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The University of the Virgin Islands is at a cross roads on its Pathways to Greatness, and the 2017 Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Decennial Self Study Process is providing the opportunity for UVI to evolve into the institution that it wants to be – an institution where every action is supported by data and a deliberate utilization of resources. This two and one half year project has been named “GREATNESS BY DESIGN” in reference to the focus and planning required to achieve the goals in Pathways to Greatness. Based on UVI’s success with the Periodic Review Report (PRR) and its overall relationship with MSCHE, it was selected by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to serve in its Collaborative Implementation Project (CIP) as a pilot for the seven new Standards for Accreditation along with a select group of fourteen other institutions. The CIP project began in October of 2014, when Dr. Frank Mills and Dr. Magdalene Tobias were appointed as co-chairs of the Self-Study Steering Committee (SSI). MSCHE also provided training institutes for CIP members. Following training sessions, chairs or co-chairs were appointed for each of the seven Middle States standards. These chairs will lead the development of material to support UVI’s compliance with the standards as well as serve on the Self-Study Steering Committee. IN THIS ISSUE MSCHE Reaffirmation of Accreditation………..…..1 Upcoming Events……...…..1 Self-Study Steering Committee Seven Sub-Committees….2 Editor of the Self-Study.....3 Accreditation Timeline………………….….4 MSCHE Representative First Visit…………………….6 Committee Structure……...7 IEAAB, Who Are They?......8 April 2015 Volume 1, Issue 1 UPCOMING EVENTS 3/26/15 - SSI Meeting 3/27/15 - IEAAB Meeting 4/3/15 - Good Friday HOLIDAY 4/9/15 - SSI Meeting 4/15/15 - Due Date for Self Study Design 4/23/15 - SSI Meeting 5/1/15 - Carnival Friday HOLIDAY 5/4-5/15 - MSCHE Representative First Visit 5/21/15 - SSI Meeting 5/25/15 - Memorial Day HOLIDAY Self-Study Steering Committee 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. STANDARD II : Ethics & Integrity Ethics and integrity are central, indispensable, and defining hallmarks of effective higher education institutions. In all activities, whether internal or external, an institution must be faithful to its mission, honor its contracts and commitments, adhere to its policies, and represent itself truthfully. STANDARD III : Design & Delivery of the Student Learning An institution provides students with learning experiences that are characterized by rigor and coherence at all program, certificate, and degree levels, regardless of instructional modality. All learning experiences, regardless of modality, program pace/schedule, level, and setting are consistent with higher education expectations. STANDARD IV : Support of the Student Experience Across all educational experiences, settings, levels, and instructional modalities, the institution recruits and admits students whose interests, abilities, experiences, and goals are congruent with its mission and educational offerings. The institution commits to student retention, persistence, completion, and success through a coherent and effective support system sustained by qualified professionals, which enhances the quality of the learning environment, contributes to the educational experience, and fosters student success. Prof. Linda Wymer Assistant Professor of English Prof. Nandi Sekou Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Dr. Glenn Metts Associate Professor of Management Dr. Stephen Moore Executive Director of Student Success & Honors Program 2 STANDARD V : Educational Effectiveness Assessment Assessment of student learning and achievement demonstrates that the institution’s students have accomplished educational goals consistent with their program of study, degree level, the institution’s mission, and appropriate expectations for institutions of higher education. STANDARD VI : Planning, Resources & Intuitional Improvement The institution’s planning processes, resources, and structures are aligned with each other and are sufficient to fulfill its mission and goals, to continuously assess and improve its programs and services, and to respond effectively to opportunities and challenges. STANDARD VII : Governance, Leadership & Administration The institution is governed and administered in a manner that allows it to realize its stated mission and goals in a way that effectively benefits the institution, its students, and the other constituencies it serves. Even when supported by or affiliated with governmental, corporate, religious, educational system, or other unaccredited organizations, the institution has education as its primary purpose, and it operates as an academic institution with appropriate autonomy. The editor will provide guidelines to facilitate consistency of style across all documents (i.e., working groups drafts and reports, supporting documentation, the final Self Study report). As provided, members of the working groups will have a clear understanding of how final editorial changes will be made, and consistency of style throughout the process which will allow interim reports to be more easily combined into a seamless final document. Dr. Noreen Michael Research Director 3 Self-Study Steering Committee Dr. Nancy Morgan Visiting Associate Professor of Education Dr. Lonnie Hudspeth Associate Professor of Business Dr. Adam Parr Associate Professor of Mathematics 4 Accreditation 5 Accreditation Monday, May 4, 2015 (St. Thomas) Tuesday, May 5, 2015 (St. Croix) 7:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Check-out hotel 7:45 a.m. Pick up from hotel by Tina Koopmans 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Fly to St. Croix with Tina Koopmans 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Breakfast meeting with President David Hall 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Breakfast Tour with Tina Koopmans, Nereida Washington, and Stephan Moore 10:00 a..m. - 11:00 a.m. Campus Tour with Tina Koopmans 9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Meeting with Provost McKayle 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch with Cabinet and Internal Auditor (President’s Guest House) 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. SSI Meeting (Ralph M. Paiewonsky Library Conference Room and Provost’s Conference Room) 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. UVI Next Task Force (ACC third floor) 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Town Hall Meeting (EVC 401 and ACC first floor) 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Town Hall Meeting (ACC first floor and EVC 401) 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Fly to St. Thomas 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. IEAAB / SPOL Working Group (ACC third floor) 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Debrief Lunch with Tina Koopmans and Dr. Frank Mills 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Board of Trustees (ACC third floor) 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. In transit to Airport 5:00 p.m. Break 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fly to USA 6:00 p.m. - until Dinner Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Representative Site Visit—Dr. Eleanor A. Fogarty 6 7 The Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment Advisory Board (IEAAB) will provide oversight to the Self-Study Steering Committee. This Committee has been operating since 2009, and has provided guidance on accreditation and assessment activities for the University. The IEAAB will assure that the SSI meets the necessary timelines and standards for submission of the Self Study. A schedule is already in place for this Committee to meet regularly throughout the 30 month process. To ensure that the Reaffirmation of Accreditation process is consistent with the goals outlined for the Strategic Planning Online (SPOL) software package that was implemented last year, a SPOL Working Group was established. This group made up of senior administrators will serve as a resource to the SSI to provide the data and resources necessary for the SSI to be successful. This was done in lieu of these members serving on each of the subcommittees. The Steering Committee will also be receiving input from the UVINext Task Force. The UVINext Task Force and process will provide guidance on its program review and the institutional effectiveness model that will be implemented going forward. The first major milestone in the project is the submission of a Self Study Design document that will serve as an outline for the development of the self study. This document will be developed by the Steering Committee and is due to Middle States by April 15, 2015. Middle States Vice-President Ellie Fogarty will visit the University on May 4 and 5, 2015 to meet with the Committees, the President, the Board of Trustees and the University Constituents to review and provide approval for the Self Study Design. Work will commence during the summer to gather data and documents, and the development of the Self Study sections will begin in Fall 2015 under the leadership of the Self Study Steering Committee. IEAAB, Who Are They? Dr. Frank Mills Self-Study Steering Committee Co-Chair Dr. Magdalene Tobias Self-Study Steering Committee Co-Chair 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