Middle States Commission Process
Beginning our work to reaffirm UMBC’s accreditation
Dear UMBC Community,
UMBC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), one of six regional accrediting organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate all aspects of operations of its member institutions. UMBC received its original accreditation in 1966, and its status has been reaffirmed every 10 years, most recently in 2017. The university's next evaluation is set for 2025 - 26, and our work to prepare for this intense evaluation begins in earnest now.
Accreditation affirms to our students and families, as well as to governmental entities and peers in higher education, that UMBC is providing a quality education. Accreditation is part of the lifeblood of any university, required for students to receive many grants and loans, including all federal loans, and to be eligible for various professional licenses upon graduation. It also is a necessity for institutions to receive federal grants and other funds.
While there are processes specific to accreditation, at its core, this work will connect fundamentally to strategic planning, as we consider all aspects of the university and the education we provide. As President Sheares Ashby noted in her beginning-of-semester message, that work will continue this semester, informed by last year's Bold Conversations and what we have heard from shared governance leaders about how best to engage the entire UMBC community in the effort.
As for accreditation, in advance of evaluation, each MSCHE-member institution prepares a comprehensive self-study examining all aspects of the institution--including modality of instruction and all academic programs and services--in line with a set of established standards. A team of higher education professionals, drawn largely from other MSCHE universities, serves as peer evaluators and conducts a campus visit to confirm the self-study. The peer evaluator visit to UMBC will occur over a three-day period in fall 2025 or spring 2026.
Developing the self-study and preparing for the peer evaluator site visit is a major undertaking. Our self-study process will be led by three co-chairs and comprise seven working groups, one for each of MSCHE's accreditation standards. The process will be overseen by a Steering Committee, with additional support from a Core Support Team and an Evidence Inventory Committee.
Today, I am pleased to share with you the co-chairs of this effort, as well as the working group co-leads and committee membership identified to date.
Co-Chairs
- Anne Brodsky, Professor and Chair, Psychology
- David Dauwalder, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs
- Connie Pierson '90, M.A. '92, Associate Vice Provost, Institutional Research, Analysis and Decision Support
Working Groups and Co-Leads
Each working group will have two or three co-leads--one administrator and at least one faculty member. Working groups will be charged with conducting a thorough review and evaluation of UMBC's programs, practices, and policies relevant to their specific MSCHE standards, MSCHE's criteria for the standards, and the MSCHE-defined evidence expectations.
Working Group 1: Mission and Goals
Co-leads: Damian Doyle '99, M.S. '16, Deputy Chief Information Officer; Barbara Smith, Program Management Specialist, Academic Engagement and Transition Programs; and a faculty member to be confirmed
Working Group 2: Ethics and Integrity
Co-leads: Tanyka Barber, Vice President, Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer; Christine Mallinson, Director and Professor, Center for Social Science Scholarship; and Marcela Mellinger, Associate Professor, Social Work
Working Group 3: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
Co-leads: Katharine Cole, Vice Provost and Dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs; and Elaine MacDougall '99, Assistant Director, Writing Center, Academic Success Center
Working Group 4: Support of the Student Learning Experience
Co-leads: Jayshree Jani, Associate Professor, Social Work; and Renique Kersh, Vice President, Student Affairs
Working Group 5: Educational Effectiveness and Assessment
Co-leads: Elisabeth Arevalo-Guerrero, Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication; and Peggy Re, Associate Provost, Academic Affairs
Working Group 6: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
Co-leads: Animikh Biswas, Professor and Chair, Mathematics and Statistics; and Kathy Dettloff, Vice President, Administration and Finance
Working Group 7: Governance, Leadership, and Administration
Co-leads: Anthony Johnson, Director, Center for Advanced Studies in Photonics Research and Professor, Physics and Computer Science and Electrical Engineering; and Laila Shishineh, Director, Academic Engagement and Transition Programs
Co-chairs and working group co-leads will be building out the working groups over the next few weeks, aiming for each to include seven to nine members. If you are interested in volunteering to serve on one of the working groups, please contact a co-lead for that particular group or one of the three co-chairs of the effort.
The Steering Committee will be responsible for overseeing the development of the required self-study document; ensuring that sufficient resources are available for the effort; and managing and participating in the site visit. Its membership will include the three co-chairs of the effort, the co-leads for each working group, and the lead for the Evidence Inventory Committee.
The Core Support Team will help to organize, guide, and support the work of the Steering Committee and working groups. It will comprise the three co-chairs, a communications and logistics lead, a representative from the Division of Information Technology (Collier Jones '16, Campus Portal Architect), and liaisons between each working group and the Evidence Inventory Committee.
The Evidence Inventory Committee will help identify and fulfill data and information needs of the working groups. Its work is already under way; key documents are being placed in the UMBC Knowledge Management Repository for use by working groups.
The Evidence Inventory Committee membership includes:
- Christopher Correnti, Deputy Budget Director
- Nate Czarnota, Associate Registrar
- Delana Gregg, M.A. '04, Ph.D. '19, Director, Academic Learning Resources, Assessment, and Analysis
- Brittany Hensley, Director, Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management
- Allison Jones, Assistant Vice Provost, Program Innovation and Partnership, Division of Professional Studies
- Kevin Joseph '87, Assistant Vice President, Analytics and Business Intelligence, Division of Information Technology
- Jennifer Kelly, Business Specialist, Office of Research and Creative Achievement
- Kerrie Kephart, Associate Director, Faculty Development Center
- Shannon Tinney Lichtinger, Director, Institutional Research
- Mary Ellen Wade, Director, Assessment, Research, and Strategic Priorities, Division of Student Affairs
- A to-be-confirmed representative of the Albin O. Kuhn Library
The most intense work for these groups will occur over the next 10 months. By mid-to-late fall 2024, each working group will submit a draft chapter to the Steering Committee, which will compile the chapters into a draft self-study report that will be shared with the campus community late in 2024 or early in 2025. We will seek the community's feedback on the draft and incorporate that feedback into a new draft version that will be shared with the MSCHE peer evaluation chair. The chair will make a preliminary visit to UMBC in late spring 2025 prior to the full evaluation team's visit.
Upcoming Milestones
Thursday, February 8
Steering Committee Kickoff Meeting
Thursday, March 7
Campus Open Meeting with Terrance Peavy, Vice President, MSCHE: This open session will allow for questions about MSCHE accreditation and the process.
Thursday, March 14
Self-Study Retreat: All members of the working groups, Evidence Inventory Committee, Core Support Team, and Steering Committee will meet to organize accreditation efforts.
This is an enormous undertaking, requiring the dedication and collaboration of many across the university. I cannot stress enough the importance of this work or my gratitude to all who will take part in it. I look forward to communicating with you as our work advances in the coming months.
Sincerely,
David P. Dauwalder, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs
]]>
Dear UMBC Community, UMBC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), one of six regional accrediting organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of...
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/138790/guest@my.umbc.edu/9acc3b6956cf10c28541ce180435b6ad/api/pixel
Announcements - Campus
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/announcements
https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/082/f861304a6d022c22e70244ebc8f87f49/xsmall.png?1691177756
https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/082/f861304a6d022c22e70244ebc8f87f49/original.png?1691177756
https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/082/f861304a6d022c22e70244ebc8f87f49/xxlarge.png?1691177756
https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/082/f861304a6d022c22e70244ebc8f87f49/xlarge.png?1691177756
https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/082/f861304a6d022c22e70244ebc8f87f49/large.png?1691177756
https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/082/f861304a6d022c22e70244ebc8f87f49/medium.png?1691177756
https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/082/f861304a6d022c22e70244ebc8f87f49/small.png?1691177756
https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/082/f861304a6d022c22e70244ebc8f87f49/xsmall.png?1691177756
https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/082/f861304a6d022c22e70244ebc8f87f49/xxsmall.png?1691177756
Announcements - Campus
5
0
false
Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:19:35 -0500
UPDATES FROM THE BOARD
Hello everyone!
For those who are new, my name is M and I am MTC's secretary! Here are the current things going on in our club!
LEGALLY BLONDE DESIGN TEAM:
Do you like creating sets or props? How about putting together outfits for on stage actors? If so, this form is for you! Apply to be a part of the design team for our spring musical, Legally Blonde. This form will close on February 12th at 4pm.
LEGALLY BLONDE PIT:
Love making music, but singing and dancing on stage is not really your thing? Come be a part of our pit band! We are currently looking for the following instrumentalists:
Pit Director
Bass
Guitar
Drums
Percussion
Keyboard
Reed
Trombone
Trumpet
Violin
This form will close on February 12th at 4pm.
LEGALLY BLONDE AUDITIONS:
Auditions for the spring musical are this weekend! Continue reading to find out how to audition!
If you plan to audition virtually, you are required to send in two videos, a 60-second video of you singing your audition song and a video of yourself dancing with the provided choreography located in the Google form linked below. This choreography is completely different from the choreography learned for in-person auditions. Linked in the form, there is a Google classroom you would need to join to have access to a harmony line provided by our vocal director Sophie. We ask that you learn your vocal part, listen to the audio associated with the part (soprano, alto, tenor, etc), and record yourself singing to send in with your audition. Virtual auditions must be sent in by Friday, February 9th at 3pm.
IN-PERSON AUDITIONS
In-person auditions will take place on two days, February 9th and February 10th.
At the GBM on the 9th, Morgan, the choreographer for Legally Blonde, will be teaching the in-person audition choreography. For those who cannot make it to the GBM that day, there will be a video posted on our myUMBC page for those to learn. February 9th GBM will be in the RAC room 130 from 12pm to 12:50pm.
Starting at 3pm on the 9th, vocal auditions will begin in room FA 318. Prepare a 30-60 song that you will sing for our creative team. You are also required to learn your vocal part (soprano, alto, tenor, etc) and have it ready for your in person vocal audition. You will then be brought in with your audition group and will be asked to sing the line that was provided in the Google classroom in the audition form. Vocal auditions will be held from 3pm to 6pm. Sign up for a slot using the Signup Genius link in the audition form.
On February 10th from 10am to 11:30am, we will be holding dance auditions. This will give applicants time to practice the choreography learned the day prior at the GBM or through the video posted on our myUMBC page.The video that is provided in the application form is NOT the choreography that you will perform for the creative team. Sing up for a slot using the signup genius link in the audition form.
There will be callbacks on February 10th starting at 3pm and will go until 8pm. If you cannot make it in person, you can always submit a video of your callback! Just make sure to contact us and let us know you will be sending in your callback by 3pm on Saturday.
If you have any questions about how the audition process is going to work, please email us at umbc.mtc@gmail.com!
MTC KARAOKE:
MTC's first event of the semester is taking place on February 12th from 7-9pm! Find us in Flat Tuesdays to sing some of your favorite musical theatre songs and talk to your friends! You must sign up before hand to save your spot to sing!
FEBRUARY GBMS:
New semester, new GBMS! Here is what we have planned so far for February!
Feb 9th: DIFFERENT LOCATION! Legally Blonde dance workshop with Morgan in RAC 130!
Feb 16th: Games!
Feb 23rd: Intimacy Presentation led by Ann and Morgan
Unless stated otherwise, all of our GBMs take place in ILSB 237 from 12-12:50pm!
MTC MUSICAL MARCH MADNESS:
Love a friendly competition? This March, MTC will be having our own version of March Madness! In the form below, we are asking that you leave a list of your favorite musicals! All throughout the month of March, these musicals will be going head to head to see who will come out on top!
The competition will start on March 1st during the GBM. Make sure to come to the GBMs to be able to vote for your favorite musical!
GREENBELT ARTS CENTER OPPORTUNITIES:
Here is an off-campus opportunity!
Hello,Hope you're well!My name is Julia Arbutus, and I'm directing A Man of No Importance at the Greenbelt Arts Center this spring.I am reaching out because we are in search of certain production team members and wanted to see if any of the students involved with MTC would be interested in working on this project with us. I'm a UMBC alum myself (class of 2020 and former treasurer of MTC), and so far, most of our production team is made up of UMBC alums! So you'll be working with a group of great people :)We are looking for: Stage Manager, Asst. Stage Manager, Set Designer, Lighting Designer and Orchestra (Bass, Cello, Guitar, Synthesizer, Piano, Reed and Violin).Generally, we will be running rehearsals Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. No one but a stage manager would be required to be at all or most rehearsals. Although it would be ideal for a stage manager to be available for all rehearsals, we can be a little flexible with absences, so we encourage anyone interested to reach out with their availability. Additionally, auditions take place Feb. 5-7 in the evenings and we would love it if our future stage manager could attend all three nights—although again, this is not mandatory.All positions for this production are unfortunately unpaid; however, we are certain this show will be a fun and fulfilling production for anyone who loves community theater. We wanted to do this production because we are passionate about bringing this underperformed, queer show to new audiences, so if you are interested in rare theatre, queer stories or a good time, this would be a perfect opportunity to hone your skills with a group of cool people!Feel free to reach out to this email with any questions! More information about the show, including auditions, can be found here: https://www.greenbeltartscenter.org/auditions/Show dates will be April 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 and May 3 and 4 at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on April 21 and 28.Some info about the show: A Man of No Importance is about Alfie Byrne, a bus conductor in 1964 Dublin whose heart holds secrets that he can’t share with anyone but his imagined confidante, Oscar Wilde. When he attempts to put on an amateur production of Wilde’s Salome in the local church hall, he confronts the forces of bigotry and shame over a love “that dare not speak its name.” But the redemptive power of theatre changes his life and brings his friends back to his side.
---------------
Thanks for reading and we can't wait to see you this Friday in RAC 130 for our GBM! As always, contact us if you have any questions regarding events, GBMs, and forms at
umbc.mtc@gmail.com!
