What is an ABACUS? - tracs.org

12 Pages·2014·1.77 MB·English

by  Paul Lemon

What is an ABACUS?
 In history, the Abacus was a calculating tool used before the
adoption of the written numeral system in use today.
What is an ABACUS?
 At Morthland College, the ABACUS is the tool of
compliance.
 Divided into the domains of
TRACS, twelve different
ABACI are printed and
placed in the offices of
appropriate college
leadership.
Development of the ABACUS
 Line Items on the ABACUS are identified from:
 TRACS Standards
 Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Standards
 Morthland College Mission and Vision Standards
 Board or Presidential Directives
 Committee or Council Recommendations
Development of the ABACUS
 AN EXAMPLE:
 TRACS Standard 1.1 requires MC to annually affirm its
commitment to the Christian Biblical foundations,
purposes and objectives, philosophy and ethical and
moral values.
 The ABACUS for I. FOUNDATIONAL STANDARDS
requires the Annual Affirmation of Foundational
Standards by the Board, Foundation, Administration,
Staff, Faculty and Students.
Components of the ABACUS
 Item – Identifies task to be completed
 Responsibility – Identifies person responsible for completing
this item.
 Review Date – Identifies how often this review is completed
 Each month listed individually – Identifies what month or
months each item is to be completed
Components of the ABACUS
 AN EXAMPLE:
 Annual Affirmation of Foundational Standards are to be
completed in August of each year
(and in January for new faculty/students)
Audit of the ABACUS
 On or about the 15th of each month, the Compliance Officer
audits the required items in the previous month.
 In this audit, the Compliance Officer look for evidence that
each item has been completed. Evidence can include
meeting minutes, documentation, etc.
 If it is determined that the item has not been completed
satisfactorily, steps are taken to correct and complete the
item.
 The results of the audit are compiled into a monthly report.
Audit of the ABACUS
 AN EXAMPLE:
 On September 15, the Compliance Officer audits:
I. FOUNDATIONAL STANDARDS, specifically Signed
Letters of Commitment from the Board, Foundation,
Administration, Staff, Faculty and Students.
 He asks Director of Human Resources if all have signed
letters, then spot checks several from each category.
Audit of the ABACUS
 AN EXAMPLE (continued):
 In the audit, the Compliance Officer discovers that most all
members of the institution have signed Letters of
Commitment, but a few staff members and members of the
foundation had not yet signed. The Director of Human
Resources identified steps to ensure compliance.
 The ABACUS audit report for September showed that MC
was not in full compliance, but also described steps to be
taken.