Remember
1) Our committee consists of highly qualified experts from peer institutions similar in size and scope to VPCC. The priority of the committee is to ensure we are fulfilling our mission to educate students.
2) Meetings with the committee are not “interrogations.” Committee members are professional and courteous and will focus most of their questions about roles, responsibilities, and related policies and procedures.
3) While on campus, committee members may speak with anyone they wish, whether scheduled or unscheduled. This is a great way for them to get to know our institution and assess if we are meeting our mission and the SACSCOC standards.
4) Anyone who speaks with a committee member may be asked about the QEP. Everyone should have a basic understanding of the purpose and goals of the QEP.
5) Always be honest and act with integrity. If you don’t know the answer, simply say you do not know and pass the question or information to the on-site coordination committee. Do not invent an answer you think the committee wants to hear!
Do
- Prepare in advance by reviewing the materials provided
- Bring these materials with you to your interview, along with your laptop
- Let the committee members set the pace of the interview
- Listen carefully to the questions being asked
- Focus your responses to ensure you provide relevant, helpful information for the committee
- Answer all questions honestly and to the best of your ability
- Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question
- Let the committee know if you can’t answer a question and then notify the on-site committee
- Inform the on-site committee immediately if you will be late for a meeting
- Remain professional, cordial, and respectful, but be yourself!
- Plan to arrive early; we will have a waiting room nearby
Do Not
- Provide information not specifically requested by members of the committee
- Volunteer information on matters about which you may not be entirely informed
- Chat or make lengthy small talk with the reviewers
- Interrupt the committee
- Criticize, gripe, or blame others
- Make excuses
- Make negative comments
- Lie or misrepresent anything
- Treat the interview casually
- Be unprepared
- Talk or text on your phone during the interview
- Answer email during the interview
- Use a lot of acronyms without context
- Give one or two-word answers
- Be late