CIHE Accreditation Self-Study Report February 2006
In April 2001, New Hampshire Technical Institute received its initial full accreditation from the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education [CIHE] of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges [NEASC]. The college was especially pleased that the awarding of full accreditation for the full five-year initial accreditation period required no interim reports or follow-up visits. With our efforts to live the motto "We are all teachers; we are all learners" validated, the Institute felt itself in a strong position to move forward in its evolution as a community college.
In the years since achieving full accreditation, the Commission undertook a review of the Standards for Accreditation. To ensure that the college would be ready for completing a self-study under the new standards, Pamela Langley, who had chaired the two previous self-study efforts, convened the 2001 Steering Committee to review the draft of the new standards and submit its input to the Commission. In August of 2004, Ms. Langley (then Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs), highlighted some of the important changes at an all-faculty meeting prior to the start of the semester. In addition, in the fall of 2004, Ms. Langley, Joyce Myles, Deborah Holland, and President Lynn Kilchenstein, attended a CIHE workshop for colleges who would be among the first to be evaluated under the new standards.
The back-to-back candidacy and full accreditation reports and visits in 1999 and 2001 had kept the college in an almost constant state of self-study for four years. Most members of the campus community, having been directly involved in these previous, self-studies were well acquainted with the process. Understanding the value of both the self-study process to the ongoing growth and maturation of the Institute as a community college, members of the campus community from all constituencies enthusiastically responded to the call for team members in the fall of 2004; they were joined by many new faculty and staff members who were equally eager to participate in the process. Once again the team chairs formed the Steering Committee, and Pamela Langley, now Vice President of Academic Affairs, agreed to act as co-coordinator of the self-study efforts. Deborah Holland, Department Head of the General Studies and Liberal Arts programs, who provided invaluable service to the last self-study efforts in the preparation of the final drafts, and Joyce Myles, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, agreed to serve as co-chairs with Vice President Langley.
During the 2004-2005 academic year, the Steering Committee met regularly to discuss the gathering of information, the writing of the first draft of each standard, and the collection of workroom documents. A senior Information Technology student (and ultimately, graduate), James Greenleaf, was enlisted to create a database that would allow the Steering Committee and the CIHE Visiting Team to retrieve as many workroom documents as possible online. When Beth Blankenstein was hired as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs in the summer of 2005, she took on the task of working with Mr. Greenleaf to refine the database and make the decisions regarding the sorting and presentation of documents. Members of the campus community who might not have been able to serve on one of the eleven teams were involved in the self-study process by completing surveys and by participating in focus groups.
The teams and departments completed their work by May 2005, at which time the co-chairs began meeting to review and revise the report. Throughout the summer and fall of 2005, the co-chairs (most especially Ms. Myles and Ms. Holland) worked with Steering Committee members and upper administration to check facts and re-write descriptions, appraisals, and projections to ensure that the report presented an accurate picture of New Hampshire Technical Institute.
Once the report was completed and in the mail to visiting team members, the co-chairs worked with the colleges' Public Information Office to place the final document on the college's website so that all members of the college community, including the Institute Advisory Board and the New Hampshire Community Technical College System Board of Trustees, and the community at large would be able to review the document, ask questions as needed, and become familiar with the contents of the report in its final draft. In addition, by the time the visiting team arrives in April, the co-chairs will have met with the Student Senate on two occasions to explain the self-study process and the students' very important roles during the visit.
The Steering Committee is confident that it has presented New Hampshire Technical Institute in the clearest, most thorough, honest, and fair manner possible. In addition, because of the extensive discussion and research involved in the self-study process, all members of the campus community now have a deeper understanding of the operations of the Institute at all levels, as well as a deeper appreciation for its strengths and weaknesses and its place within the higher education community, the State, and the region. This understanding and appreciation has made the Mission/Values/Vision Statement's assertion that "We are all teachers; we are all learners" come alive, as faculty reconsider educational philosophies and teaching practices, as staff seek to improve student services, and as administrators examine leadership roles.
In its June 2000 notification letter, the Commission commended the Institute "for eagerly accepting its new identity and role as a comprehensive community college offering liberal arts and general education as well as technical…programs." It became apparent as the various teams completed their self-study tasks was that the "eagerness" observed during the candidacy visit is still very much a part of life at NHTI and that the enthusiasm demonstrated by all employees and students truly has created a vibrant learning community that has embraced its "new identity" wholeheartedly. In the five short years since initial accreditation, tremendous changes have occurred, including major changes in leadership. In the face of major changes, however, faculty, staff, administration, and students have all continued to take risks, to explore new ideas, and to continually consider how NHTI can improve institutional effectiveness.
Throughout the self-study process, the administration, faculty, staff, and students at New Hampshire Technical Institute have recognized that they have many reasons to be proud of their collective work as an institution of higher education. They have also recognized the need for continuous re-examination and assessment to ensure that the mission of "providing the highest possible level of technical, academic, and professional preparation for the people in New Hampshire and the region" is being fulfilled. By demonstrating strong commitment to its mission and values, the Institute hopes to be recognized not merely as a comprehensive community college but also as an institution whose dedication to the standards of excellence expected of institutions of higher education make it a vital part of the culture and economy of New Hampshire and the region.
Special thanks go out to the many who worked on self-study teams, participated in surveys and focus groups, and assisted in the publication of this document.
Pamela M. Langley, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Accreditation Self-Study Co-Coordinator
February 16, 2006
Standards Committees Membership
New Hampshire Technical Community College
Self-Study 2005-2006
Steering Committee
Birdsall, Lynne, Chair, Mission and Purpose
Caccia, Stephen, Vice President of Student Affairs
Carley, Deborah, Chair, Planning and Evaluation
Fitzsimmons, Eileen, Chair, Integrity
Foulkes, Thomas, Chair, Financial Resources
Hardy, Gyme, Chair, Students
Heath, Ruth, Chair, Information Resources and Technology
Holland, Deborah, Self-Study Co-Chair, and Co-Chair, Academic Programs
Hutchinson, Jack, Professor, Information Technology
Khan, Liaquat, Chair, Physical and Technological Resources
Langley, Pamela, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Self-Study Co-Chair
Myles, Joyce, Self-Study Co-Chair, and Co-Chair, Academic Programs
Noonan, Karen, Chair, Faculty
Osborne, Richard, Chair, Public Disclosure
Pavlidis, Anita, Chair, Organization and Governance
Standard 1 Mission and Purposes
Birdsall, Lynne, Chair, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management
Anderson, Priscilla, Professor of Nursing
Clougherty, Donna, Department Head of Allied Dental Education
Cushing, Craig, Professor of English
Hall, Gale, Department Head of Early Childhood
Waterfield, Roxanne, Secretary for Allied Dental Education
Yokell, Patricia, Professor of Biological Sciences
Standard 2 Planning and Evaluation
Carley, Deborah, Chair, Director of the Learning Center
Ambra, Stephen, Director of Learning Resources
Dokton, Ellen, Professor of Education
Hope, Lucinda, Professor of Math and Physics
Tetreault, Karen, Professor of Nursing
Wakelin, Jack, Professor of Information Technology
Wallace, Stuart, Professor of Social Science
Standard 3 Organization and Governance
Pavlidis, Anita, Chair, Department Head of Nursing
Caccia, Stephen, Vice President of Student Affairs
Cooke, Jane, Professor of General Studies
Huston, Dan, Professor of English
Pedersen, Elizabeth, Professor of Human Services
Seagroves, Perry, Professor of Chemistry
Standard 4 The Academic Program
Myles, Joyce, Co-Chair, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
Holland, Deborah, Co-Chair, Department Head of General Studies, Liberal Arts, and Health Sciences
Bucchino, Iris, Professor of General Studies
Dotter, Kathleen, Professor of Social Science
Hough, Sterling, Department Head of Electronic and Computer Engineering Technology and Broadband Computer Technology
Hutchinson, Jack, Professor of Information Technology
Jean, Martin, Professor of Paramedic Emergency Medicine
Lloyd-Evans, Mary, Professor of General Studies
Meskoob, Mehrdad, Professor of Math and Physics
Nevins, Neil, Professor of Social Science
O'Donnell, Stephen, Professor of Criminal Justice
Palm, Jessana, Professor of Biology and Chemistry
Richard, Lois, Program Assistant. Learning Center
Stone, Patricia, Professor of Nursing
Thurston, Barbara, Professor of Nursing
Welts, Loretta, Professor of Math and Physics
Standard 5 Faculty
Noonan, Karen, Chair, Professor of Nursing
Curran, Kathleen, Department Head of Human Service
Eaton, Cathy, Professor of English
Freese, Lindsay, Professor of English
Houston, Deborah, Professor of Nursing
Kingston, Richard, Department Head of Chemistry and Biological Sciences
Laurie, Thomas, Department Head of Information Technology
Magee, Jean, Professor of Dental Hygiene
Schmidt, Linda, Institute Counselor. DCE
Standard 6 Students
Hardy, Gyme, Chair, Director of Student Development and Counseling Services
Collins, Pat, Director, Wellness Center
DiFruscio, Claudia, Executive Secretary, Student Affairs
Edwards, David, Professor of English
Galbraith, Jennifer, Professor of Math and Physics
Hutchins, Patricia, Professor of Nursing
Kallmerten, Pamela, Professor of Nursing
Karwocki, Michele, Registrar
Lloyd, Charles, Coordinator of Campus Activities
Martel, Melanie, Professor of General Studies
Moffett, Michael, Department Head of Sports Management
Rennie, Shirley, Director of Health Services
Standard 7 Library and Other Information Resources
Heath, Ruth, Chair, Coordinator, Learning Lab
Darnell, Lynn, Professor of Electronic Engineering Technology
Labore, Nancy, Professor of Nursing
Lindsay, Alan, Professor of English
Lockwood, Stanton, Professor of Mathematics
Meservey, Craig, Professor of Biological Sciences
Remillard, Deborah, Professor of Information Technology
Wirkkala, Anne, Assistant Director of Learning Resources
Standard 8 Physical and Technological Resources
Khan, Liaquat, Chair, Department Head of Architectural Engineering Technology
Brock, Catherine, Professor of Dental Assisting
Caldon, Thomas, Professor of Computer and Electronic Engineering Technology
Foulkes, Madelyn, Professor of Information Technology
Hogan, Paul, Athletic Director
Strong, Nathan, Professor of Biological Sciences
Tasker, Linda, Professor of Nursing
Standard 9 Financial Resources
Foulkes, Thomas, Chair, Vice President of Continuing and Corporate Education
Gonthier, Sheri, Financial Aid Director
Hart, Harold, Lab Technician, Engineering Technology
Kirby, Melanie, Chief Financial Officer
Leedham, Terry, Professor of Architectural Engineering Technology
Morgan, Laura, Professor of Accounting
Walker, Mary Ellen, Professor of Nursing
Standard 10 Public Disclosure
Osborne, Richard, Chair, Director of Communications
Dunn, Barbara, Professor of Nursing
George, Connie, Professor of Dental Hygiene
Maurer, Judy, Professor of Nursing
Tilton, Lynn, Secretary, Academic Affairs
Standard 11 Integrity
Fitzsimmons, Eileen, Chair, Department Head of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Civil Rights/Equity Coordinator
Adams, Maryanne, Department Head of Travel and Tourism and Hotel Administration
Boggess, Beverly, Coordinator of Disabilities Services
Gula, Joseph, Professor of Business Administration
Kenna, Susan, Program Coordinator, Practical Nursing
Lenehan, Janice, Professor of Nursing