Accreditation Self Study
NECHE Self-Study
Overview
Worcester State University is fully accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, or NECHE. This regional accrediting body, previously known as NEASC, is responsible for both evaluating the academic quality of higher education institutions and promoting continuous improvement among them. In carrying out its mission, NECHE assures the public, government entities, and other constituents of institutions’ regulatory compliance and adoption of best practices for the delivery of higher education.
Accreditation is an ongoing process that involves, at a minimum, comprehensive evaluations that generally span ten years and include interim evaluations. Comprehensive evaluations are conducted by volunteer teams of colleagues who are charged with both reviewing institutional data and reports and then, in a visit to the institution under review, verifying that the information presented is accurate and in line with NECHE standards, which cover all aspects of institutional operations.
The creation of a comprehensive evaluation self-study is a major undertaking requiring the efforts of the entire campus community. It serves as the primary means by which the institution demonstrates its aspirations, shortcomings, and general satisfaction of accreditation standards. The self-study is the first document evaluation team members will use to become acquainted with the institution, and it will serve as a guide for future accreditation actions that support the institution’s continuous improvement efforts.
Message from the President
Barry M. Maloney,
President
January 26, 2021
This year we initiate our New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) re-accreditation process, just as implementation of our 2020-2025 strategic plan begins in earnest. The timing will permit each to inform the other, strengthening both.
The first step, a comprehensive self-study, is now underway and will take approximately 18 months. A steering committee, with subcommittees organized around NECHE’s nine standards for accreditation, has been formed under the direction of co-chairs Dr. Emily Soltano and Dr. Noah Dion. They aim to bring us together, from all parts of the campus, to learn from one another about the excellent work we do here every day and how we might do it even better.
A critical step will take place in the fall of 2022, when a team of evaluators comes to Worcester State for a site visit. At that time, we will share with them the fruits of our hard work, showcasing a campus that truly puts students first in all that we do. A NECHE decision is expected to be issued in the spring of 2023, affirming our accreditation and indicating any future actions we may need to take.
Those of you who’ve been through the NECHE (formerly NEASC) process in the past know that its “seal of approval” is typically good for ten years, with mid-term evaluation(s) occurring along the way, to make sure that areas of concern are being addressed.
Ultimately, a successful accreditation by NECHE indicates to the world that we comply with the rules governing higher education and meet our industry’s standards. Their external validation is essential for demonstrating that we are worthy of investments from state and federal government sources, private grant agencies and foundations, and donors. It reassures our community partners, too.
In short, it’s important. And a thorough, thoughtful self-study will not only position us for a successful re-accreditation, it can spur the kind of innovative thinking necessary for us to become one of the best-run, student-centered campuses in New England.
We need everyone’s voice to be heard!
Barry M. Maloney,
President
Self-Study Steering Committee
The self-study steering committee is made up of the co-chairs of each subcommittee as well as other campus leaders. The mission of the committee is to coordinate the work each subcommittee has undertaken and ensure that its findings can be woven into a single narrative about the university as told in the self-study.
The steering committee meets regularly to determine whether common issues or challenges are evident and to share strategies and solutions for addressing them. Committee meetings provide an opportunity to pose questions and challenge assumptions that may have been overlooked by an individual subcommittee.
Co-Chairs
Noah Dion, Director of Academic Affairs Support
Emily Soltano, Professor, Department of Psychology & Director, Center for Teaching and Learning
Members
Robert Brooks Professor, Criminal Justice Department
Marilyn Cleary Assistant Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education
Meghna Dillip Professor, Chemistry Department
Adrian Gage Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Residence Life and Housing
Sara Grady Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Professional Development
Roger Greenwell Associate Professor, Biology Department
Tona Hangen Professor, History and Political Science Department
Jennifer Hood-DeGrenier Professor, Biology Department
Daniel Hunt Associate Professor, Communication Department
Linda Larrivee Dean of the School of Education, Health, and Natural Sciences
Raynold Lewis Associate Dean of the School of Education, Health, and Natural Sciences
John Meany Associate Director, Athletics Department
Dina Nichols Board of Trustees
Joseph Quattrucci Associate Professor, Chemistry Department
Sarah Strout Assistant Vice President of Assessment and Planning
Colleen Sullivan Associate Professor, Psychology Department
Henry Theriault Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
Don Vescio Professor, English Department
Jonathan Walker Director of Internal Controls and Risk Assessment
Karen M Wigren Staff Assistant to the Dean of the School of Education, Health, and Natural Sciences
Lois Wims Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Subcommittees
The self-study is created from the work of nine different subcommittees, each of which is aligned to a particular NECHE accreditation standard. The committees gather evidence, evaluate the university’s performance in respect to each standard, and construct narratives that address how improvements can be made. Each subcommittee is tasked with focusing on its standard according to the specific mission, values, and goals of the university. It’s conclusions should align with strategic plans for future success.
Subcommittees by Standard
Standard #1: Mission and Purposes
Co-Chairs
Daniel Hunt, Associate Professor, Communication Department
Karen Wigren, Staff Assistant to the Dean of the School of Education, Health, and Natural Sciences
Members
Leisha Alcia Staff Assistant, Academic Success Center
Kristine Camacho Assistant Professor, Education Department
Tara Hancock Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Engagement
Edgar Moros Director of the Intensive English Language Institute
Stacey Luster General Counselor and Assistant to the President for Employment and Equal Opportunity
Marc-Kendy Paul Student
Standard #2: Planning and Evaluation
Co-Chairs
Meghna Dilip, Professor, Chemistry Department
Linda Larrivee, Dean of the School of Education Health and Natural Sciences
Members
Anthony Adade Associate Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Diara Canton Student
Thomas Kelley Director of Retention
Syamak Moattari Associate Professor, Health Science Department
Mim Plavin-Masterman Associate Professor, Business Administration & Econonomics Department
Tanya Trudell Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Department
Standard #3: Organization and Governance
Co-Chairs
Adrian Gage, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Residence Life and Housing
Tona Hangen, Professor, History and Political Science Department
Members
Joe Dicarlo Dean of Enrollment and Director of Admissions
Carl Herrin Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff
Tyanna McCaulsky Student
Kathleen Murphy Associate Professor, Chemistry Department
Karen Tessmer Associate Director of Athletics and Head Women's Basketball Coach
Mark Wagner Director of the Center for Civic Engagement
Adam Zahler Professor, Visual & Performing Arts Department
Standard #4: The Academic Program
Co-Chairs
Sara Grady, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Professional Development
Jennifer Hood-DeGrenier, Professor, Biology Department
Members
Mark Beaudry Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice Department
Carol Donnelly Professor, Education Department
Allison Dunn Professor, Earth, Environment, and Physics Department
Julie Frankian Staff Associate, Academic Success Center
Martin Fromm Associate Professor, History and Political Science Department
Maria Fung Professor, Mathematics Department
Hy Ginsberg Associate Professor, Mathematics Department
Bonnie Kanner Professor, Psychology Department
Roberta Kyle Associate Vice President and Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education
Ben McElroy Assistant Director of Admissions and Coordinator of Transfer Admissions
Elaine McKenna-Yeaw Executive Director, Worcester Center for Crafts
Russ Pottle Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
MaryLynn Saul Professor, English Department
Elizabeth Siler Associate Professor, Business Administration & Econonomics Department
Seth Surgan Professor, Psychology Department
Colleen Wheaton Director of First Year and Transfer Services
Standard #5: Students
Co-Chairs
Raynold Lewis, Associate Dean of the School of Education, Health and Natural Sciences
Colleen Sullivan, Associate Professor, Psychology Department
Members
Dean Bowen Assistant Director and Fitness Center Manager
Lyndsey Broxton Student
Joanne Jaber Gauvin Assistant Director of the Urban Action Institute
Laura Wildemann Kane Assistant Professor, Philosophy Department
Nabin Malakar Assistant Professor, Earth, Environment, and Physics Department
Fran Manocchio Assistant Dean and Director of Student Accessibility Services
Michael McKenna Director, Conference and Event Services
Kristie McNamara Director of the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership
Jessica O'Connor Staff Associate and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Occupational Therapy Department
Abbigail Poplawski Student
Tammy Tebo Assistant Dean of Academic Services
Standard #6: Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship
Co-Chairs
Joseph Quattrucci, Associate Professor, Chemistry Department
Henry Theriault, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
Members
Mary Fowler Professor, Mathematics Department
Yan Hu Assistant Professor, Biology Department
Matthew Palm Assistant Professor, Urban Studies Department
Jacqueline Raftery-Helmer Assistant Professor, Psychology Department
Meredith Rosario Staff Assistant, Administration and Finance
Yomari Rivera Student
Standard #7: Institutional Resources
Co-Chairs
Donald Vescio, Professor, English Department
Jonathan Walker, Director of Internal Controls and Risk Assessment
Members
Matt Bejune Executive Director, Library
Jodi Briggs-Pickett Executive Director of University Advancement
Kathryn Frazier Assistant Professor, Psychology Department
Margaret Gurney Student
Anisa Hoxha Director of Budget, Planning and Policy Development
Nicole Kapurch Assistant Director and Special Assistant to the President, and Liaison to the Board of Trustees
Mary Jo Marion Assistant Vice President of the Latino Education Institute
Michael Mudd Director of Athletics
Susan Moore Executive Director of Human Resources and Benefits
Dave Needham Assistant Director of Multimedia Services
Jeffry Nichols Associate Professor, Chemistry Department
Sandra Olson Assistant Vice President of Facilities
Katey Palumbo Director, International Programs
Standard #8: Educational Effectiveness
Co-Chairs
Marilyn Cleary, Assistant Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education
Roger Greenwell, Associate Professor, Biology Department
Members
Rosemary Ahmadi Staff Associate, Instructional Designer and Training Specialist
Charles Bray Student
Amanda Cornine Instructor, Nursing Department
Brittany Jeye Assistant Professor, Psychology Department
David Melpignano Day Adjunct Faculty, Communication Department
Adam Shaughnessy Staff Associate, Academic Success Center
Standard #9: Integrity, Transparency, and Public Disclosure
Co-Chairs
Robert Brooks, Professor, Criminal Justice Department
John Meany, Associate Director, Athletics Department
Members
Elena Arranz Non-Matriculated/Adult Student Advisor, Department of Graduate and Continuing Education
Maria Isabel Gariepy Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity
Jason Kapurch Director of University Police
Andrea Latter Instructor, Nursing Department
Amiya Phillips Student
Christina Santana Assistant Professor, English Department
Maureen Stokes Assistant Vice President of Communications and Marketing
Casey Sullivan Staff Assistant, Financial Aid Office
Jack Reardon Associate Director of Network and Infrastructure Services
Wei-Chu Xu Assistant Professor, Chemistry Department
Self-Study Timeline
Fall 2020
- Steering Committee Co-Chairs selected
- Participation solicited and participants appointed
- NECHE self-study workshop
- NECHE annual meeting (November)
Winter 2021
- Self-study kickoff event
- Subcommittee co-chairs meet
- NECHE Data First workshop
Spring 2021
- Formal convening of the steering committee
- Subcommittees meet
- End-of-semester check-in
Summer 2021
- Review of AY 20 – 21 data
- Website updates
- Worcester State University community announcement
Fall 2021
- Meeting of the steering committee
- Subcommittees meet
- End-of-semester check-in
- NECHE annual meeting (November)
Winter 2022
- Website updates
- Worcester State University community announcement
Spring 2022
- Meeting of the steering committee
- Subcommittees meet
- End-of-semester check-in
- Call for evaluation visit participants
Summer 2022
- Review of AY 21 – 22 data
- Website updates
- Drafts of self-study shared and edited
- Draft evaluation visit schedule created
Fall 2022
- Visit arrangements made
- Evaluation team workroom documents gathered
- NECHE evaluation visit
Important Resources
2013 Worcester State University NEASC Accreditation Report
2018 Worcester State University NEASC Interim 5th Year Accreditation Report
2020 Worcester State University NECHE Distance Education Expedited Review Report
NECHE Self-Study Guide (2018)
Those interested in serving on a subcommittee may email Emily Soltano or Noah Dion directly.
Those interested in providing anonymous concerns or suggestions may do so here.
Those interested in participating in open steering committee meetings can access the times and meeting information here.
Those interested in providing public comment in regard to the comprehensive evaluation may do so starting September 1, 2022, in accordance with NECHE’s policy.
Those interested in participating in open sessions with the NECHE evaluation team may Emily Soltano or Noah Dion directly.