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Cheyney University of PA MSCHE Self-Study Report 2023

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Campus-Wide Town Hall (Report Review)

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Cheyney University Middle States Update

December 9, 2022

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The Middle States Commission of Higher Education self-study process began in Spring 2022 and is well underway. Last semester, seven working groups, each focusing on one of the seven Middle States Commission of Higher Education Standards of Accreditation and accompanying Requirements of Affiliation, identified evidence as part of the data collection process and wrote evidence-based reports. The Steering Committee integrated the reports into a single draft: the self-study work-in-progress draft report. This work-in-progress draft report is undergoing continuous revision and now includes incorporated final edits from community feedback. Based on the collaborative approach to the self-study process, the university is proactively planning and implementing working group suggestions for continuous improvement towards enhancing student and institutional success.

This semester, the Steering Committee focused on receiving feedback from the campus community. Dr. Tamara Hollins, the faculty liaison shared with the campus community via email a Google questionnaire for self-study input. In September, co-chairs Morris and Shehata conducted two town hall meetings in-person and virtually for members of the campus community to provide them with an update of the self-study process and an overview of the work-in-progress draft report. Meanwhile, students, faculty and staff took a deeper dive into the work-in-progress draft report when a detailed roadshow presentation was given to their respective departments and affinity groups by Dr. Carolyn Hall*, Steering Committee Evidence Manager and Dr. Janet Manspeaker*, Self-Study Coordinator. The roadshow presentation highlighted the findings, glows, and grows reported by the working groups. The Steering Committee continued to meet monthly, and Strategic Coordinator Group continued to meet once a week.

The major milestones completed during this period include the approval of the Self-Study Report Draft by the Steering Committee on 17 October, the submission of the self-study report draft to President Walton on 24 October, and the on-campus visit by the Middle States Evaluation Team Chair, Dr. Tony Allen on 15 November. While on campus, Dr. Allen also met with President Walton, the Executive Leadership Group, the Self-Study Steering Committee, the Council of Trustees, faculty, and student leaders. Dr. Allen discussed the self-study design and provided feedback on the self-study work-in-progress draft during the visit.

Other activities underway are:

All Working Group Evidence Managers convened on 17 November to review and begin finalizing the inventory of documents that will accompany the self-study report. The comprehensive list of files will be audited prior to being presented to Middle States. All documents are due to be uploaded to the Middle States portal at least six weeks prior to the Team Site Visit in February.

From 21 November to 8 January, the Strategic Coordinator Group and key members of the working groups including the chairs and evidence managers are finalizing the Self-Study Report and Evidence Inventory.

A subset of the Steering Committee will function as a logistics group to assist with preparations for the Evaluation Team in-person visit, which will take place on 27 February through 1 March 2023. Prior to the visit, the final report will be unveiled to the campus community on 1 February 2023.

*Note: Dr. Carolyn Hall has transitioned to another position at another university. Dr. Janel Manspeaker has completed her coordination assignment for the year.

Submitted by Provost & Chief Academic Officer Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, Executive Director Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Dr. Tamar Hollins, Cheyney University Self-Study Faculty Liaison on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee.

September 19, 2022

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Cheyney University will complete a significant self-study milestone this semester when President Walton and the Self-Study Co-Chairs submit the university’s draft self-study report and supporting materials to Dr. Tony Allen, the Evaluation Team Chair, for his initial review no later than November 1, 2022. Dr. Allen will conduct his preliminary visit to the campus on November 15, 2022.

Dr. Allen will meet with President Walton, the Council of Trustees, the Steering Committee, student and faculty representatives, and other campus leaders, as appropriate. Dr. Allen, as per the Middle States Commission’s guidelines will “provide insight and feedback into the draft Self-Study Report and gather information to facilitate the team’s evaluation visit.” Cheyney University self-study participants and internal stakeholders should be “prepared to discuss what they hope to achieve from the self-study process.” Executive Director Erika Shehata is working with Dr. Allen’s staff to create the agenda.

During July, August and early September, the self-study editors, Provost Morris and Executive Directors Shehata and Mukherjee, in consultation with the Steering Committee and Working Group Chairs, revised the draft self-study report to meet the Commission’s expectations regarding the length and coherency of the report. Middle States Strategic Coordinator Group (SCG) members also drafted the Cheyney University Self-Study Report Roadmap and six pdfs to provide additional information for evaluators and the Cheyney University stakeholders.

The Co-Chairs and the SGC distributed a draft self-study report and several draft pdfs to members of the Steering Committee for review and feedback on August 12, 2022. Steering Committee members discussed the draft report and supporting materials at the committee’s August 29, 2022, meeting. Dr. Tamara Hollins, Professor of English, is serving as the report copy editor and will be joining the SCG.

On September 7, President Walton held a three-hour working session with SCG members to review and strengthen the draft self-study report and supporting materials. The President and SCG members also discussed self-study findings and related suggestions for continued improvement.

From the end of September through mid-October, the SCG and Steering Committee will provide opportunities for Cheyney University internal stakeholders to review self-study findings and to provide additional suggestions and evidence which will enhance the self-study process. To facilitate community participation, the Self-Study Co-Chairs are hosting Self-Study Town Hall meetings on September 19 and 23, 2022, to share important information regarding the university’s self-study process and findings to Cheyney University internal stakeholders. Members of the Steering Committee will be available to answer questions.

During this time period, Dr. Carolyn Hall, the Coordinator of Assessment and Continuous Improvement, and various members of the Steering Committee, also will conduct “Roadshow” presentations with university internal stakeholder groups, including students, staff, and faculty. The presentations will highlight self-study findings and related suggestions for continual improvements. Dr. Hall will gather feedback from the groups at the conclusion of the presentations. The draft self-study report and supporting materials also will be available to Cheyney University internal stakeholders upon request. Stakeholders may contribute feedback to the Steering Committee using Microsoft Forms.

Members of the SCG will incorporate final edits from community feedback and additional evidence into the draft self-study report and supporting materials by October 17, 2022, when the report and materials will be submitted to the Steering Committee and President Walton. Following their approval, the draft report and supporting materials will be submitted to Dr. Allen.

Submitted by Provost & Chief Academic Officer Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Executive Director Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee.

Download the Self-Study Town Hall Here

August 26, 2022

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Cheyney University continues to move forward on completing the draft self-study report. The Self-Study Steering Committee met on Monday, July 25. The Self-Study Editorial Team, Provost Morris, Executive Directors Shehata, and Mukherjee, presented the refined chapter format to the Committee and discussed the draft self-study report distribution, feedback, and approval processes. The editors also discussed a list of supporting materials that will accompany the report. These pdfs will provide additional evidence which will allow the university to submit a self-study report congruent with the Middle States Commission’s expectations regarding accuracy, consistency, continuity, and length.

During the meeting, Dr. Carolyn Hall, the University’s Coordinator of Assessment and Continuous Improvement, presented a pilot Self-Study PowerPoint presentation which highlighted the primary self-study findings and suggestions for improvement and innovation. The presentation will be used during university townhall and group meetings in September to solicit feedback for the draft self-study report.

On August 12, 2022, the Co-Chairs, and the Middle States Strategic Coordinator Group (SCG), distributed a draft self—study report and several draft pdfs to members of the Steering Committee for review and feedback. Members of the Steering Committee will review and vote on the distribution of the draft report during its August 29, 2022, meeting. If approved, the draft self-study report will be distributed to the university community for feedback from August 30 through September 23.

During August, the Self-Study Editorial Team will complete the draft self-study report and the SCG will continue to submit supporting pdfs to provide additional evidence to the self-study report.

July 11, 2022

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The Self-Study Steering Committee met on Monday, June 27, to discuss the current status of the university’s draft self-study report. The Self-Study Co-Chairs and Dr. Mukherjee, who are serving as the self-study report editorial team, presented the revised report format. The editorial team will use the information collected by working group members as the basis for the reformatted report. The university’s draft self-study report will meet the Middle States Commission’s expectations regarding accuracy, consistency, continuity, and length.

During July, the editorial team will revise the draft self-study report in consultation with the Working Group Chairs and Lead Authors. Executive Director Shehata also will coordinate the refinement of the university’s evidence inventory. Members of the President’s Executive Leadership Team will work with the Self-Study Strategic Coordinator Group to create Portable Document Formats (pdfs) to supplement the draft self-study report.

The University has revised its draft self-study report timeline to account for the revision process. The timeline is as follows:

July 1-25: Finalize supporting pdfs
July 1 – August 15: Finalize evidence inventory
July 15: Submit drafts of chapters to Strategic Coordinator Group
July 16-31: Finalize chapter drafts
July 24-31: Draft Introduction and Executive Summary sections of the draft self-study report
August 1: Submit draft self-study report to Steering Committee*
August 15: Hold Steering Committee Meeting to discuss draft self-study report and gain approval to share draft self-study report with the university community
August 29 – September 23: Share draft self-study report to the university community for review and feedback
August 29 – September 23: Conduct presentations on the self-study process and draft self-study report to university community groups for feedback
Weeks of September 12th and 19th: Conduct two townhall meetings—all community members invited; via Zoom. One meeting will be on a Friday during the common hour; the other date will be announced
September 26 – October 7: Incorporate final edits from community feedback into the draft self-study report
October 10: Submit draft self-study report to President Walton
October 24: Submit draft self-study report to the Middle States Evaluation Team Chair (Note: the Middle States Commission deadline is November 1)

*Liaisons to coordinate distribution to respective bargaining units and to the President’s Executive Council

Submitted by Ms. Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Ms. Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee.

June 16, 2022

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Self-study participants are continuing to refine the draft self-study report. During May 2022, the Middle States Coordinator, Dr. Manspeaker, facilitated the creation of the draft self-study report in conjunction with the Strategic Coordinator Group (SCG) members. The Co-Chairs, Provost Morris and Executive Director Shehata, and the SCG, served as the primary editors for the rough draft report. The Co-Chairs and Coordinator distributed the first draft of the self-study report to the Steering Committee and Working Group members on May 14, 2022. The Co-Chairs and SCG members discussed the draft at the May 16, 2022, Steering Committee meeting. The SCG solicited feedback from Working Group and Steering Committee members during the last two weeks of May.

At the end of May, Dr. Sue Mukherjee, the newly hired Executive Director of Enrollment Management joined the SCG and the Steering Committee. Dr. Mukherjee also served as an internal reviewer for the initial draft report due to her experience serving on MSCHE evaluation teams and participating in self-studies.

Based on Dr. Mukherjee’s suggestions, the members of the SCG decided to revise the initial self-study report to correspond with the Commission’s self-study expectations. Provost Morris, Executive Director Shehata and Dr. Mukherjee are serving as the self-study report editing team. They have agreed on a uniform chapter format designed to highlight and supplement each working group’s findings and suggestions and to meet the page length recommended by the Commission. The editing team will continue to correspond with working group chairs and lead authors during the editing process.

On June 14, 2022, Executive Director Shehata and the Coordinator of Assessment & Continuous Improvement, Dr. Carolyn Hall, met with Dr. Kevin Guidry, Associate Director of Educational Assessment at the University of Delaware, to discuss methods for creating Cheyney University’s evidence inventory. Dr. Guidry has served on several Commission external evaluation teams and participated in the University of Delaware’s recent self-study. During the June 15, 2022, SCG meeting, members agreed to adopt an evidence framework for the Cheyney self-study report and evidence inventory based on insights gathered at the meeting.

The Co-Chairs and Dr. Mukherjee will present the revised draft to the Steering Committee on June 27, 2022. After the Steering Committee members review and approve the draft, Dr. Manspeaker and Dr. Hall will facilitate the presentation of the draft self-study report to the university community for feedback and recommendations during the summer and fall 2022 semester. The approved draft self-study report also will be posted on the University’s website for feedback using Microsoft Forms.

Provost Morris and Executive Director Shehata continue to appraise President Walton and members of the Executive Leadership Team on the status of the University‘s self-study process. As discussed previously, the University’s administration, staff, and faculty are continuing to resolve issues raised by the self-study as part of the institution’s commitment to continuous improvement.

Submitted by Ms. Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Ms. Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee.

Cheyney University Middle States Update

May 11, 2022

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April was a pivotal month in the development of Cheyney University’s self-study report and self-study process. The Middle State Leadership Team, the Strategic Coordinator Group (SCG), extended the deadline for submitting Chapters to April 8, 2022, to Working Groups more time to respond to comments and suggestions.

SCG members are in the process of developing the draft self-study report. The Middle States Coordinator, Dr. Janet Manspeaker, is serving as the lead editor for the draft self-study report. The members of the SCG are serving as the editing team for the report. SCG members decided to create a more complete draft self-study report. As a result, the draft self-study report will be submitted to the members of the Steering Committee before the group’s May 16 meeting for comments and suggestions. The edited chapters, showing the editorial changes, will be posted to the Steering Committee and Working Group Team Channel so that members can review the changes.

For the remainder of May, members of the Steering Committee and Working Groups will complete their initial review of the draft Self-Study and the SCG members will finalize the draft. The SCG plans to present the draft Self-Study report to the University community on May 25, 2022, for comments and suggestions.

During April the University also began to refine its evidence inventory by creating a new Teams Channel. Evidence collected during the self-study has been organized by the organization, division, or office and year. The University will continue to add and update evidence during the summer. The inventory will provide the foundation for documents used in the self-study report and the development of the University’s evidence library.

In March, three Cheyney University Trustees, Cheryl E. (Merriweather) Harper, Dr. Robert L. Traynham, and James E. Turner agreed to serve on the Steering Committee. On April 21, 2022, the Self-Study Co-Chairs, the Coordinator, and the members of the SCG met with Trustees Harper and Turner to present a Self-Study Update and answer questions.

The University’s administration, staff, and faculty, under the Leadership of President Walton and his executive leadership team, continue to address the initial findings of the self-study as part of the institution’s commitment to continuous improvement.

Submitted by Ms. Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Ms. Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee.

April 21, 2022

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Please click here to view the Self-Study Update Presentation the Co-Chairs presented to the Council of Trustees.

March 8, 2022

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Cheyney University self-study participants continue to meet the deadlines established in the University’s Self-Study Design. In December and January, Strategic Coordinator Group members sent written responses to the draft Chapter Outlines, on behalf of the Steering Committee, to the Self-Study Working Groups. The Executive Leadership Team and Department Chairs and Directors also have responded to initial Working Group findings as part of the University’s commitment to continuous improvement, which is one of the Self-Study’s Intended Outcomes.

Self-Study Working Group members used the Chapter Outlines, feedback from the Strategic Coordinator Group and additional evidence to develop their Group’s respective draft Self-Study Chapters during January and February, The Working Groups Chairs submitted draft Chapters to the Steering Committee on February 28, 2022.

Strategic Coordinator Group members are in the process of reviewing the draft Chapters. Written comments and suggestions will be sent to the Working Groups by March 14, 2022. The Middle States Coordinator, in consultation with Working Group Lead Authors and Chairs and the Leadership Teams, will begin to formulate the first draft of the University’s Self-Study Report at the end of March.

Members of the Steering Committee continue to recruit students, alumni, and Trustees to formally join the Self-Study Process as Working Group members. These community members will serve as readers for the draft Self-Study Chapters. Mr. Alan D. Graham, the Sophomore Class President, joined the Steering Committee in January. He also is a member a Working Group. Two other students have joined Working Groups. Each student involved in the self-study will complete Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) Training.

The Steering Committee and Working Groups continue to collect evidence to strengthen the Self-Study. Dr. Carolyn Hall, the University’s Coordinator of Assessment and Continuous Improvement, is organizing and conducting focus groups this month to provide Working Groups with additional evidence. Dr. Hall, who is serving as the Middle States Self-Study Evidence Manager, also facilitates the Working Groups’ evidence requests.

Submitted by Ms. Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Ms. Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee.

Cheyney University Middle States Update

December 30, 2021

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The Self-Study Working Groups completed their Fall 2021 Semester activities by submitting draft Self-Study Chapter Outlines to the Steering Committee during the first two weeks of December. These draft Chapter Outlines are a significant milestone in the self-study process as the Outlines demonstrate accomplishments at this stage of the self-study process and provide a framework for addressing remaining gaps. As a result, the draft Chapter Outlines provide the foundation for the structure of the self-study report. The Outlines also provide Working Groups members the opportunity to assess their progress with a written submission.

The members of the Middle States Strategic Coordinator Group (SCG) led by the Self-Study Co-Chairs and Middle States Coordinator are completing their review of the draft Chapter Outlines. The SCG members will respond to each Working Group with written comments and suggestions. The Middle States Self-Study Evidence Manager, Dr. Carolyn Hall, with the assistance of the SCG, continues to facilitate the Working Groups’ evidence requests. Dr. Hall also is organizing the University’s Evidence Inventory.

Using a common template, Working Group members will continue to develop answers to each line of inquiry for their respective draft Chapter submission in February with references to specific material and processes. Working Group members continue to meet the deadlines established in the University’s Self-Study Design.

The Self-Study Co-Chairs, Kizzy Morris, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer and Erika Shehata, Executive Director of Institutional Research and Communications met with the Cheyney University Council of Trustees on December 6, 2021, to present the University’s Plan for a Successful Self-Study.

Five members of the Cheyney University Middle States Self-Study Executive Leadership Team (ELT) attended the virtual MSCHE 2021 Annual Conference, New Horizons for Higher Education, on December 14 and 15, 2021. The Conference included sessions regarding assessment processes, governance, approaches to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a periodic review of MSCHE Mission and Standards. The ELT will report Conference highlights to the Steering Committee during the next meeting.

At the beginning of the Spring 2022 Semester, students, alumni, and Trustees will be joining the University’s Steering Committee and Self-Study Working Groups. Throughout the 2022 Semester, the Steering Committee and Self-Study Working Groups will be soliciting information and welcoming feedback from all areas of the University community as the Steering Committee and Working Groups continue to collect evidence and draft the self-study report.

Submitted by Ms. Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Ms. Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee.

Cheyney University Middle States Update

December 08, 2021

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Please click here to view the Self-Study Overview Presentation the Co-Chairs presented to the Council of Trustees.

Cheyney University Middle States Update

November 10, 2021

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As part of their assessment process, members of Cheyney University’s Self-Study Working Groups submitted Interim Progress Reports to the Steering Committee by the end of October. The Progress Reports included discussions of the Group’s methods and strategies for completing their charges, collaboration with other Working Groups, and the Group’s Initial Analytical Report with regards to their Group’s Lines of Inquiry. Working Group Reports also included an Updated Evidence Inventory and concerns and/or suggestions to the Steering Committee.

The members of the Middle States Strategic Coordinator Group (SGC) reviewed the Interim Progress Reports and associated Evidence Inventories at the Group’s biweekly meeting on November 4, 2021. Based on the Interim Progress Reports, each Working Group is focused on meeting its assignment in a thorough and timely manner.

As stated in the University’s Self-Study Design, the SGC is responsible for managing evidence concerns raised by the Working Groups and encouraging collaboration among Working Groups to reduce duplication of efforts when MSCHE Standards and criteria, MSCHE Requirements of Affiliation, Self-Study Institutional Priorities and Cheyney University Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives overlap. The Middle States Self-Study Evidence Manager, Dr. Carolyn Hall, with the assistance of the SGC, also is organizing the University’s Evidence Inventory and facilitating Working Group evidence requests.

On November 7, 2021, the Self-Study Co-Chairs Provost Kizzy Morris and Executive Director Erika Shehata and the Middle States Coordinator Dr. Janet Manspeaker responded to each of the Working Groups with written comments and suggestions on behalf of the SGC The Co-Chairs, Coordinator and other members of the SCG also have been attending Working Group Meetings to discuss the next stages of the self-study process. Members of the SGC will report their findings to the Steering Committee and President Walton on November 15, 2021.

Working Groups are now refining their analyses of the University’s compliance with Middle States (MSCHE) Standards and Requirements of Affiliation and associated criteria in addition to related Cheyney University Strategic Goals and Objectives. As an example, several Working Groups plan to interview key University decision makers and experts and use information gathered from student focus groups this month. On December 3, Working Group members will submit their draft Chapter Outline to the Steering Committee as the initial step in developing the University’s Self-Study Report.

Submitted by Ms. Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Ms. Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee.

Cheyney University Middle States Update

October 15, 2021

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On September 22, 2021, Dr. Christy Faison, the Middle States Commission Senior Vice President for Accreditation Relations, conducted Cheyney University’s Self-Study Preparation Visit. During her virtual visit, Dr. Faison met with President Aaron Walton and the Cheyney University Self-Study Steering Committee to discuss the University’s Self-Study Design and important elements of the Self-Study process and report. In the afternoon, Dr. Faison hosted a Webinar for the University Community to explain the accreditation process, discuss the role of faculty, staff, and students in the self-study process, and answer questions. Dr. Faison concluded her visit with an exit interview with the Self-Study Co-Chairs, Provost Kizzy Morris and Executive Director Erika Shehata and the Middle States Coordinator, Dr. Janet Manspeaker.

Dr. Faison reported her findings in a letter to President Walton dated September 24, 2021. Dr. Faison stated the Cheyney University Self-Study Design draft was in very good shape with appropriate Self-Study Institutional Priorities and beneficial Self-Study Intended Outcomes, which are well aligned with Middle States Standards. Dr. Faison also offered a few helpful collegial suggestions for the University’s Self-Study process.

Members of the Middle States Self-Study Strategic Coordinator Group completed targeted Self-Study Design revisions corresponding to Dr. Faison’s suggestions after the visit. The Self-Study Co-Chairs distributed the new draft of the Self-Study Design to the Steering Committee on October 4, 2021. Following approval by the members of the Steering Committee, Executive Director Shehata, the Middle States Liaison, submitted the revised Self-Study Design to Dr. Faison on October 8, 2021.

Dr. Faison, representing the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, formally accepted the University’s Self-Study Design in an email to President Walton dated October 11, 2021. The Self-Study Design will be presented to the Steering Committee on October 18, 2021, and then distributed to the University Community.

Members of Cheyney University’s Self-Study Working Groups continue to assess the University’s compliance with Middle States (MSCHE) Standards and Requirements of Affiliation and associated criteria. Working Group members also are assessing related Cheyney University Strategic Goals and Objectives. Working Group members will continue to review evidence requirements for their respective research assignments and submit requisite evidence requests throughout the Fall Semester. Working Groups Chairs will submit Interim Progress Reports to the Steering Committee by October 29, 2021.

Throughout the Self-Study, the Cheyney University Steering Committee and Self-Study Working Groups will be engaging the University community in an inclusive and transparent self-appraisal process that actively and deliberately seeks to involve members from all areas of the University community.

Submitted by Ms. Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Ms. Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee

Cheyney University Middle States Update

September 16, 2021

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At the beginning of the Fall Semester, Working Groups Chairs and Evidence Administrators submitted their respective Lines of Inquiry and initial Evidence Inventory Reports to the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee. On September 3, 2021, the Self-Study Co-Chairs, Provost Morris and Executive Director Shehata, submitted the second draft of the Self-Study Design to the University’s Middle States Liaison, Dr. Christy Faison on behalf of the Steering Committee.

Cheyney University is now entering the analytical phase of the Institution’s self-study process. During this stage, Working Group members will continue to review evidence requirements for their respective research assignments and submit requisite evidence requests. Members of Working Groups are prepared to begin to assess the University’s compliance with Middle States (MSCHE) Standards and Requirements of Affiliation and associated criteria and related Cheyney University Strategic Goals and Objectives using evidence they have collected.

As stated in the University’s Self-Study Design, the Steering Committee, through the Self-Study Co-Chairs and the Self-Study leadership groups, have developed a clearly defined framework to support Working Group activities.

Working Groups are using Microsoft Teams to post documents, communicate, and hold meetings with the assistance of the Middle States Technology Coordinator, Mr. Chris Brown, the University’s Executive Director of the Office of Information Technology.

The Middle States Communication Coordinator, Ms. Lauren Moffett, the Associate Director of University Communications & Technology is helping Working Groups handle communication issues, including scheduling meeting. Ms. Moffett also is distributing Self-Study communiques to the University Community.

Dr. Carolyn Hall, the University’s Coordinator of Assessment and Continuous Improvement is serving as the Self-Study Evidence Manager. Dr. Hall is coordinating evidence requests and developing the University’s Evidence Inventory.

Dr. Janet Manspeaker continues to monitor the University’s Self-Study activities as the Middle States Coordinator in conjunction with the Self-Study Co-Chairs. Associate Provost Gregory Smith and Ms. Moffett also are assisting the Self-Study Co-Chairs.

On September 22, Cheyney University’s Middle States Liaison, Dr. Christy Faison will be conducting a virtual visit to campus to discuss the University’s Self-Study process. During the morning, Dr. Faison will meet with President Walton, members of the Steering Committee, and members of the University’s Council of Trustees. From 1:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon, Dr. Faison will host a Webinar for the University Community to explain the accreditation process, discuss the role of faculty, staff, and students, and answer questions. The Webinar is an open session for Cheyney University students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Faison will conclude her visit to the University with an Exit Briefing for the Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee.

Submitted by Ms. Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Ms. Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee

Cheyney University Middle States Update

September 1, 2021

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The Cheyney University Middle States Self-Study process is proceeding according to the University’s Reaffirmation of Middle States Accreditation Timeline. The University’s Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Kizzy Morris, and the University’s Executive Director of Institutional Research, Erika Shehata, are serving as Co-Chairs for the Self-Study. Executive Director Shehata also is the Cheyney University Middle States Accreditation Liaison Officer. The Co-Chairs attended the virtual MSCHE Self-Study Institute in November 2020.

The University has created a Steering Committee and seven Working Groups composed of faculty, staff and administrators who responded to requests for participation in the self-study. The Steering Committee is responsible for providing leadership throughout the self-study process. The Seven Working Groups correspond to the seven Middle States Standards of Accreditation.

The Self-Study Steering Committee and its Executive Leadership Team met several times during the summer to construct a Self-Study Design, which is the roadmap for the University’s self-study process. On July 15, Cheyney University officially began the implementation self-study process with a joint Steering Committee and Working Group Meeting to discuss the Self-Study Timeline and expectations. Fifty-four members of the Steering Committee and Working Groups attended the meeting, which included Working Group breakout sessions. During July and August, several Working Groups met virtually using Microsoft TEAMs to discuss their research responsibilities and to collect relevant evidence.

The Self-Study Co-Chairs and Coordinator distributed the first draft of the Cheyney University Self-Study Design to the University community via email for review and suggestions on August 10, 2021. Following revisions, the Steering Committee approved the second draft of the Self-Study Design on September 1, 2021.

On September 22, Cheyney University’s Middle States Liaison, Dr. Christy Faison will be conducting a virtual visit to campus to discuss the University’s Self-Study process. The Self-Study Co-Chairs are completing the agenda for this important visit. The Self-Study Co-Chairs, on behalf of the Steering Committee, will submit Cheyney University’s draft Self-Study Design to Dr. Faison on September 3, 2021.

The University community will conduct its analyses during this academic year. Working Groups will meet at least two times a month to gather and analyze evidence that demonstrates the University’s compliance with the Middle States Commission’s Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation. Working Group members also will assess the degree to which the University is fulfilling its Mission and the 2018-2022 Cheyney University Strategic Plan. The results of the University’s Self-Study process will include findings based on evidence that the University will use to focus on continuous improvement to meet the needs of its students. The findings also will inform the new Cheyney University Strategic Plan.

Submitted by Ms. Kizzy Morris, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, and Ms. Erika Shehata, Cheyney University Self-Study Co-Chair, on behalf of the Middle States Steering Committee