The 2023 Middle States Self-Study Reaccreditation Process is now underway! This process, which will take place over the next several years, is necessary to maintain Hudson Valley’s essential Middle States Accreditation status.
You may ask, what is Middle States Accreditation, and why is it so important?
Accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an internationally respected post-secondary accrediting organization, ensures that Hudson Valley Community College meets rigorous and comprehensive standards and maintains a culture of ethical practices and institutional integrity.
That makes sense, you think. So… what exactly is the self-study process and what does it involve?
To maintain Middle States accreditation, every eight years the college is required to undergo a self-study process that will culminate in a site visit by a peer-review team. The self-study process provides the campus community the opportunity to examine how well the college is fulfilling its mission, goals, and objectives, to demonstrate its strengths, and to identify weaknesses and recommend strategies to address them. The self-study process enables the campus to take an honest inventory of the college and to develop a strengths-based focus on continuous and consistent improvement.
As previously announced in the Campus Chronicle, Hudson Valley’s Self-Study process will be led by Dr. Margaret Geehan, dean of Institutional Assessment, and Associate Professor Joe Stenard, with guidance from Kathy Petley, executive director of Institutional Effectiveness, and Jim Macklin in the Office of Planning and Research. This “Core Group” will lead the college’s Middle States Self Study initiative in an inclusive, transparent, and meaningful process that will involve the efforts, expertise, and collaboration of the entire campus community.
Okay, but what is my role? How can I be involved?
Middle States accredited institutions are expected to demonstrate compliance with the following seven accrediting Standards:
Standard I — Missions and Goals
Standard II — Ethics and Integrity
Standard III — Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
Standard IV — Support of the Student Experience
Standard V — Educational Effectiveness Assessment
Standard VI — Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
Standard VII — Governance, Leadership, and Administration
Each Standard will have its own Working Group, comprised of two Co-Chairs and members of the campus community representative of faculty, administration, staff, and students. This is where you have a role to play. To paint a full and accurate picture of the college, the Working Groups will be comprised of a diverse group of campus community members.
That sounds interesting and important. As a member of one of the seven Working Groups, what would my responsibility be?
The seven Working Groups, guided by the principles of transparency and continuous improvement, will demonstrate through evidence-based presentation and analysis that Hudson Valley meets or exceeds the expectation of the Middles States Standards. Each of the seven Standards is comprised of defining criteria and the Working Groups will provide evidence that the college is meeting its designated Standard. Working Group Chairs guide members through a fair inquiry process to produce recommendations for further improvement and action by the college. Each Working Group member will be assigned a question, or criterion, and work with a partner to gather applicable evidence and analyze, review, and summarize information to provide insights and responses to these questions.
Every member of the campus community plays a vital role in the success of the college and will play an important role in the Self Study process. Whether you have been at the college for one year or for 20 years, your collaboration and participation is vital to the success of the Self Study. Each one of us has a unique perspective and a unique place in the college community. We are all part of the Hudson Valley Community College story and your participation in the process is critical to producing a Self-Study document that truly tells our rich and meaningful story.
But there’s a pandemic, and I’m really busy doing my part to help students experience a seamless, supportive, and effective learning environment. Can I still contribute?
Of course, serving our students is the most important goal we have as a college, and that will always be our first priority. However, the Self Study process is a very important one: maintaining Middle States Accreditation ensures that Hudson Valley remains a viable option for students, faculty, and staff. As a Working Group member your contribution is spread out over two years so you will have ample time to respond to your assigned question.
If you are interested in becoming a member of a Working Group, please contact Margaret Geehan (m.geehan@hvcc.edu) or Joe Stenard (j.stenard@hvcc.edu). More information will be shared with the campus community as the process unfolds, including a timeline of Self Study activities, benchmarks, and deadlines.
This is an opportunity to show off what a wonderful community Hudson Valley is and to ensure its ongoing success!
Published: Mon, 28 Sep 2020 12:05:31 +0000 by j.stenard