2020 Comprehensive Evaluation Self-Study Submitted to the New England Commission of Higher Education January 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS Institutional Characteristics Form Table of NECHE Actions, Items of Special Attention, or Concerns ................................................. i Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... ii Institutional Overview ....................................................................................................................... vii Standard One: Mission and Purposes ................................................................................................. 1 Description .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Appraisal ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Projections ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Standard Two: Planning and Evaluation ........................................................................................... 5 Planning ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Description ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Appraisal.......................................................................................................................................... 7 Evaluation ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Description ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Appraisal........................................................................................................................................ 10 Projections ......................................................................................................................................... 14 Standard Three: Organization and Governance ............................................................................. 15 Description ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Governing Board ........................................................................................................................... 15 Internal Governance ...................................................................................................................... 15 Appraisal ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Governing Board ........................................................................................................................... 18 Internal Governance ...................................................................................................................... 20 Projections ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Standard Four: The Academic Program .......................................................................................... 24 Description ........................................................................................................................................ 24 Assuring Academic Quality .......................................................................................................... 24 Undergraduate Degree Programs and The Major or Concentration .............................................. 26 General Education ......................................................................................................................... 27 Graduate Degree Programs............................................................................................................ 28 Integrity in the Award of Academic Credit ................................................................................... 29 Appraisal ........................................................................................................................................... 29 Assuring Academic Quality .......................................................................................................... 29 Undergraduate Degree Programs and The Major or Concentration .............................................. 32 General Education ......................................................................................................................... 32 Graduate Degree Programs............................................................................................................ 34 Integrity in the Award of Academic Credit ................................................................................... 34 Projections ......................................................................................................................................... 36 Standard Five: Students ..................................................................................................................... 37 Description ........................................................................................................................................ 37 Admissions .................................................................................................................................... 37 Student Services ........................................................................................................................... 44 Co-Curricular Experiences ............................................................................................................ 47 Appraisal ........................................................................................................................................... 49 Admissions .................................................................................................................................... 49 Student Services ........................................................................................................................... 51 Co-Curricular Experiences ............................................................................................................ 54 Projections ......................................................................................................................................... 56 Standard Six: Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship ....................................................................... 57 Faculty and Academic Staff .............................................................................................................. 57 Description .................................................................................................................................... 57 Appraisal........................................................................................................................................ 59 Teaching and Learning ...................................................................................................................... 64 Description .................................................................................................................................... 64 Appraisal........................................................................................................................................ 66 Projections ......................................................................................................................................... 68 Standard Seven: Institutional Resources .......................................................................................... 69 Description ........................................................................................................................................ 69 Human Resources .......................................................................................................................... 69 Financial Resources ....................................................................................................................... 70 Information, Physical, and Technological Resources ................................................................... 72 Appraisal ........................................................................................................................................... 73 Human Resources .......................................................................................................................... 73 Financial Resources ....................................................................................................................... 75 Information, Physical, and Technological Resources ................................................................... 79 Projections ......................................................................................................................................... 81 Standard Eight: Educational Effectiveness ...................................................................................... 82 Description .......................................................................................................................................