Self-study submitted to NEASC, September 2011 - Castleton State ...

Castleton State CollegeIntroductionattendee won a coupon that increased his/her chances of winning one of the prizes. All told, atleast 606 such substantive exchanges took place between attendees and steering committeemembers.Professor Kimmel sent the second complete draft of the self-study to the community on April 27,2011. At its May 3, 2011, meeting, Castleton’s Faculty Assembly endorsed the followingmotion:The Castleton Faculty Assembly supports the April 27 draft of the 2011 NEASC Self-Study Report, with the understanding that updates and corrections may be made at alater date.On July 13, 2011, following CIHE’s adoption of revised standards of accreditation, Dean Markjoined a conference call scheduled for institutions undergoing fall 2011 reaccreditation visits. Inlight of the fact that Castleton’s self-study had been finished for some time, had been the resultof a highly participatory process, and had been formally supported by the Faculty Assembly, thedean wanted clarification regarding the college’s options for responding to the new standards. Ina follow-up telephone conversation on July 15, Deputy Director O’Brien confirmed thatCastleton need not revise its self-study. Rather, it could prepare a supplement to the self-studythat identified ways in which the college either had or would need to make changes to achievecompliance with the new revisions.Subsequently, members of the steering committee reviewed the revised standards in order torecommend elements that should be included in Castleton’s self-study supplement, particularlyas those relate to the standards for which the steering committee co-chairs had oversightresponsibility.Castleton has solicited public comment as part of the reaccreditation process, using the “sampleinvitation” provided by the Commission. A notice was placed in a July 2011 newsletter mailed toabout 15,000 alumni, parents of current students, and friends of the college. A similar notice wasposted on the college’s web site in summer 2011 with a link from the News & Events page. InSeptember the notice will be placed in the Rutland Herald, the daily newspaper that covers ourarea, and in the Spartan, the student newspaper.During fall 2011, a special effort is planned to inform students about the self-study and thereaccreditation process. The final version of the self-study will be sent electronically to alladministrators, faculty, and staff; and all employees will be given access to the electronicresources that will be sent to the members of the visiting team.iii