Our Collective Charge
September 27, 2024
Colleagues,
I extend special thanks to those who attended yesterday’s Town Hall and also to our senior leadership team for updates on major initiatives happening in their units. Your presence and engagement signal a collective commitment to fostering a vibrant academic community.
Among the many topics discussed, ensuring that we comply with all Middle States requirements for learning outcome assessment and assessment of administrative units were top of mind. Since the report out in late May and our formal response from the Commission, we have taken actions to address the gaps found in the Middle States report.
During Summer 2024 – Ten members of our faculty and administration attended SUNY training on assessment and are bringing that knowledge to the assessment task force as they are currently hard at work documenting an assessment plan for review by Faculty Senate this semester.
On the administrative assessment side, we have identified an effective model that we will adapt for immediate implementation by VP Naylor with the senior administration team and leaders of their administrative units. Below is a brief timeline of key dates.
- October 15, 2024 – Meeting with Middle States representative, Dr. Ryan Hartnett, to review the expectations of the monitoring report. There will also be an open session for the college community with Dr. Hartnett, which I encourage you all to attend.
- By October 15, 2024 – Each unit submits a defined mission statement and several ambitious but achievable annual goals.
- By November 30, 2024 – Units will submit specific objectives describing the results they will achieve and the tactics to achieve them.
- November 2024 to May 2025 – A small administrative assessment team will review the mission statements, goals, objectives, and measures submitted by the administrative units and refine them, as needed.
- By May 31, 2025 – Data collection and analysis is completed for the goals and objectives submitted by each unit.
- By July 1, 2025 – An annual report is submitted by each administrative unit detailing their progress on each of their goals and objectives.
- By August 1, 2025 – A closing the loop event is held to update the college community.
Finally, we have posted two positions which will have significant involvement in the systemization of assessment on our campus. On the administrative end, we are hiring an AVP of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment who will oversee the process for administrative assessment, supervise the Office of Institutional Research, and serve as our Accreditation Liaison Officer with Middle States. We are also hiring an Assistant Dean of Assessment who will work closely with VP Morest in Academic Affairs to ensure a rigorous and organized academic assessment process. This individual will also work closely with WCC’s Assessment Task Force.
- While assessment was a significant focus during the Town Hall, there were many other achievements that were highlighted, including:
- The tremendous success and growth of the Viking ROADS program (VP Cantú)
- Financial stewardship that enables SUNY WCC to maintain its standing as an institution with one of the lowest tuition rates in the region (VP Murphy)
- Partnerships with local corporations and foundations that extend the reach of our workforce development programs (VP Wisell)
- Many technological adoptions that have improved how we reach and support our students (Acting VP McAlister)
- The success in fundraising by the WCC Foundation, increasing the annual funds available for scholarships to over $3.7 million (VP Swirin-Yao)
You can view the entire Town Hall here. If you have any questions or comments, please submit them through this dedicated email address, which will remain active until October 4: TownHall@sunywcc.edu.
Once again, I appreciate your support and involvement in the life of our college. Please remain engaged and take every opportunity to provide your thoughts and input as we continue to hold WCC events related our mission-critical assessment work and related topics.
Lastly, please keep friends and colleagues who may be impacted by Hurricane Helene in your thoughts. As always, stay safe and take care of yourselves, too.
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President