to help them achieve their visions and missions. Annual updates on the progress or completion of Action Projects are required by the HLC. These updates provide feedback, recognition, and assistance if needed.

UNO has identified three action projects for which brief descriptions are provided below. Each project is led by a coordinator and a team of faculty, staff, and students. For more information about each project, contact the teach coordinator.

An Engaged Campus: Coordinating Volunteer & Service Opportunities, Activities, and Community Relations

Coordinator, Deborah Smith-Howell, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean for Graduate Studies

The primary goals are to (1) enhance volunteer/service experiences for UNO students, faculty, staff, and community partners and (2) improve accountability for UNO volunteer/service contributions.

The project will focus on alignment of student volunteer/service experiences with learning objectives; assessment of student engagement and community involvement; determination of university impact/contribution to the community, and internal and external communication.

Exceptional Service, Lasting Impressions…Improving UNO Customer Service

Coordinator, Bill Conley, MBA, Vice Chancellor, Business & Finance

The primary is to focus attention of campus personnel on the importance and impact of providing excellent customer service and how that improves campus operations, student experience and achievement of UNO's goals.

The project will improve the student, parent and visitor experience to and with this campus. Outcomes anticipated include increased awareness of customer service by employees and the improvement of customer service to all constituents.

Strengthening the Relationship: Professional Advisors--Faculty Advisors

Coordinator, Rita Henry, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Support Services

The primary goal of this project is to improve the academic advising process in the College of Arts and Sciences by strengthening the relationship between the advising of freshmen by the professional advising staff and the advising of upper class students by faculty.

Academic advising in each department of the College of Arts and Sciences will be improved and the lesson learned in this project will be used in other colleges in the future.