Steering Committee and Workgroup Participants (grouped by Standard)
Fall 2022
Identify self-study co-chairs, leadership team members, and working group co-chairs.
Spring 2023
Middle States kick-off meeting; workgroup membership finalized; visit to campus from our Middle States liaison; Steering Committee submits Design document.
Summer 2023
Steering Committee hosts a large, all-standards meeting to bring everyone involved together to brainstorm in a retreat format; workgroups begin their research on their standard; continued communication with campus on progress of Self-Study.
Fall 2023
Steering Committee leadership team continues regular meetings with work group co-chairs, working groups meet with appropriate stakeholders and continue research for standards and compliance regulations; workgroups submit chapter outline to Steering Committee co-chairs.
Winter 2024
January – workgroups finalize their research and submit chapter draft Steering Committee co-chairs.
February – Draft documents and evidence reviewed for initial editing by Core Steering Committee. Evidence gurus prepare detailed documentation spreadsheet.
March – Core Steering Committee returns documents to standard workgroup co-chairs for feedback regarding changes suggested by Core Committee.
The Commission provides Rensselaer leadership and ALO with suggestions for evaluation team leader.
Spring 2024
April to Early May – Core Steering Committee co-chairs receive documents back from workgroup co-chairs and prepare initial draft document.
Visit dates for the Preliminary visit by the Team Chair in Fall 2024, as well as the Team Visit in Spring 2025 are determined.
May – Core Steering Committee co-chairs present self-study draft to the full Steering Committee and senior Institute leadership. Core Steering Committee co-chairs meet with President and Provost to review draft and materials to be shared with Board of Trustees.
June to July – Draft document is circulated to entire campus community for input and comment period.
August – A comprehensive community event is held for the entire Institute, including presentations from Steering Committee and workgroup co-chairs, to present findings and obtain additional feedback.
Fall 2024
Feedback from the community is incorporated into the report. The president, cabinet, and board of trustees review the report.
MSCHE Team members for the visit are appointed.
Organize and prepare for the Team Chair preliminary visit.
Final draft document is prepared and provided to evaluation team chair two weeks prior to the Team Chair visit to the campus. Team chair visits Rensselaer and meets with multiple groups, including board, administration, students, faculty, and staff. Team chair has reviewed initial draft and provides initial thoughts on the document to president, provost, and Steering Committee.
Winter 2025
Final changes made to report after feedback from campus and visiting team chairperson. Final Self-Study report, Evidence Inventory, and Verification of Compliance report are uploaded to MSCHE portal 6 weeks prior to the Team Visit.
Spring 2025
Rensselaer hosts visiting team.
Steering Committee and Workgroup Participants
- Dr. Keith Moo-Young, Vice Provost and Dean, Undergraduate Education
- Dr. Emily Liu, Professor and Department Head, Industrial and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering
Leadership Team Support:
- Dr. Mohua Bose, Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, and MSCHE ALO
- Mr. Jack Mahoney, Middle States Accreditation Advisor, Provost’s Office
- Dr. Stan Dunn, former Vice Provost and Dean, Graduate Education, and Faculty Advisor to MSCHE and The FOCI Center
Standard 1 - Mission and Goals
Workgroup Co-Chairs:
- Dr. Lee Ligon, Associate Professor & Associate Dean, Biological Sciences, School of Science
- Colleen Smith, Dean, Graduate Experience
Workgroup Members:
- Dr. Margaret McDermott, Lecturer, Lally School of Management
- Jackie Stampalia, Director, Client Information Services
- Dr. Nishtha Langer, Associate Professor, Lally School of Management
- Colleen Smith, Dean, Graduate Experience
- Sarah Niemann, Assistant Vice President, Office for Research
- Duane DeWeerdt, Project Manager, Campus Planning
- Regina Rossello, Manager, Marketing
- Christian TeBordo, Communications Specialist, Sr.
Standard 2: Ethics and Integrity
Workgroup Co-Chairs:
- Dr. Dorit Nevo, Acting Vice Provost and Dean, Graduate Education
Workgroup Members:
- Craig Cook, General Counsel and Secretary
- Dr. Ted Krueger, Associate Professor, School of Architecture
- Jackie Turner, Deputy to the Director of Human Resources
- Rachael Capo, Director, Procurement Services
- Kimberley Osburn, Manager, Administrative Operations, Provost Office
- Dr. Hyun Gook Kang, Professor, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering
- Michelle Simkulet, Director, Research Grants
Standard 3: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
Workgroup Co-Chairs:
- Dr. Tracy Sullivan, Director, Archer Center for Student Leadership Development
- Dr. Sibel Adali, Professor and Associate Dean, School of Science
Workgroup Members:
- Dr. Victoria Bennett, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering
- Dr. Ben Chang, Professor, Games and Simulation Arts Sciences, School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
- Ethan Coppenrath, Manager, Academic Client Support
- Dr. Aric Krause, Dean, Academic, and Administrative Affairs, Rensselaer at Hartford
- Chris Perry, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, School of Architecture
- Dr. Don Schwendeman, Professor and Department Head, Mathematical Sciences, School of Science
- Dr. Seemanti Ramanath, Lecturer, Biological Sciences, School of Science
- Dr. Claire Gonyo, Institutional Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Research & Assessment
Standard 4: Support of the Student Experience
Workgroup Co-Chairs:
- Karen Long, Director, Undergraduate Admissions
- Louis Trzepacz, Dean, Student Success
Workgroup Members:
- Dr. Freddie Colon, Professor and Department Head, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, School of Science
- Janelle Fayette, Dean, First Year Experience
- Colleen Morrissey, Acting Director, Information Security
- Dr. Tiffany Powell, Director, ARCH Academic Programs
- Dr. Rich Radke, Professor, Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering
- Lynnette Remillard, Business Manager, Lally School of Management
- Dr. Deanna Thompson, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering
- Jarron Decker, Director, Graduate Admissions
- Julia Rowe, Undergraduate Student
- Rene Mai, Graduate Student
Standard 5: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
Workgroup Co-Chairs:
- Dr. Matt Oehlschlaeger, Professor and Associate Dean, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering
- Dr. Brett Fajen, Professor and Associate Dean, Cognitive Science, School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
Workgroup Members:
- Dr. Kurt Anderson, Professor and Associate Dean, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering
- Dr. Kristin Bennett, Professor and Associate Director, Mathematical Sciences, School of Science
- Connie Grega, Director, Graduate Student Services
- John Klucina, Production Coordinator, Video Services
- Dr. Kevin Readdean, Director, Counseling Center, Student Health and Wellness
- Dr. Amy Svirsky, Learning Assessment Specialist
- Dr. Barb Cutler, Associate Professor, Computer Science, School of Science
Standard 6: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
Workgroup Co-Chairs:
- Kelli Perry, Associate Vice President and Controller
- Sue Proskine, Sr. Treasury Officer, Treasurer's Office
Workgroup Members:
- Helen Grzymala, Assistant Vice President, Finance and Budget, Financial Planning & Budget
- Mary Houghton, Acting Director, Enterprise Information Services, Database Administration
- Liz King, Associate Director, Library Information Services
- Brandy Pascazio, HR Specialist, Sr., Compensation and Employment
- Kimberley Osburn, Manager, Administrative Operations, Provost's Office
- Donna Tomlinson, Sr. Business Manager, Business Administration
- Michael Sharp, Sr. investment Analyst, Investments
- Jeannie Steigler, Associate Director, Advising and Learning Assistance Center
- Dr. Deepak Vashishth, Director, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies
- Dr. Amy Svirsky, Learning Assessment Specialist
- Robert Carney, Manager, Project Management, Campus Planning
Standard 7: Governance, Leadership, and Administration
Workgroup Co-Chairs:
- Rajni Soharu, Registrar
- Dr. Andrew White, Director, Rensselaer Libraries
Workgroup Members:
- Paul Martin, Assistant Vice President, Administration
- Joel Kincart, Associate Vice President, Institute Advancement
- Steven Schwan, Lead Business Manager, Administration
- Dr. John Wen, Professor and Department Head, Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering
- Will Fahey, Manager, Professional & Organizational Development
- Dr. Charlie Potts, Director, Rensselaer Union