Middle States
SUNY Schenectady Self-Study 2019
We are pleased to present the final SUNY Schenectady County Community College (SUNY Schenectady) Middle States Self-Study. The Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee and numerous working groups made up of constituents from around the campus community have completed a comprehensive self-study to examine the ways in which SUNY Schenectady meets the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Standards of Accreditation. As one of the final steps in the accreditation process, an External Review team will visit the campus. Members of the team will arrive on campus on Sunday, March 24 and conclude their visit with a report out to the college community on Wednesday, March 27.
Please familiarize yourselves with the document and the Standards of Accreditation in order to prepare for participating in the visit.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Self-Study Process and Design
SUNY Schenectady is preparing its 10 year self-study report for the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE or Middles States). This report is critical to the future of SUNY Schenectady.
The SUNY Schenectady self-study will scrutinize how well:
- our programs and services accomplish our institutional priorities;
- we fulfill our mission; and
- we meet the MSCHE's standards.
The self-study process began in 2016 and will culminate with an on-site visit of the MSCHE evaluation team in Spring 2019. The evaluation team will be made up of community college peers from outside the state who will review the findings and recommendations of our self-study report. The evaluation team will then make a recommendation to MSCHE on our accreditation status.
Announcements:
- Self-Study Process Document
- Middle States Design Document (Final Draft, June 2017)
- Middle States FAQ
- Poster Presentation and MS Standards Questions
- Institutional Initiatives - Exploring Best Practices Forum (Video - January 8, 2018)
Purpose of the self-study
- to advance institutional self-understanding and self-improvement
- to demonstrate to external audiences, such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, government regulatory agencies, and the public, that the institution meets the standards for accreditation
- to maintain eligibility to receive federal financial aid.
Middle States FAQ
What is MSCHE?
The U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Council on Higher Education recognize MSCHE as one of six regional accreditation authorities. MSCHE accredits institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
MSCHE is "a voluntary, non-governmental association that defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources. It examines each institution as a whole, rather than specific programs within institutions" (www.msche.org).
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is the process through which an external agency examines an institution and determines whether it meets established requirements and standards. Institutions participate voluntarily. Accreditation is important for our students because federal student aid is available only to students enrolled in accredited institutions.
What is re-accreditation?
Every ten years MSCHE mandates that its member institutions undergo a rigorous self-study process and write an extensive report on that process. This report is the foundational document for the MSCHE evaluation team's onsite visit.
What is a self-study report?
A self-study report is a comprehensive review of a college's educational programs, institutional policies, and student services. It is conducted by the college. It determines how well a college meets its own mission and strategic goals, as measured against MSCHE's seven standards of accreditation and fifteen requirements of affiliation.
How Does the College Do the Self Study?
The college prepares a Design Document, which is the blueprint for the self-study. The Design Document includes goals for the self-study, questions that guide the research undertaken, documents that need be collected to address this research, institutional priorities, and a timetable for the self-study process.
Steering Committee Membership 2019
Co-Chairs
Eileen Abrahams, Associate Professor of English
Brett Wery, Dean, School of Music
Regular Members
Susanna Adams | Coordinator for ADA Transition Services |
Caroline Buff | Librarian |
Harry Buffardi | Associate Professor of Criminal Justice |
Dr. David Clickner | Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs |
RaeEllen Doyle | Associate Professor of Communications |
Steve Fragale | Dean of Student Affairs |
Tammy Gummersheimer | Professor of Chemistry |
Susan Hatalsky | Professor of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism |
Dawn Jones | Assistant Director of Career Services |
Samantha Legere | Assistant Manager of Student Success and Coordinator of Scholarships |
Sabrina McGinty | Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs |
Dale Miller | Director of Institutional Research |
John O’Connell | Assistant Professor of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism |
Paula Ohlhous | Chief of Staff |
Carolyn Slezak | Alumna |
Dr. Aaron Tolbert | Dean, Division of Liberal Arts |
Alicia Richardson | Associate Professor of English and Academic Senate Chair |
Amiee Warfield | Controller, Financial Services |
Dr. Angela West-Davis | Director of EOP & Access |
David White | Director of Marketing and PR |
Cynthia Zielaskowski | Registrar |