Self-Study Design

“The institution’s mission defines its purpose within the context of higher education, the students it serves, and what it intends to accomplish. The institution’s stated goals are clearly linked to its mission and specify how the institution fulfills its mission.”

Working Group Membership:

• Stacie Golin (Co-Chair), Assistant Professor of Sociology/Chair
• Kathleen Carr (Co-Chair), Assistant Dean of Library and Learning Resources
• Sara Gorst, ABE/HSE Program Coordinator
• Tom Caines, Adjunct Faculty – Foundations for Success
• Stan Kula, Executive Director of the College Foundation
• Student

Charge

The working group for Standard I: Mission and Goals will gather, review, and analyze key sources of documentation, institutional processes, and institutional procedures to determine how well Sussex County Community College is meeting the expectations set forth by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for Standard I.

This working group is expected to analyze institutional strengths, challenges, and opportunities for Standard I as it relates to the institution as a whole, which includes each component of the current Mission Statement and each institutional goal. The work of this group will be pivotal in guiding the development of a new strategic plan for the institution. More specifically this group will examine specific elements of the Mission Statement as they relate to Standard I, including:

• Providing a dynamic college experience;
• Serving a diverse community of students;
• Supporting regional economic prosperity;
• Providing high-quality academic and occupational programs; and
• Supporting an accessible and supportive environment.

In addition to the specific elements of the Mission Statement, this group will examine the following Institutional Goals in the context of Standard I:

• Strengthening and supporting high-quality academic and occupational programs
• Providing an accessible and supportive environment
• Offering a dynamic college experience
• Fostering lifelong learning
• Embracing and strengthening an inclusive college community

Lines of Inquiry Standard I

1. How were the College's current mission, vision, and values formulated, and to what extent did the development process involve diversity and collaboration?
2. In what ways do the College's mission, vision, and values strengthen and support high-quality academic and occupational programs?
3. How closely do the College's academic programs and institutional initiatives align with its mission, vision, and values to provide an accessible and supportive environment?
4. To what extent are the College’s mission, vision, and values realistic and relatable to the community served by the institution?

“Ethics and integrity are central, indispensable, and defining hallmarks of effective higher education institutions. In all activities, whether internal or external, an institution must be faithful to its mission, honor its contracts and commitments, adhere to its policies, and represent itself truthfully.”

Working Group Membership:

• Diane Harris (Co-Chair), Instructor of Mathematics
• Stephanie Cooper (Co-Chair), Director of the College Library
• Ashley Williams, Financial Aid Loan Specialist
• Rachelle Jones, Adjunct Faculty - Legal Studies
• Jason Boehm, Student Success Center Advisor
• Christina Sakelakos, Head Athletic Trainer
• Student

Charge

The working group for Standard II: Ethics and Integrity, will gather, review, and analyze key sources of documentation, institutional processes, and institutional procedures to determine how well Sussex County Community College is meeting the expectations set forth by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for Standard II.

The principles of ethics and integrity are embedded throughout the entirety of the institution. Because of this, the working group for Standard II is expected to analyze institutional strengths, challenges, and opportunities for Standard II, as it relates to the institution as a whole. More specifically this group will examine specific elements of the Mission Statement as they relate to Standard II, including:

• Serving a diverse community of students; and
• Supporting an accessible and supportive environment.

In addition to the specific elements of the Mission Statement, this group will examine the following Institutional Goals outlined in the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan in the context of Standard II:

• Providing an accessible and supportive environment
• Embracing and strengthening an inclusive college community

Lines of Inquiry Standard II

1. How does the College ensure ethics and integrity are core to serving a diverse community of students?
2. How does the College ensure ethics and integrity are integrated in the process of supporting and accessible and supportive environment?
3. What role do ethics and integrity play in embracing and strengthening an inclusive college community?

“An institution provides students with learning experiences that are characterized by rigor and coherence at all program, certificate, and degree levels, regardless of instructional modality. All learning experiences, regardless of modality, program pace/schedule, level, and setting are consistent with higher education expectations.”

Working Group Membership:

• Mary Thompson, Ph.D. (Co-Chair), Professor of English/Chair
• Nancy Gallo, J.D. (Co-Chair), Assoc, Vice President of Academic Affairs
• Dina Conde, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
• Melissa DeJoseph, Senior Academic Affairs Coordinator and Assistant Registrar
• Daniel Warhol, Instructor of English
• Student

Charge

The working group for Standard III: Design and Delivery of the Student Experience, will gather, review, and analyze key sources of documentation, institutional processes, and institutional procedures to determine how well Sussex County Community College is meeting the expectations set forth by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for Standard III. In addition, this working group is expected to analyze institutional strengths, challenges, and opportunities for Standard III as it relates to the institution as a whole. More specifically this group will examine specific elements of the Mission Statement as they relate to Standard III, including:

• Providing high-quality academic and occupational programs; and
• Supporting an accessible and supportive environment.

In addition to the specific elements of the Mission Statement, this group will examine the following Institutional Goals in the context of Standard III:

• Strengthening and supporting high-quality academic and occupational programs;
• Providing an accessible and supportive environment; and
• Fostering lifelong learning.

Lines of Inquiry Standard III

1. How does the College ensure the design and delivery of high-quality academic and occupational programs promotes a quality student experience?
2. How does the College design and deliver the student experience in a way that supports an accessible and supportive environment?
3. How does the College ensure the design and delivery of the student experience fosters lifelong learning?

“Across all educational experiences, settings, levels, and instructional modalities, the institution recruits and admits students whose interests, abilities, experiences, and goals are congruent with its mission and educational offerings. The institution commits to student retention, persistence, completion, and success through a coherent and effective support system sustained by qualified professionals, which enhances the quality of the learning environment, contributes to the educational experience, and fosters student success.”

Working Group Membership:

• Deborah Lanza (Co-Chair), Associate Professor of Psychology, Program Coordinator,

Foundations for Success:

• Jason Rodriquez (Co-Chair), Coordinator of Student Engagement and Inclusion
• Maureen Murphy-Smolka, Associate Professor of English
• Ann Bruno, Educational Opportunity Fund Program Coordinator
• Pamela Cavanaugh, Student Accessibility Services Coordinator/Counselor
• Alyssa Dionne, Student

Charge

The working group for Standard IV: Support of the Student Experience, will gather, review, and analyze key sources of documentation, institutional processes, and institutional procedures to determine how well Sussex County Community College is meeting the expectations set forth by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for Standard IV. In addition, this working group is expected to analyze institutional strengths, challenges, and opportunities for Standard IV as it relates to the institution as a whole. More specifically this group will examine specific elements of the Mission Statement as they relate to Standard IV, including:

• Providing a dynamic college experience;
• Serving a diverse community of students; and
• Supporting an accessible and supportive environment.

Statement, this group will examine the following Institutional Goals in the context of Standard IV:

• Providing an accessible and supportive environment
• Offering a dynamic college experience
• Embracing and strengthening an inclusive college community

Lines of Inquiry Standard IV

1. How is the student learning experience at the College supported through a dynamic college experience?
2. How does the student learning experience at the College support a diverse community of students?
3. How does the student learning experience at the College support an accessible and supportive environment?
4. How does the College embrace and strengthen and inclusive college community through the support of the student learning experience?

“Assessment of student learning and achievement demonstrates that the institution’s students have accomplished educational goals consistent with their program of study, degree level, the institution’s mission, and appropriate expectations for institutions of higher education.”

Working Group Membership:

• Nicholas Lionetti (Co-Chair), Program Supervisor, Exercise Science
• Sherry Fitzgerald (Co-Chair), Associate Professor of Visual Arts
• Traci Smith, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Student Affairs/Director of

Athletics and AVP of Student Success:

• Jumana Hablawi, Instructor of Biology/Program Coordinator
• Sareena Sciabica, Student Success Center Advisor
• Jason Fruge, Dean of Technical Occupations
• Student

Charge

The working group for Standard V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment will obtain, analyze, and present evidence that the College is engaged in an iterative process of evaluating whether students are learning what the College intends for them to learn. Additionally, the Working Group is charged with examining, documenting, and describing the assessment of learning among programs and different populations of students at the College and for creating lines of inquiry that interrogate our on-going processes assessing student learning. This working group is expected to analyze institutional strengths, challenges, and opportunities for Standard V as it relates to the institution as a whole. More specifically this group will examine specific elements of the Mission Statement as they relate to Standard V, including:

• Providing high-quality academic and occupational programs; and
• Supporting an accessible and supportive environment.

In addition to the specific elements of the Mission Statement, this group will examine the following Institutional Goal in the context of Standard V:

• Strengthening and supporting high-quality academic and occupational programs;
• Providing an accessible and supportive environment; and
• Fostering lifelong learning.

Lines of Inquiry Standard V

1. How does educational effectiveness assessment ensure the College is providing high-quality academic and occupational programming?
2. How does the College ensure that educational effectiveness assessment is used to support an accessible and supportive environment?
3. How does educational effectiveness assessment at the College foster lifelong learning?

“The institution’s planning processes, resources, and structures are aligned with each other and are sufficient to fulfill its mission and goals, to continuously assess and improve its programs and services, and to respond effectively to opportunities and challenges.”

Working Group Membership:

• James Gaddy (Co-Chair), Chief Operating Officer
• Ketan Gandhi (Co-Chair), Chief Financial Officer
• Karen Unrath, Chief Budget Officer
• John Dixon, Director of the PSTA
• Vicky Hoskin, Manager of Continuing Education & Workforce Development
• Kim Ryan, Director of Bursar
• Mimely Little, Science Lab Coordinator
• Tim O’Connor, Media Services Assistant
• Student

Charge

In accordance with Middle States Standard VI: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement, the Working Group for Standard VI is charged with a completing a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of Sussex County Community College’s planning processes, resource allocation, and institutional structures in order to determine that they are coherent, aligned, and adequate to support the fulfillment of the institution's mission and goals. The College should demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement, robust program and service assessment, and effective response strategies to address both anticipated and unforeseen opportunities and challenges.

More specifically the Working Group for Standard VI will examine specific elements of the Mission Statement as they relate to Standard VI, including:

• Providing a dynamic college experience;
• Supporting regional economic prosperity; and
• Delivering high-quality academic and occupational programs.

In addition to the specific elements of the Mission Statement, this group will examine the following Institutional Goals in the context of Standard VI:

• Strengthening and supporting high-quality academic and occupational programs
• Offering a dynamic college experience
• Fostering lifelong learning

Lines of Inquiry Standard VI

1. How does the institution define and measure its effectiveness in providing a dynamic college experience, supporting regional economic prosperity, and delivering high-quality academic and occupational programs?
2. How does the institution support ongoing training and learning opportunities that support regional economic prosperity and foster lifelong learning?
3. How does the institution incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into its planning processes in order to deliver high-quality academic and occupational programs?

“The institution is governed and administered in a manner that allows it to realize its stated mission and goals in a way that effectively benefits the institution, its students, and the other constituencies it serves. Even when supported by or affiliated with governmental, corporate, religious, educational system, or other unaccredited organizations, the institution has education as its primary purpose, and it operates as an academic institution with appropriate autonomy.”

Working Group Membership:

• Kathleen Okay, Ed.D. (Co-Chair), Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs
• Sal Paolucci (Co-Chair), Instructor of Business and Economics/Chair
• Suzan Melik, MD, Medical Assisting Program Supervisor
• Melissa DeJoseph, Senior Academic Affairs Coordinator and Assistant Registrar
• Julie Fliegel, Admissions Assistant
• Maureen Lynch, Academic Coordinator
• Karissa Mahoney, Student and President of the SGA

Charge

The working group for Standard VII: Governance, Leadership, and Administration will gather, review, and analyze key sources of documentation, institutional processes, and institutional procedures to determine how well Sussex County Community College is meeting the expectations set forth by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for Standard VII.

In order to ensure that the College is committed to the public interest and complies with applicable standards, rules, policies, and procedures that are in line with the College's values, mission, and goals, the College charges the working group for Standard VII with demonstrating that all levels of college leadership and governance, including the Board of Trustees, administration, staff, faculty, and students, operate with integrity and within a transparent and well-defined governance structure. In addition, this working group is expected to analyze institutional strengths, challenges, and opportunities for Standard VII as it relates to the institution as a whole. More specifically this group will examine specific elements of the Mission Statement as they relate to Standard VII, including:

• Providing a dynamic college experience;
• Serving a diverse community of students;
• Supporting regional economic prosperity;
• Providing high-quality academic and occupational programs; and
• Supporting an accessible and supportive environment.

In addition to the specific elements of the Mission Statement, this group will examine the following Institutional Goals in the context of Standard VII:

• Strengthening and supporting high-quality academic and occupational programs
• Providing an accessible and supportive environment
• Offering a dynamic college experience
• Fostering lifelong learning
• Embracing and strengthening an inclusive college community

Lines of Inquiry Standard VII:

1. How is the institution's shared governance structured?
2. What roles do the board, administration, faculty, and staff play in decision-making processes that support regional economic prosperity?
3. How does the leadership ensure transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in decision-making that supports an accessible and supportive environment?
4. What policies and practices are in place to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion at Sussex County Community College?