Read the Curry College NEASC 2012 Self-Study Report.

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The College demonstrates a strong commitment to communicating regularly with
constituencies and soliciting feedback through face‐to‐face, electronic, and print medium. The
President regularly participates in the monthly faculty meeting to update the faculty on
important College matters and to respond to questions and concerns. He meets as well with
committees and other campus groups, as circumstances dictate. In addition, he hosts a town
hall style meeting to provide a briefing to all College staff on important College matters and to
address questions and concerns.
The President also interacts on a regular basis with students, attending student‐sponsored
events and recognition ceremonies, participating in the Student Government Association’s
Annual Student Town Meeting and other SGA meetings, and attending student athletic events.
There is not, however, a formal mechanism to include a student voice in institutional
governance, though there is increasing discussion about the merits of implementing one.
Alumni and parents receive ongoing information and updates about the College, but greater
emphasis will be placed on the feedback they can provide the College by way of insuring and
enhancing its effectiveness.
Electronic communication has increasingly helped to foster communication. The President and
his Senior Staff communicate and solicit college‐wide input via regularly scheduled newsletters,
all‐College announcements, and responses to inquiries. The College’s investment in an internal
Portal also serves as an electronic channel for special interest discussion groups and for
informational exchange among staff, faculty, and students.
The Chief Academic Officer enhances his communication electronically, maintaining a highly
informative Faculty page on the College Portal to provide faculty with ready access to important
academic initiatives, upcoming events, committee information, teaching and advising tools,
scholarship and research opportunities, and professional development information.
Academic governance and transparency have benefited from several measures and processes.
The Academic Dean has initiated a process for departmental goal setting and planning, as well
as regularly scheduled agenda‐driven meetings of the Department Chairs, Directors, Program
Coordinators, Deans, and Academic Committee Chairs to discuss issues and share information.
Through standing committees and the Department Evaluation Committees (DECs), the Faculty
maintains a significant voice in all academic decisions; curriculum development; outcomes and
assessment; and rank, promotion, and sabbatical recommendations. xlvi Each standing
committee has an established mission, clear committee eligibility, and length of service
guidelines. To improve communication, standing committee chairs have been encouraged to
share information and updates more regularly at monthly faculty meetings. Most committee
members serve a staggered term to allow newly elected members to serve with more
experienced members; however, there is a lack of formal training and faculty development to
inform more effective committee membership and practice. Additionally, there is currently no
Curry College 2012 Self-Study
Standard Three