Self-Study 2023

OVERVIEW

The self-study process is valuable to an institution; allowing an opportunity to demonstrate that it meets the expectations of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and to gain insights that will serve the institution for future years. The process demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement and will be used to strengthen and sustain our future as an institution of higher education. With the support of President Katherine Conway-Turner and Provost James Mayrose, we will create an inclusive process, engage in a careful analysis of institutional priorities that will be selected in the interest of identifying mission-related areas of improvement, respond effectively to challenges, identify and adopt innovative practices to achieve our mission, adapt to changes in higher education, and to best serve our students and community more readily.  Additional information can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions and in the Accreditation Quick Guide.

TIMELINE

  • Fall 2020: Self-Study Steering Committee Co-Chairs attend Self-Study Institute
  • Spring 2021: Self-Study Design submitted to MSCHE
  • May 13, 2021: Prep Visit with MSCHE Vice President Liaison, Dr. Bob Bonfiglio
  • Spring 2021 - Spring 2022: Working Group evidence collection and writing
  • Spring 2022: Drafts of Self-Study Chapters completed by working groups
  • Summer 2022: Self-Study Writing Group creates one Self-Study draft
  • Fall 2022: Self-Study Draft submitted, Evaluation Team Chair visit with President Lamont Repollet, Kean University, draft presented to campus community
  • Spring 2023: Final Self-Study document submitted and Evaluation Team visits Buffalo State University campus and four International Graduate Program for Educators (IGPE) sites
  • Summer 2023: MSCHE Team Report 2023 is received. This report summarizes the results of the evaluations at the Buffalo State University campus and the four IGPE sites.
  • Summer 2023: Buffalo State University receives reaffirmation of accreditation from MSCHE. A Supplemental Information Report is due in September 2024

PREP VISIT

The Self-Study process requires three visits to Buffalo State from representatives from the Middles States Commission on Higher Education.  The first of the these visits, the Self-Study Preparation Visit, took place virtually on Thursday, May 13th via Zoom.  Our Vice President Liaison, Dr. Bob Bonfiglio, met with members of the campus community to discuss the importance of accreditation and help prepare our campus for a positive on-site evaluation.  The campus community was invited to attend the Open Meeting with the University Community on Thursday, May 13th, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.  

PRELIMINARY VISIT

The second visit to Buffalo State, the Evaluation Team Chair's Preliminary Visit was held on November 7 and 8, 2022.  The purpose of the preliminary visit was to introduce Dr. Lamont O. Repollet, president of Kean University, to Buffalo State, our people, and our environment so that he and the peer evaluators can begin the upcoming on-site evaluation visit efficiently and effectively. A “nearly complete draft” of the self-study report was provided to  before his visit. After his visit to campus, Dr Repollet indicated that Buffalo State is prepared for an on-site evaluation visit.  

TEAM VISIT - MARCH 12-15, 2023

The third and final visit to Buffalo State is the Self-Study On-Site Evaluation which will be held on March 12-15, 2023 by an Evaluation Team.  The Commission staff assembles a team roster appropriate for each institution.  The Commission’s procedure for selecting peer evaluators to conduct any accreditation activity is described in the Peer Evaluators Policy and Procedures. The final assignment of peer evaluators rests with Commission staff.  

Buffalo State Peer Evaluation Team

Chair:  Dr. Lamont Repollet, President, Kean University

Members:

Dr. David Marcos Callejo Perez, Associate Vice President and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses, Pennsylvania State University

Dr. James Delle, Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Ms. Kate Demarest, Associate Dean, Merrick School of Business, University of Baltimore

Dr. Stacy L. Downing, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief Administrator of DSU Downtown, Delaware State University

Dr. Terrence Antonio Hardee, Director Executive Education and External Affairs, Rowan University

Dr. Arnold Lewis, Associate Professor of Political Science & Assessment Coordinator - College of Humanities & Social Sciences, William Paterson University of New Jersey

Dr. Trudy Milburn, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Southern Connecticut State University

Dr. Abdou Ndoye, Assistant Vice Provost for Assessment, Northern Kentucky University

Dr. Phillip Oriz, Assistant Provost for Undergraduate and STEM Education, Coordinator, Empire State STEM Learning Network, State University of New York

Team members will also be visiting four of Buffalo State's International Graduate Program for Educators (IGPE) sites located in Columbia and Brazil. 

Institutional Priorities

Develop a transparent and data informed framework in which integrated planning is used to link the University's mission, vision, strategic priorities, and people in a flexible system of assessment, decision-making and action. 

To improve student success as measured by recruitment, retention, graduation rates, job placement, well-being, and an enriched life both at Buffalo State and beyond.

Improve opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to participate as active, thoughtful global citizens while engaging in a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship between Buffalo State and the community-at-large. 

Commit to hiring, retaining, and developing highly-qualified faculty and staff who support and enrich the intellectual and creative growth of our students.