MSCHE SELF-STUDY UPDATE Stacy Larson & Joann Mulqueen, Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL ON A SUCCESSFUL VISIT! As you all know, from October 15 through October 18, CW hosted an evaluation Team Visit with colleagues who represented MSCHE. Previous articles and presentations have outlined who the Team Members were and what the visit would entail. The big news is that on Wednesday of the visit (October 18), the Team Chair, Dr. Cyphers, read the entire Team Report which summarized their findings. It was a truly positive and uplifting report to hear!
WHAT WERE THE RESULTS? • We received 18 commendations, noting many of CW’s strengths including the clarity and strength of our Mission, the campuswide evidence of a student-centered culture, a strong and focused curriculum, an outstanding level of commitment to a diverse and inclusive culture of student support and success, a dedicated and talented group of faculty members, a strong strategic planning, budgeting and institutional assessment processes, and a highly engaged Board of Trustees. • Several suggestions (considered collegial advice) were offered, many of which coincided with CW’s own findings. The Team believed we would benefit, for example, by increasing our efforts to create a more diverse faculty and staff, to consider additional mechanisms for ensuring students obtain competence in multi-cultural and global perspectives, and to consider re-examining the workload among personnel. • Only 4 recommendations were given – these actions must be undertaken – having to do with centralizing data, assessments, reporting and the dissemination of information, creating one, unified assessment plan for student services outcomes, assessing the communications loops, and strengthening the board of trustees’ conflict of interest policy.
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NEXT STEPS: • MSCHE Evaluation Committee meets in January to review all recent team visits. • Their conclusions are presented to the Middle States Commission at their March 2018 meeting. • CW will be notified in writing of the “Accreditation Action” and whether any follow-up will be required.
So, THANK YOU! FOR ALL YOU DID TO MAKE THIS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL VISIT!