NEASC exit report "provided no suprises"

From October 26-29, eight members of The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) visited the Rindge campus as a part of Franklin Pierce University's re-accreditation process.

In a follow-up session with students and faculty on October 31, President Dr. George Hagerty said, he expects a good report in December. "I believe it testimony to the entire community that Dr. David Angel, the NEASC Visiting Team Chair, commented that this peer review provided no surprises....That the University's self -study identified accurately our strengths, our areas of concern, and a plan for pursuing necessary changes."

During their three days here, NEASC met with a variety of groups and individuals. According to Assistant Dean Karen Brown, "The team spoke with random groups of faculty and students, division chairs, student scholars, Student Financial Services, the Registrar, Trusties, and more."

As a result of their campus visits and discussions, Hagerty said, NEASC saw "a close and healthy relationship between faculty, staff and administration on all campuses visited by the NEASC Team, which included Rindge, Concord and Goodyear."

Since the last re-accreditation in 1998, Hagerty said NEASC was impressed by "our move to graduate programs, our global initiatives, our expansion to create the campus in Goodyear, the innovations brought about by our various Institutes and Centers at the College at Rindge."

While Hagerty identified numerous strengths, he believes the final report will include four main concerns. Hagerty listed them in order of importance: institutional assessment, finances in a difficult economy, governance, and a stronger integration of the Individual and Community theme at all levels.

In regards to the current economic crisis, Hagerty said, "We are stable, which NEASC confirmed, but we are concerned. We are diversified, so we can get through this."

While re-accreditation occurs every ten years, there is an update, which takes place every five years. According to Hagerty, "If this economy continues to unravel, I would not be surprised if [NEASC] came to verify what we said we would do has been done."

Hagerty and Carol Monroe, Vice President for Enrollment, said community colleges are becoming increasingly popular. "We do know that a number of our students are going to community college rather than coming here," said Monroe.

Hagerty said, "Everybody is up against enrollment. Retention is a huge unknown."

University expansion, such as the new campus in Goodyear, Arizona, and strong study aboard offerings are critical, said Hagerty. "Having a global market is important. We may remain at 1600 students for a long time here in Rindge."

In terms of governance, Brown said Hagerty's departure was central to the discussion. "The focus was on an effective transition between the new president and the Board of Trustees."

NEASC also addressed the core curriculum. "The Visiting Team wanted the University to explore in the future the relevancy of all that we do - at the College at Rindge and in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies - to the core theme of Individual and Community," said Hagerty. "They perceived that the I&C was an 'enabling theme' that needed continued emphasis and context within the various curricula that we offer at the undergraduate and graduate levels."

In the future, Monroe said the challenge will be to identify "what sets us apart from every other institution."

Sometime in the spring, Hagerty and Provost Kim Mooney will meet with the NEASC commission. Hagerty said, "I don't fear going before the commission. When I sit before them, I will be proud to represent this institution and what we stand for."

At the conclusion of the meeting on October 31, Hagerty thanked everyone who had been a part of the re-accreditation process. "Thank you for making this place very different in ten years."

Students interested in learning more about the process can visit http://www.franklinpierce.edu/about/neasc/index.htm.