Middle States Steering Committee

Summary of meeting September 12, 2007

In attendance: Jell Allred, Theoni Angelopoulos, Eija Ayravainen, Derrick Brazill, Lynn Chancer, Sandra Clarkson, Mark Hillery, Ivone Margulies, David Potash, Vita Rabinowitz, John Rose, Helena Rosenblatt, Richard Stapleford, David Steiner, Madlyn Stokely, Peggy Tirschwell, Nicole Vartanian, Case Willoughby, Jason Young

1. Rabinowitz opened the meeting, welcomed participants and noted that more faculty and students would be joining the committee. She requested that faculty and others on the committee submit suggestions for additional members.  Stipends and/or other forms of support will be provided.
2. Recent initiatives were reviewed including assessment of student learning at the School of Arts and Sciences last year; every department has submitted an assessment plan.
3. Tirschwell presented a timeline for the accreditation process (see attachment)
4. Linda Suskie, the MS staff officer assigned to Hunter, will pay us an initial visit on October 12. The tentative schedule for her visit has her meeting with the steering committee at 11:00. More precise information about the time and location of that meeting is forthcoming.
5. Potash reviewed the NSSE – Nation Survey of Student Engagement, noting that “engagement” is a way of understanding how students spend their time and their degree of attention and effort with an institution.  The survey indicated areas of concern, particularly where Hunter students had markedly different responses than students at peer institutions.  Following a discussion of the value and use of the survey, the provost noted that the President Raab is piloting an effort to increase student engagement through faculty-student co-curricular activities as well as funding for student research and student presentations.
6.  The draft charges to the MS work groups were discussed.  Chancer noted the campus’s physical limitations and the possibilities that Roosevelt House may offer once opened.  Committee members were assigned to review specific working group charges as follows.  Comments and suggestions are due back to the provost’s staff by Friday, September 21^st.
1. Institutional Goals: Jason Young and Richard Stapleford
2. Leadership, Administration, Governance: John Rose, Madlyn Stokely, Scott LeMieux
3. Graduate Education:  David Steiner, Derrick Brazill
4. Faculty: Ivone Margulies, Mark Hillery, Helena Rosenblatt
5. Retention: Eija Ayravainen, Case Willoughby
6. Major/Minor: Lynn Chancer
7. General Education: Sandra Clarkson, Jeff Allred
8. Related Educational Activities: Theoni Angelopoulos, Peggy Tirschwell