Pratt is currently engaged in an accreditation process with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), one of six regional accreditors in the United States and the accrediting body for Pratt as an institution of higher education.
Central to this process is a self-study, which reflects on institutional priorities, standards established by Middle States, and requirements of affiliation, including federal regulations. The self-study reports analytically-based inquiry and reflection on these points; conclusions, including strengths and challenges, with references to these criteria; and opportunities for ongoing institutional improvement.
This page summarizes the timeline and process for the self-study, as well as faculty and staff members who are leading the self-study process and key documents associated with it. Throughout the self-study, we will gather community feedback and provide updates on major developments, as outlined in our communications plan (see Self-Study Design, pp. 30-31).
Questions and comments about the self-study may be sent msche@pratt.edu.
Self-Study Design
The Self-Study Design guides our work in gathering evidence and reporting on each of the Middle States standards, institutional priorities, and requirements of affiliation.
Institutional Priorities
The following priorities have been identified for our self-study, based on Pratt’s mission, strategic plan, and other ongoing initiatives:
- Offering a creative, critical, and inclusive academic experience
- Fostering student success and faculty and staff communities that support student success
- Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and access
- Stewarding resources and relationships
Timeline
Pratt has requested a spring visit by a team of external evaluators in 2024. In preparation for this visit, the Institute will submit a completed self-study report by Fall 2023, with a plan for the self-study finalized by Spring 2022.
| Initial setup of working groups, institutional priorities, and lines of inquiry | Fall 2021 |
| Self-Study Design & Middle States Liaison visit | Spring 2022 |
| Research and writing self-study report | Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 |
| Self-Study Report submission & Evaluation Team Chair preliminary visit | Fall 2023 |
| Evaluation Team visit | Spring 2024 |
Steering Committee
The self-study process is being led by faculty and staff co-chairs and a Steering Committee made up of faculty and staff co-chairs for each of the various working groups outlined below, along with other key staff members related to communications and institutional research.
Donna Heiland (co-chair), Provost
Chris Alen Sula (co-chair), Interim Associate Provost for Academic Programs, Assessment, and Accreditation; Visiting Associate Professor, School of Information
Robert Brackett III, Adjunct Associate Professor, Undergraduate Architecture
Anthony Cocciolo, Dean, School of Information
Kathryn Cullen-DuPont, Adjunct Associate Professor, Humanities & Media Studies
Tom Greene, Director of Legal Affairs
Amir Parsa, Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary and Integrative Learning; Founding Director, The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies; Curator, Individualized Learning
Keena Suh, Associate Professor, Interior Design
Rhonda Schaller, Assistant Vice President for Resilience, Wellness and Well-being; Visiting Associate Professor, Fine Arts; Lecturer, Continuing and Professional Studies
Farzam Yazdanseta, Acting Associate Chairperson and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Architecture
Heather Lewis, Professor, Art & Design Education; Faculty Director for Program and Learning Outcomes Assessment
Karyn Zieve, Adjunct Assistant Professor, History of Art and Design; Lecturer, Continuing and Professional Studies
Cathleen Kenny, Vice President for Finance & Administration
Audrey Schultz, Chairperson, Construction/Facilites Management; Professor, Construction/Facilities Management
John Decker, Chairperson, History of Art & Design
Daphne Halpern, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Nicole Haas, Chief of Staff to the President
Jim Kempster, Vice President for Communications & Marketing
Vanshika Harlalka, Chair of Academics, Student Government Association
Osundwa Wanjera, Director of Institutional Research
Renae Govinda (Project Manager), Program Manager, The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies
Each working group is focused around one Middle States standard, along with relevant institutional priorities and requirements of affiliation.
Working Group 1 – Mission and Goals
Robert Brackett III (co-chair), Adjunct Associate Professor, Undergraduate Architecture
Anthony Cocciolo (co-chair), Dean, School of Information
Nida Abdulla, Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Communication Design
Allison Druin, Vice Provost for Research and Strategic Partnerships
David Frisco, Director of Creative Services, Communications and Marketing; Adjunct Professor, Graduate Communications & Package Design
Susan Young, Chairperson, Associate Degree Programs
Working Group 2 – Ethics and Integrity
Kathryn Cullen-DuPont (co-chair), Adjunct Associate Professor, Humanities & Media Studies
Tom Greene (co-chair), Director of Legal Affairs
Peg Fox, Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs
Amy Hecht, Director of Employment, Human Resources
Secoya Holmes, Director of Admissions Events, Operations, and Diversity Recruitment
Sebastian Kaupert, Adjunct Associate Professor, Undergraduate Communication Design
Jazmin Peralta, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Jason Rodgers, Chief Steward of Clerical Staff Union; Library Technician/Access Support Services Coordinator
Jolene Travis, Executive Director of Public Relations and Editorial Communications
Working Group 3 – Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
Amir Parsa (co-chair), Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary and Integrative Learning; Founding Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies; Curator, Individualized Learning
Keena Suh (co-chair), Associate Professor, Interior Design
Marcia Approo, Associate Registrar Records and Technology, Registrar’s Office
Eve Baron, Chairperson, Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment
Damon Chaky, Associate Professor, Math & Science
Marcus Civin, Assistant Dean, School of Art
Nick Dease, Digital Learning Librarian; Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Information
Meredith Hoffheins, Associate Director of Undergraduate Advisement; Lecturer, Continuing & Professional Studies
Natalie Moore, Assistant Chairperson and Adjunct Associate Professor, Foundation Arts & Design
Ted Ngai, Senior Data Analyst and Developer, Interdisciplinary Technology; Visiting Associate Professor, Undergraduate Architecture
Eric O’Toole, Assistant Dean, School of Design; Associate Professor, Graduate Communications & Package Design
Maira Seara, Dean, Continuing and Professional Studies
Elisabeth Sullivan, Director of the Learning/Access Center
Judit Török, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning
Kimberly Bobier, Visiting Assistant Professor, History of Art and Design
Working Group 4 – Support of the Student Learning Experience
Rhonda Schaller (co-chair), Assistant Vice President for Resilience, Wellness and Well-being; Visiting Associate Professor, Fine Arts; Lecturer, Continuing and Professional Studies
Farzam Yazdanseta (co-chair), Acting Associate Chairperson and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Architecture
Amy Ballmer, Chair of Library, Teaching, Learning & Collection Development; Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Information
David Burke, Assistant Chairperson and Visiting Associate Professor, Graduate Communications & Package Design
Amanda Diaz, Director of Higher Education Opportunities Program HEOP
Nedi Goga, Executive Director, Student Financial Services & Compliance, Student Financial Services
Nada Gordon, Acting Director and Visiting Assistant Professor, Intensive English Program
Amanda Huynh, Assistant Professor, Industrial Design
Juliet Lee, Associate Registrar Courses and Curriculum, Registrar’s Office
Emma Legge, Director of Student Involvement
Dustin Liebenow, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, Admissions
Zachary Lucero, Undergraduate Advisor
Patricia Madeja, Professor, Fine Arts; Lecturer Fine Arts, Continuing and Professional Studies
Sinclaire Alkire, Director of Enrollment Research Reporting and Analysis, Admissions
Working Group 5 – Educational Effectiveness Assessment
Heather Lewis (co-chair), Professor, Art & Design Education; Faculty Director for Program and Learning Outcomes Assessment
Karyn Zieve (co-chair), Adjunct Assistant Professor, History of Art and Design; Lecturer, Continuing and Professional Studies
Josiah Brownell, Associate Professor, Social Science & Cultural Studies
Patricia Ciavarelli, Senior Research Analyst, Institutional Research
Kara Hearn, Chairperson, Film & Video
Gaia Hwang,Chairperson, Graduate Communications Design
James Lipovac, Professor, Foundation Art & Design
Craig M. MacDonald, Associate Professor, School of Information
Sara Greenberger Rafferty, Associate Professor, Photography
Irina Schneid, Assistant Professor, Interior Design
Jason Vigneri-Beane, Associate Professor, Undergraduate Architecture; Pratt Young Scholars Instructor, K-12 Center
Zach Whitehurst, Assistant Chairperson and Visiting Instructor Associate Degree Programs
Working Group 6 – Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
Cathleen Kenny (co-chair), Vice President for Finance & Administration
Audrey Schultz (co-chair), Chairperson, Construction/Facilities Management; Professor, Construction/Facilities Management
Missy Brown, Cataloging and Metadata Librarian
Chris Jensen, Associate Professor, Math & Science
Diana Martucci, Assistant Vice President for Information Technology, Enterprise Systems
Kimberlae Saul, Director of Planning and Design, Office of Facilities Management; Visiting Assistant Professor, Graduate Architecture & Urban Design
Laurel Voss, Associate Provost for Integrated Planning and Faculty Affairs
Diane Bellino, Assistant Professor, Film & Video
Jerry Risner, Director of Finance, School of Design
Chris Shrum, Professor, Design Management
Working Group 7 – Governance, Leadership, and Administration
John Decker (co-chair), Chairperson, History of Art & Design
Daphne Halpern (co-chair), Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Kye Carbone, President of Faculty Union (UFCT Local 1460); Adjunct Professor, Foundation Art & Design
Nicole Haas, Chief of Staff to the President
Jennifer Minniti, Chairperson, Fashion Design
Donna Moran, Professor, Fine Arts
Steve Riccobono, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources
Uzma Rizvi, Associate Professor, Social Science & Cultural Studies; President, Academic Senate
Christopher MJ Ruggieri, President of Staff Council; Assistant Director of Residential Life
Nancy Figueredo, Controller, Comptroller’s Office
IRB Approval
Self-Study research involving human subjects has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Pratt Institute (#11082022-CS). For questions about this study, please contact Chris Alen Sula, PhD, MSCHE Co-Chair, at (718) 399-4256 or by email at csula@pratt.edu. For questions about IRB, please contact Allison Druin, PhD, Vice Provost for Research & Strategic Partnerships, at (301) 332-2551 or by email at irb@pratt.edu.