Bryn Athyn College of the New Church Self-Study Report to The Middle States Commission on Higher Education December 2012 Table of Contents List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................................... iii Cross Listing of MSCHE Standards and Self-Study Chapters ................................................................ iii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................. v Eligibility Certification Statement .................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Description of Bryn Athyn College ............................................................................................................ 1 College Leadership ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Commitment to Growth ................................................................................................................................. 3 Planning and Facility Developments Since the Previous Decennial Report ............................. 5 Accreditation Activity Since the 2003 Decennial Report ................................................................. 6 Process for the 2013 Self-Study .................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 2: Mission, Goals, and Integrity (Standards 1 & 6) ................................................................. 11 Charge and Questions .................................................................................................................................. 11 Introduction and Context ........................................................................................................................... 11 Standard 1: Mission and Goals ................................................................................................................. 12 Recommendations and Suggestions for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 1 ................................................................................................................................................. 18 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 1 ....................................................... 19 Standard 6: Integrity .................................................................................................................................... 20 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 6 ....................................................... 22 Chapter 3: Resources, Planning, and Assessment (Standards 2, 3, & 7) ......................................... 23 Charge and Questions .................................................................................................................................. 23 Introduction and Context ........................................................................................................................... 23 Standard 2: Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal .................................. 25 Suggestions for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 2 ......................... 30 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 2 ....................................................... 30 Standard 3: Institutional Resources....................................................................................................... 31 Recommendation to Ensure Ongoing Compliance with Standard 3................................. 37 Suggestions for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 3 ......................... 37 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 3 ....................................................... 37 Standard 7: Institutional Assessment ................................................................................................... 38 Recommendation to Ensure Ongoing Compliance with Standard 7................................. 41 Suggestions for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 7 ......................... 41 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 7 ....................................................... 41 Chapter 4: Governance and Administration (Standards 4 & 5) ......................................................... 43 Charge and Questions .................................................................................................................................. 43 Introduction and Context ........................................................................................................................... 43 Standard 4: Governance and Leadership ............................................................................................. 44 Suggestion for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 4 ........................... 50 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 4 ....................................................... 50 Standard 5: Administration ....................................................................................................................... 51 Suggestion for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 5 ........................... 54 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 5 ....................................................... 54 i Bryn Athyn College Self-Study Report, December 2012 Chapter 5: Admissions and Retention (Standard 8) ............................................................................... 55 Charge and Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 55 Introduction and Context ........................................................................................................................... 55 Discussion and Analysis of Research Questions for Standard 8 ................................................. 57 Suggestions for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 8 ......................... 63 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 8 ....................................................... 64 Chapter 6: Student Support Services (Standard 9) ................................................................................. 65 Charge and Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 65 Introduction and Context ........................................................................................................................... 65 Discussion and Analysis of the Research Questions........................................................................ 66 Suggestion for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 9 ........................... 74 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 9 ....................................................... 75 Chapter 7: Faculty (Standard 10) .................................................................................................................... 77 Charge and Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 77 Introduction and Context ........................................................................................................................... 77 Discussion and Analysis of Research Questions ............................................................................... 78 Recommendation to Ensure Ongoing Compliance with Standard 10 .............................. 89 Suggestions for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 10 ...................... 89 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 10 ..................................................... 89 Chapter 8: Educational Offerings, General Education, and Student Learning Assessment (Standards 11-14) ................................................................................................................................. 91 Charge and Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 91 Introduction and Context ........................................................................................................................... 92 Standard 11: Educational Offerings ...................................................................................................... 94 Suggestions for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 11 ................... 104 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 11 .................................................. 104 Standard 12: General Education ........................................................................................................... 105 Suggestions for Continuing Development in the Context of Standard 12 ................... 108 Compliance with Fundamental Elements of Standard 12 .................................................. 108 Standard 13: Related Educational Activities ..................................................................................