CIHE Accreditation Self-Study Report February 2006
Standard Eleven: Integrity
Description
The New Hampshire Technical Institute Mission/Values/Vision statement reflects the high ethical standards that permeate the functions of the college. Various documents outline policies and procedures and support the Mission/Values/Vision statement. RSA 188-F establishes the New Hampshire Community Technical College [NHCTC] System, its administrative structure, and its authority in granting degrees. New Hampshire Technical Institute [NHTI] operates in accordance with the authority described therein. In addition to this enabling legislation, the Institute is administered in accordance with the New Hampshire Division of Personnel Rules and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (negotiated between the State of New Hampshire and the State Employees Association). Executive Order 98-1, issued in 1998 by then-Governor Jeanne Shaheen, established a Code of Ethics, which sets forth standards of conduct for public officials and employees "to enhance the faith and confidence of the citizens of New Hampshire in their government."
All State employees have been required to sign that they have read and understood the State of New Hampshire Policy on Sexual Harassment since it was first distributed to all employees in 1992. All employees hired since 1992 are required to sign at hiring that they have read and understood this policy and the following documents upon their initial employment: Domestic Violence in the Workplace Policy, as regulated by RSA 173-B, NHTI's Statement on Consensual Relationships, and the Drug-Free Workplace Policy. Also, beginning with the annual employee evaluations and performance reviews completed during the 2004-2005 academic year, employees have been required to sign that they have reviewed these four documents; the documents are retained by the employee, and the signed statements are retained in the employee's personnel file.
Documents developed at the System level to ensure ethical practices include the New Hampshire Community Technical College Board of Trustees Policy Manual, the Statement of Nondiscrimination, and the New Hampshire Community Technical College System Administrative Rules (1995), which are currently being revised. The Administrative Rules and the Board of Trustees Policy Manual include mechanisms for the filing, investigation, resolution, and appeal of grievances appropriate to both employees and students. The Board of Trustees Policy Manual refers to several outside sources with regard to these issues, including the New Hampshire Division of Personnel Administrative Rules, the New Hampshire State Employees Union Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Federal Act No. 93-380). The Board of Trustees Policy Manual also contains the Board of Trustees' endorsement of the Statement of Academic Freedom set forth by the American Association for Higher Education and the Code of Ethics for the Education Profession set forth by the National Education Association. The New Hampshire State Attorney General's Office provides professional guidance to NHTI for compliance with all legal matters.
The administration of New Hampshire Technical Institute supports the integrity of the college and it's Mission/Values/Vision Statement through its Governance Model, which is published and its use explained in the Employee Handbook, currently under revision. At present, major governance structures include the Institute Leadership Team [ILT], the Institute Forum, and natural work groups and cross-functional teams. All-campus meetings are also held to discuss policy and procedures. This system allows each individual opportunity for discussion and review of topics of interest and concern. For example, an individual can propose an initiative to the President, to a Vice President, or to the campus community as a whole, via the Institute Forum. In addition, the CIHE accreditation self-study process involved wide participation by the campus community to closely examine policies, procedures, and practices with reference to principles of integrity. As a result of the 1999 Accreditation Self-Study, the Governance and Organization Assessment Team [GOATs] was created and charged, in part, with evaluating the Governance Model and making proposals for modifications.
The Institute publishes both an Employee Handbook, currently under revision and which will be available both in print and on the NHTI website, and a Student Handbook (in electronic format and on the NHTI website only). These documents contain some of the same information printed in the State and System documents described above, as well as internally generated policies and procedures. For example, the college has developed its own policies and procedures governing the reporting, investigation, and resolution of discrimination complaints. These policies, which are consistent with those of the State of New Hampshire Division of Personnel, were developed and published in 1994 by the NHTI's Civil Rights/Equity Committee and can be viewed in both the Student Handbook and the soon to be completed, Employee Handbook. Policies and procedures are reviewed regularly by the Publications Committee. Publications are updated on a regular schedule using the NHTI Publication Development and Review Policy, approved in March 2001 (available on the NHTI website). For example, the Student Handbook and the NHTI catalog are edited and revised annually with input from all constituencies.
The college adopted the American Psychological Association [APA] guidelines for all publications, which includes nationally recognized ethical research standards. Faculty who use students as participants within their own research must abide by the NHTI's research protocol. In addition, numerous departments have developed written guidelines that define ethical conduct within their programs, and have provided students with widely recognized and accepted ethical guidelines and professional standards pertaining to their specific professions.
The Student Handbook also publishes Judicial Procedures and Policies, which include the Student Code of Conduct, details of the student judicial process, student responsibilities and rights (including freedom of association and freedom of inquiry and expression), and definitions and examples of proscribed conduct (such as plagiarism, cheating, and hazing). In addition, the Academic Honesty policy is stated in the Student Handbook and on Academic Affairs Notices, which are included with every course syllabus. Mechanisms for appeal of both academic and student conduct-related decisions are included in the Student Handbook. Judicial procedures and policies are administered through the Office of Student Affairs. The Student Handbook is available on the NHTI website and on a CD-ROM distributed to all matriculated students.
The Coordinator of Disabilities Services disseminates information about rights and responsibilities pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA] and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. For example, the Policies and Procedures Manual for Services Available for Students with Disabilities for Faculty, Staff, and Students at New Hampshire Technical Institute was first published in 1999; the current edition became available in the fall of 2005. Each course syllabus, through inclusion of Academic Affairs Notices, also includes information for students with disabilities regarding arrangements for reasonable accommodations.
Various program majors, as part of their professional preparation, highlight ethical standards of practice. For example, the Human Service Department includes a statement of the ethical standards for human service practitioners in the departmental handbook for practicum students, and faculty incorporate discussion of professional ethics into all major field courses.
The Institute strives to convey truthfulness, clarity, and fairness in all its relations with internal and external constituencies.
Students and employees are informed of rights and responsibilities by their respective handbooks. Updated rules and regulations are publicized through a variety of means including All-NHTI e-mail, departmental meetings, and all-NHTI meetings. In addition, the college community is kept informed of most campus activities electronically, in print, and in person. Meeting agendas are sent to faculty and staff by e-mail prior to meetings; those that are especially pertinent to the entire college community (e.g., Institute Leadership Team agendas or Institute Forum agendas) are distributed electronically to all employees. Minutes of Institute Leadership Team meetings are published in Campus Comments, and minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees, as well as minutes of the meetings of the System Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs, are distributed electronically to all System employees.
The Employee Handbook will be provided to all new full-time employees by Department Heads/supervisors when it becomes available; however, the old edition of the Handbook has not been distributed for several years The Adjunct Faculty Handbook is distributed at the Fall Faculty Fair and includes information regarding a wide variety of campus services and resources, such as Equity, English-Speakers-Speakers-of-Other-Languages [ESOL], and Disabilities Services.
The Student Handbook, which is mailed as a CD-ROM to all new students in August each year, describes the implications of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act [ERPA] for students and explains the responsibilities of both the institution and individual students with regard to student records. In addition, FERPA is reviewed during summer orientation activities with parents and family members. In practice, all NHTI offices adhere to FERPA rules of disclosure; for example, before information is released to parents, employees must check for the existence of a signed Release of Student Information Form by a student. Signed releases are required for the release of academic and financial information; separate release forms are required for each of the following: student health information, disabilities services information, residence life information, and personal counseling information. Written guidelines have also been distributed to all faculty and staff, including receptionists, with regard to the release of student information over the telephone and to campus visitors.
The Institute's Statement of Nondiscrimination appears prominently in all major publications and on the website and identifies the Civil Rights/Equity Coordinator (a volunteer from the faculty) who receives and investigates complaints. Alternative contacts are also provided in the Statement of Nondiscrimination for those who would be more comfortable dealing with off-campus entities. The Civil Rights/Equity Coordinator has attended several workshops regarding civil rights/equity issues. Several other faculty and staff members have received training in the investigation of complaints and can be called upon as needed. Civil Rights/Equity complaints are handled according to procedures published in the Student Handbook and the Employee Handbook. Faculty and staff are reminded annually of the mechanism for handling discrimination issues complaints and of the importance of reporting potential discrimination issues promptly. Residence Life staff also receive training with regard to handling discrimination issues.
The Coordinator of Disabilities Services provides special expertise in the area of the ADA and Section 504, as does the Director of Cross-Cultural Education, who provides special expertise in serving students who are non-native speakers of English.
New Hampshire Technical Institute strives to encourage ethical behavior with regard to intellectual property rights. In August 2005, for example, all faculty attended a presentation by Attorney Eric Tolbert entitled "Copyright Law Update." Subsequent to that presentation, the Academic Affairs Office has been developing policies and procedures to facilitate faculty compliance with copyright laws.
The organizational structure of NHTI, along with related documents in place, ensures the free pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. The Statement of Academic Freedom as set forth by the American Association of University Professors (1940), The Association of American Colleges, and the Association for Higher Education, and the Code of Ethics for the Education Profession set forth by the National Education Association are adhered to by faculty. The Board of Trustees Policy Manual, in fact, contains the Board of Trustees' endorsement of these statements regarding Academic Freedom, and the statements themselves are published in the current Employee and Student Handbooks.
There are numerous clubs and organizations at NHTI that are involved in the free pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. The Cultural Exchange Club has a goal of "understanding and appreciating others' diverse cultural values and traditions." The NHT Eye, a student literary collection, is published annually and consists of students' writing on a wide variety of diverse topics. The NHTI Alliance seeks to support the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community at NHTI through education, activism, and the promotion of acceptance of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation. The Campus Activities Board is comprised of a diverse group of students who provide a variety of social, educational, and cultural programs and events for the NHTI campus and community.
The Division of Continuing Education contributes to the free exchange of knowledge by offering travel/study abroad. NHTI partners with Tongji University's International School in Shanghai to exchange cultural knowledge while students earn college credits.
The Carl Perkins Grant supports students who may be enrolled in nontraditional career majors, such as women in engineering technology or men in allied health programs. Such students have access to advisors, activities, and funding that address their particular needs. The Transition Program, coordinated by the Director of Student Development and Counseling Services, offers financial support to students who may be single parents, students with disabilities, or ESOL students. Students in this program also meet regularly with this Director for progress reports. Statistics representing students served by Carl Perkins programs are maintained by the statistician in the Office of Academic Affairs.
Any activity that is sponsored by either a student association or NHTI's administration must go through several levels of approval, which ensure the appropriateness and integrity of such activities. For example, the NHCTC System Office sponsors a system-wide Symposium each year, held on the NHTI campus, which features a nationally-known speaker and a wide variety of workshops for faculty and staff. The NHTI Student Senate-sponsored Alternative Spring Break club fundraises throughout the academic year and then spends the March Spring Break in community service in areas of the country where their services are needed. In March 2006, for example, the group will work for Habitat for Humanity in Fort Myers, Florida.
Mechanisms for appeal of both academic and student conduct-related decisions are included in the Student Handbook. A student grade appeal process policy is published in the Academic Section of the Board of Trustees Policy Manual, the Student Handbook, and the NHTI catalog.
For all employee grievances, a Grievance Procedure Policy is outlined in Article 14 in the 2005-2007 Collective Bargaining Agreement published by the Department of Administrative Services.
Institutional integrity is addressed through adherence to the Standards of Membership of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education [CIHE] and the standards of a number of specialized accrediting agencies. As self-studies are completed as part of any accreditation process, the Institute's policies and procedures and the ethical standards of all members of the campus community routinely come under review.
All courses and faculty are evaluated by students each semester, and all faculty are evaluated by supervisors annually. In addition to the required evaluations done by their supervisors, academic Department Heads and academic administrators are reviewed yearly by those they supervise.
New Hampshire Technical Institute, in its application for accreditation by CIHE, has created a self-study that is honest, self-critical, and realistic in order that the New England Association of Schools and Colleges [NEASC] Visiting Team will have an overall sense of the ability of the institution to comply with all standards of membership. More than 100 employees have participated in the accreditation process, representing all staff and faculty. All program and department areas have been represented in the process. The Steering Committee has been responsible for the oversight of the process since its beginning in the fall of 2004.
The Institution is honest with itself and with the public in how it conducts its business. All of the various routes of communication through the various teams and councils provide the checks and balances needed for an institution to maintain integrity. For example, the process for planning computer purchases involves all departments. At any step of the way, the process is fluid, representative, and transparent. The integrity of how highly desired goods are shared throughout the campus is maintained, with no one area able to garner the entire prize.
Similar processes occur with the development and implementation of academic policies, whether developed internally or externally. For example, a revision of the Incomplete Grade Policy was suggested by the NHCTC System Office in response to financial aid needs. The draft policy was developed by the Deputy Commissioner and the System Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs, shared with faculty and pertinent staff at all campuses in the System, and subsequently revised for final approval by the Board of Trustees. In another example, concerns regarding the sharing of student information were discussed at Institute Forum meetings, resulting in the development and implementation of a formal policy to better protect student rights.
Institute policies and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Institute Leadership Team [ILT], the Department Head Council, and individual departments and committees. The Governance Model provides individuals with several avenues for raising and addressing concerns about existing policies and procedures. Should issues arise with a particular process or policy, individuals can seek resolution through a variety of sources: within the appropriate committee/team, The Institute Forum, the ILT through a representative or directly, the Department Head Council, the appropriate Vice President, or the President, who (as stated in Standard Three) maintains a high level of visibility and accessibility to all members of the college community.
Appraisal
Faculty and students have direct input into the decision-making process via elected student and faculty representatives to the Institute Leadership team [ILT], the Institute Forum and various teams/committees. Faculty and staff are also represented on the ILT by the Institute Forum President. Focus groups indicated that the Institute Forum is widely recognized by the faculty and staff for its potential as a mechanism for initiating policy change. For example, the Institute's 2001-2005 Strategic Plan incorporated several previous planning documents that had been brought before the Forum in special meetings; as a new strategic plan is developed, a similarly inclusive process will be used.
The Employee Handbook will be provided to all new full-time employees by Department Heads/supervisors when it becomes available; however, the old edition of the Handbook has not been distributed for several years. Although the Governance and Organization Assessment Team had been working on the Handbook revisions, major administrative staffing changes over the past three years have delayed publication. In order to provide other means of campus acculturation, the Vice President of Academic Affairs hosts annual orientation sessions for new full-time faculty when there are sufficient numbers. Department Heads ensure that all adjuncts receive the Adjunct Faculty Handbook and provide orientation to the department and college, both individually and via the annual Faculty Fair.
The Institute promotes and supports the recognition of diversity through student activities, publications, and the functions of its day-to-day operations. Admission policies and disciplinary actions are conducted in a non-discriminatory fashion.
NHTI continually assesses its activities and resources by utilizing its governance structures and processes. For example, Institute Forum officers continually seek input and feedback on any areas of concern. Departments seek assessment by specialized accrediting agencies, employers, and graduates. The college participates in national surveys of student satisfaction. In summary, while no "Integrity Assessment Tool" exists officially, the college continually assesses and measures the integrity of its actions. The inclusiveness of the self-study process has ensured a thorough and thoughtful final document and has provided all participants a fuller understanding of the functioning of the institution.
Projection
To improve participation in Institute Forum, the Forum leadership will continue to encourage the President and Vice Presidents to bring forward for discussion issues of particular concern to faculty and staff as part of the decision-making process. The Forum leadership will continue to convey to the administration, faculty, and staff the vital role of Forum discussion in the decision-making process.
To improve communication with employees, the revised Employee Handbook will be completed, published, and provided to all current and new full-time employees. All teams will continue to make corrections/additions and inform the Chief Financial Officer (the individual designated to monitor changes) as needed. The Office of the Director of Communications, in accordance with the Publication Review Policy, will provide regular review of both print and electronic versions of the Employee Handbook.
In order to enhance NHTI's non-discriminatory policies and practices in recruitment, admissions, employment, evaluation, and advancement and to foster an atmosphere within the institutional community that respects and supports people of diverse characteristics and backgrounds, NHTI will continue to communicate information on non-discrimination in all publications and electronic documents and maintain activities that highlight diversity on the NHTI campus.
To ensure compliance with CIHE/NEASC expectations with regard to ethical issues and institutional integrity, any and all of the NHTI's planning and evaluation processes will be implemented with specific consideration given to ethical implications of the Institute's Mission/Values/Vision Statement and to each of the CIHE/NEASC Standards of Accreditation.