GW's Self-Study for MSCHE

The Self-Study

The key element of the reaffirmation process is an extensive self-study conducted by the University for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The self-study is directed by a steering committee composed of faculty, administrative staff, and student representatives. The self-study is designed to provide the University a vehicle for critical self-examination that will be of significant benefit to the University while demonstrating compliance with the MSCHE accreditation standards.

GW opted to use MSCHE's "Planning and Assessment Self-Study" design. This design focuses the self-study on four of the fourteen standards:

  • Standard 2: Planning, Resource Allocation, & Institutional Renewal
  • Standard 3: Institutional Resources
  • Standard 7: Institutional Assessment
  • Standard 14: Assessment of Student Learning

Compliance with the remaining ten accreditation standards will be demonstrated through a review of relevant documentation by MSCHE generalist evaluators. A detailed catalog of existing University documents and reports that shows their linkage to the ten standards is being prepared in conjunction with the self-study.

The Self-Study will examine each of the six goals of the Strategic Plan for Academic Excellence (SPAE) relative to the four "planning and assessment" standards. The six goals of the SPAE are as follows:

  • Goal 1: Move GW solidly into the ranks of the first-tier educational institutions through quality undergraduate education and selected top-ranked graduate programs, especially at the doctoral level.
  • Goal 2: Solidify, strengthen, and strategically expand graduate professional education including programs that meet the needs of mid-career and continuous learning audiences.
  • Goal 3: Move GW into the ranks of the top-tier research institutions through continued and enhanced facilitation of faculty scholarship and research growth.
  • Goal 4: Continue to develop a strong sense of community.
  • Goal 5: Strengthen GW's infrastructure, including the University's libraries, technology resources, and business and service operations, to support excellence in the academic enterprise.
  • Goal 6: Maintain a strong financial base.

The scope of the Self-Study is depicted in this matrix.

GW's official Self-Study Design was submitted to MSCHE in June 2006; the full design document is available here. The design was officially approved by MSCHE in August 2006; the approval letter may be accessed here.

The Steering Committee

As indicated above, the overall reaccreditation process, and the Self-Study in particular, will be directed by a Steering Committee. The membership of the Steering Committee is as follows:

Chairs:

  • Faculty Chair: Forrest Maltzman (Professor of Political Science)
  • Co-Chair: Cheryl Beil (Assistant Vice President for Academic Planning, Institutional Research, and Assessment; Assistant Research Professor of Psychology)

Members:

  • Maggie Beckham (Undergraduate Student, CCAS, Honors)
  • Diane Brewer (Associate Professor of Speech & Hearing Science, Working Group 2 Chair)
  • Peggye Cohen (Assistant Vice President/Institutional Research)
  • Linda Donnels (Assocaite Vice President/SASS and Dean of Students)
  • Gale Etschmaier (Associate University LIbrarian for Public Services)
  • Miriam Galston (Associate Professor of Law)
  • Mary Gowan (Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, GWSB) - through June 8, 2007
  • Richard Green (Director of the Real Estate Institute; Director of the Center for Washington Area Studies; Oliver T. Carr, Jr. Professor of Real Estate Finance; Working Group 6 Chair)
  • Janet Heddesheimer (Associate Dean, GSEHD; Professor of Counseling; Research Professor of Psychology & Behavioral Science)
  • Rachelle Heller (Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Mount Vernon; Professor of Engineering & Applied Science; Working Group 4 Chair)
  • Guy Jones (Chief Technology Officer)
  • Gerald Kauvar (Special Assistant to President Trachtenberg, through August 1, 2007)
  • Michael King (Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry; Working Group 5 Chair)
  • Craig Linebaugh (Associate Vice President for Academic Planning; Chief Academic Operating Officer for the Virginia Campus
  • Ross Mankuta (Graduate Student, GSEHD, Higher Education Administration)
  • Barbara Myklebust (Assistant Dean for Student Affairs; Research Professor of Engineering; Working Group 1 Co-Chair)
  • Susan Phillips (Dean, GWSB)
  • Josef Reum (Associate Dean for Public Health; Associate Professor of Health Services Management & Leadership)
  • Lilien Robinson (Professor of Art; Chair, Faculty Senate Executive Committee)
  • Donna Scarboro (Assistant Vice President for Special and International Programs; Assistant Professorial Lecturer in English and Honors)
  • Carol Sigelman (Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies & Academic Affairs, Working Group 1 Co-Chair)
  • Richard Thornton (Professor of History & International Affairs)
  • Paul Wahlbeck (Professor of Political Science; Working Group 3 Chair)
  • Raymond Walsh (Professor and Chair, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology)

The Working Groups

A Working Group has been appointed to conduct a self-study of each of the six goals of the Strategic Plan for Academic Excellence. Working Group rosters may be found here.

The Logistics Group

The work of the Steering Committee and the Working Groups will be supported by a logistics team that will include staff from the following units:

  • Academic Planning
  • Academic Planning & Assessment
  • Academic Publications
  • Academic Technologies
  • Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning (Blackboard)
  • Information Systems & Services
  • Institutional Research
  • Marvin Center & University Conferences
  • Office of the Registrar
  • University Relations
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