Work Groups
Each Work Group is co-chaired by two members of the Middle States Steering Committee. For information on the Work Group co-chairs, the charge specific to each Work Group, and suggestions for evidence collection, please see below.
Common Charge for Work Groups
- Develop strategies and use templates for identifying sources of information and collecting relevant data, processes and procedures.
- Hold regular meetings to identify, collect, and analyze evidence and to draft reports for the Steering Committee in accordance with the Purchase College Self-Study Timeline. Identify, collect, and analyze all relevant evidence, including documents, processes, and procedures, assuring that all key issues are examined for the Standard and each criterion. Identify gaps in the evidence or in processes and procedures to meet the Standard and relevant requirements, develop strategies to address the gap.
- Develop an outline of the chapter.
- Use the chapter outline to write the analysis of the extent to which Purchase College meets the criteria of the Standard.
- Use the data gathered to describe opportunities to innovate and improve the way the college can fulfill this standard in the future.
Standard 1: Mission and Goals
(10 Criteria-based questions)
The institution’s mission defines its purpose within the context of higher education, the students it serves, and what it intends to accomplish. The institution’s stated goals are clearly linked to its mission and specify how the institution fulfills its mission.
- Co-Chairs: Kelly Jackson, Director of Continuing Education; Ryan Homsey (2019-2021), Director, Academic Resource Center
- Cabinet Liaison(s): Milly Pena, President; Full Cabinet
- Members: Patty Bice, Ross Daly, Jerima Dewese (2019-2021), Michael Kopas, David Nielsen, Seth Soloway (2019-2020), Jack Tamburri
Standard 2: Ethics & Integrity
(13 Criteria-based questions)
Ethics and integrity are central, indispensable, and defining hallmarks of effective higher education institutions. In all activities, whether internal or external, an institution must be faithful to its mission, honor its contracts and commitments, adhere to its policies, and represent itself truthfully.
- Co-Chairs: Melissa Glazer, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs; Keisha Martin, Director of Conference Planning
- Cabinet Liaison(s): Kathleen Farrell, Chief Human Resources Officer; Jerima Dewese, Chief Diversity and Affirmative Action Officer, Title IX Coordinator and ADA Compliance Officer
- Members: Nadege Boissonpardo (2019-2020), Ricardo Espinales, Sarah James, Lauren Johnson (2019-2021), Joe Kyambadde, Francesca Levine, Paul Nicholson, Tatiana Perez
Standard 3: Student Learning Experiences
(14 Criteria-based questions)
An institution provides students with learning experiences that are characterized by rigor and coherence at all program, certificate, and degree levels, regardless of instructional modality. All learning experiences, regardless of modality, program pace/schedule, level, and setting are consistent with higher education expectations.
- Co-Chairs: Jordan Shildcrout, Associate Professor of Theater & Performance; Leandro Benmergui, Assistant Professor of History; Laura Ricciardi, Assistant Professor of Arts Management
- Cabinet Liaison(s): Barry Pearson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Members: Cathie Chester, Nick Dorot, Tim Guiliano, Chrys Ingraham, Anne Kern, Keith Landa (2019-2021), Cynthia Lin, Peter Polinski, Sheryl Secor
Standard 4: Support of the Student Experience
(9 Criteria-based questions)
Across all educational experiences, settings, levels, and instructional modalities, the institution recruits and admits students whose interests, abilities, experiences, and goals are congruent with its mission and educational offerings. The institution commits to student retention, persistence, completion, and success through a coherent and effective support system sustained by qualified professionals, which enhances the quality of the learning environment, contributes to the educational experience, and fosters student success.
- Co-Chairs: Joe Cloidt, Assistant Director, Counseling Center; Mustafa Sakarya, Director of Library; Nicholas Astor, PSGA President
- Cabinet Liaison(s):Milly Pena, President (2019-2020); Patty Bice, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs
- Members: Kenzalia Bryant-Scott (2019-2020), Jessica Bullock, Maria Guralnik, Caitlin Houlihan, Robbie Morell, Jessica Pozzuoli, Lauren Rodriguez (2019-2021), Jenn Shingelo
Standard 5: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
(14 Criteria-based questions)
Assessment of student learning and achievement demonstrates that the institution’s students have accomplished educational goals consistent with their program of study, degree level, the institution’s mission, and appropriate expectations for institutions of higher education.
- Co-Chairs: Aviva Taubenfeld, Chair, School of Humanities; Darrah Carr, Assistant Professor of Dance
- Cabinet Liaison(s): Barry Pearson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Members: Athar Abdul-Quader, Meagan Curtis, Kimberly Detterbeck, Melissa Forstrom, JeanMarie Garofolo De Sa, Jane Kromm, Tolulope Omole, Jennifer Uleman, Jennifer Undercofler
Standard 6: Planning, Resources & Institutional Assessment
(9 Criteria-based questions)
The institution’s planning processes, resources, and structures are aligned with each other and are sufficient to fulfill its mission and goals, to continuously assess and improve its programs and services, and to respond effectively to opportunities and challenges.
- Co-Chairs: Tom Kelly, Senior Energy Manager; Vicki Tyler, SPAC Chair and Accountant for Finance and Administration
- Cabinet Liaison(s): Judy Nolan, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Operations; Kathleen Farrell, Chief Human Resources Officer; Peggy Luy, Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Executive Director of Purchase College Foundation and Charitable Entities (Interims)
- Members: Chris Bisignano, Marissa DaEira, Laura Kaminsky, Angie Kim (2019-2021), Eleanor King, Alison Lowey, Edward Musal, Patrick Savolski, Els Van Den Bosch, Sarah Warren
Standard 7: Governance, Leadership & Administration
(21 Criteria-based questions)
The institution is governed and administered in a manner that allows it to realize its stated mission and goals in a way that effectively benefits the institution, its students, and the other constituencies it serves. Even when supported by or affiliated with governmental, corporate, religious, educational system, or other unaccredited organizations, the institution has education as its primary purpose, and it operates as an academic institution with appropriate autonomy.
- Co-Chairs: Stephen Cooke, Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry; Sheli Taylor, Associate Director of Contracts and Procurement Services
- Cabinet Liaison(s): Milly Pena, President
- Members: Betsy Aldredge, Sonya Alexander (2019-2020), Carrie Bianchi, Tracy Calvan, Corey Dawkins (2019-2020), Kathleen Farrell, Paul Kaplan, Ann Marie Lutomski, Di Yu (2019-2020)