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IN THIS ISSUE MSCHE’s Corner……..…....1 Upcoming Events…………..1 In the Spotlight Standard I……….………2 Requirements & Compliance………………....3 Accreditation Timeline……..4 Communication Plan….…...6 Strategic Plan Extension…..7 Get Involved………………...7 Recap of MSCHE Visit to UVI………………………..….8 July 2015 Volume 1, Issue 2 UPCOMING EVENTS 7/2/15 - VI Emancipation HOLIDAY 7/3/15 - Independence HOLIDAY 7/24/15 - IEAAB Meeting 7/31/15 - MSCHE Design Approval 8/1715 - CIP Remote TBD 8/19-8/20/15 - New Student Registration 8/21/15 - Late Registration 8/24/15 - Classes Begin 8/24-8/28/15 - Add/Drop Period 9/715 - Labor Day HOLIDAY 9/17/15 - CIP Remote TBD As we recapture Dr. Eleanor A. Fogarty’s visit to our “Historically American. Uniquely Caribbean. Globally Interactive.” institution to begin the process of the University’s reaffirmation of accreditation, here are a few encouraging words from Dr. Fogarty: “The Commission is so pleased that the University of the Virgin Islands agreed to participate in the Collaborative Implementation Project. Your innovative and engaged community is a perfect match for our project and I look forward to working with UVI throughout this process. The experience and commitment of the Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee as well as the subcommittee chairs is impressive. As you know, Middle States accredits the entire university and all activities and programs offered in its name. Therefore, it is ideal that you have decided to leverage the expertise and broad representation of existing committees, such as IEAAB to provide oversight to the Steering Committee as it has in the past as well as the SPOL Working Group and the UVINext Task Force, in this important university-wide process. Moving forward, please continue to solicit input and involvement throughout your campus community to ensure that the final Self Study report is truly representative of UVI. The report can then serve both to demonstrate that UVI meets MSCHE Standards and to achieve other essential outcomes you have identified such as aligning with the UVINext Initiative and informing the next strategic plan that will guide the University in the future. Middle States refers to this as a “Living Document” that can be used after the visiting team leaves campus. I find UVI’s Design for Self Study to be thoughtfully prepared and an excellent guide for the accreditation process.” July 2015 Volume 1, Issue 2 Standard I : Mission & Goals The institution’s mission defines its purpose within the context of higher education, the students it serves, and what it intends to accomplish. The institution’s stated goals are clearly linked to its mission and specify how the institution fulfills its mission. Charge The Mission and Goals Subcommittee will examine the mission and goals of the University and demonstrate that the pursuit of Pathways to Greatness, through its performance objectives, fulfills the mission of the University. The group will emphasize how the Seven Management Values enhances the pursuit of these goals. The University’s continuous improvement is reliant upon a shared vision of its destination, so the group will also have the opportunity to identify new initiatives or changes that will continue to move the University forward towards fulfillment of its mission. This subcommittee will be chaired by Professor Linda Wymer. Chairperson With more than 34 years of professional experi- ence in education, Linda R. Wymer is a recog- nized figure in higher education. She is the elected chair of Fresh- man Studies at UVI, which includes a myriad of responsibilities. Ms. Wymer has written grants, reviewed textbooks, coordinated a territorial after-school mentoring program, provided in-service teaching for public schools, as well as taught PRAXIS I and II for teacher certification. Additionally, Professor Wymer served as a member of the Office of the Governor Mentorship Program. She holds both a master’s degree and an educational specialist degree in supervision and administration from the University of Hartford and anticipates completing her doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership in 2015. Prof. Linda Wymer Assistant Professor of English 2 Anyone is welcomed to join and assist, just call Linda Wymer at (340) 693-1346. Requirements of Affiliation and Verification of Compliance with Federal and State Regulations To be eligible for, to achieve, and maintain accreditation from Middles States, UVI must demonstrate that it fully meets the requirements of affiliation. There are fifteen (15) statements verifying the operation and viability of the University. In addition, UVI will need to address compliance imposed by the federal and territorial regulatory agencies. The affiliation standards and compliance information should be developed into a single document, due to MSCHE by December 16, 2016. A draft document should be presented to the IEAAB by their meeting on October 19, 2016. Although format and content are still being finalized by MSCHE, the University will use its resources to fulfill the obligations. The University of the Virgin Islands has tasked its Internal Auditor, Alan Bray, with responding to the Requirements of Affiliation and Verification of Compliance with Federal and State Regulations. The IEAAB will provide guidance and approval for this document. About Mr. Bray Alan Bray is a Certi- fied Public Account, Certified Fraud Exam- iner and also a Certi- fied Financial Services Auditor. He is also a Certified Inspector General Auditor and Certified Inspector Gen- eral Investigator with a wide range of knowledge and experience in government, insurance, banking and financial services industries. Mr. Bray received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from the University of Missouri. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Institute of Internal Auditors, Association of Inspectors General, National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Accreditation 3 Alan Bray Internal Auditor 4 Accreditation 5 Keeping the University community involved and up to date on the Self Study process is an important priority of the University. As such, the process has been designed with events to inform and to involve University constituents. The Communication Plan includes the following elements:  Newsletters for “GREATNESS BY DESIGN” will be published and distributed three times each year during the project March, June, October of 2015, 16 and 17.  Draft documents will be sent through the Uni- versity’s shared governance process  Draft Design will be sent to constituents in April 2015  First Draft of Subcommittee reports will be sent in February 2016  First Draft of complete Self Study will be sent August 1, 2016  A copy of the final Self Study will be sent as part of the approval process for the UVI BOT in October of 2016, even though there may be edits suggested by MSCHE after submission  A final version of the Self Study will be sent to all constituents and the BOT in February 2017  Town Hall Meetings for the University community will be coordinated at each milestone February, 2015; March and September 2016; and February and June 2017.  A “GREATNESS BY DESIGN” website accessible to the public at www.uvi.edu and to internal stakeholders at mycampus.uvi.edu.  Mini MSCHE advertisements/notes in other UVI newsletters  Announcements on WUVI 1090am, the University’s radio station  Promotional materials targeted to students to foster and promote student involvement  Messages and images accessible from the UVI mobile app 6 Communication Plan 7 News Bulletin  Freshmen open your orientation packets, and get involved!  Returning students, look around campus at posters and flyers, UVI homepage online, and get involved!  Staff, faculty, and students join the various Self Study Sub-Committees, and get involved! They are as follows: Standard I: Mission & Goals Standard II: Ethics & Integrity Standard III: Design & Delivery of the Student Learning Experience Standard IV: Support of the Student Experience Standard V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment Standard VI: Planning Resources & Institutional Improvement Standard VII: Governance, Leadership, & Administration  Tell a friend, and tell a friend to tell another friend, and get the VI community involved! The board also voted in favor of extending the deadline of the University’s Pathways to Greatness 2017 Strategic Plan for one year. This extension will allow UVI to sync its Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmation of accreditation and its efforts to create a new strategic plan. The additional time will allow feedback from the self study required during the accreditation process to be incorporated into efforts to create UVI’s new strategic plan. UVI Board of Trustees approves Strategic Plan Extension to 2018 Dr. Eleanor A. Fogarty 8 St. Thomas Campus #2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802-9990 Admissions: (340) 693-1150 The University of the Virgin Islands is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Phone: (215) 662-5606. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation. Albert A. Sheen Campus RR 1, Box 10000 Kingshill St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 00850-9781 Admissions: (340) 692-4158 Email: greatnessbydesign@uvi.edu, for all inquiries and information to get involved! Dr. Eleanor A. Fogarty joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as Vice President in 2010. In this role, Dr. Fogarty consults with over 80 colleges and universities and provides training on accreditation- related processes for volunteer evaluators. Prior to coming to the Commission, she worked for over 17 years at The College of New Jersey in various roles including Business and Economics Librarian, Associate Provost for Planning and Resource Allocation, and Deputy Compliance Officer. She earned an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her undergraduate degree in Economics & Business Administration from Immaculata University, a Master of Business Administration from Temple Uni- versity, and a Master of Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh.