Self Study Working Groups
Working Group 1 Focus: Mission and Goals
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. Together, Working Group 1 developed five primary Lines of Inquiry (LI) that aligned with three Requirements of Affiliation (RA) and two Institutional Priorities (IP).
Click here for additional details of Working Group 1.
Members
- Justin Detig, Co-Chair
Manager, Online Learning Technologies - Charles Palmer, Co-Chair
Associate Professor, Program Lead Interactive Media - Samuel Benigni
Assistant Professor of Physics, Program Lead Applied Mathematics - Christine Proctor
Assistant Professor of Biology & Ecology, Program Lead Environmental Science & Sustainability - Douglas Rumbaugh
Instructor, Computer Science - Scott Foulkrod
Associate Professor, General Education
Working Group 2 Focus: Integrity and Ethics
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. Together, Working Group 2 developed three primary Lines of Inquiry (LI) that aligned with three Requirements of Affiliation (RA) and two Institutional Priorities (IP).
Click here for additional details of Working Group 2.
Members
- Rachel Fogle, Co-Chair
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, Lead Aquaponics - Chaza Abdul
Assistant Professor, Healthcare Informatics - Aaron Spina
Associate Director, Admissions - Fay Baxter
Assistant Registrar - Barbara Geisler
Assistant Professor, Management, Entrepreneurship & Business Administration - Shannon Barr
Online Learning Technologies Specialist - Ru Wideman
Associate Professor, Program Lead General Education - Jill Yeakel
Instructor, Forensic Science
Working Group 3 Focus: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
An institution provides students with learning experiences that are characterized by rigor and coherence in 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. Together, Working Group developed seven primary Lines of Inquiry (LI) that aligned with four Requirements of Affiliation (RA) and two Institutional Priorities (IP).
Click here for additional details of Working Group 3.
Members
- Melissa Gettys, Co-Chair
Instructor, General Education, Course Lead English - Lenna Pattarkine, Co-Chair
Professor, Program Lead, Biotechnology - Benjamin Blocker
Instructor, Full-time Corporate Faculty - Kelly Boudreaux
Assistant Professor, Interactive Media - Michael Eck
Instructor, Mathematics - Greta Ferkel
Executive Director, HU Online - Brian Grey
Instructor, Computer and Information Sciences - Thomas McManus
Director, Learning Technology and Professional Development - Karma Pace
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences - Aaron Rock
Assistant Director of Student Success - Shane Russell
Alumnus/Area Industry/Community Member
Working Group 4 Focus: Support of the Student Experience
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. Together, Working Group 4 structured four primary Lines of Inquiry (LI) that also aligned with three Requirements of Affiliation (RA) and two Institutional Priorities (IP).
Click here for additional details of Working Group 4.
Members
- Richard Jackson, Co-Chair
Associate Professor, Integrative Sciences and PreMed - Melissa Morgan, Co-Chair
Director, Student Services - Adams Greenwood-Ericksen
Director, User Experience Center; Associate Professor, Game Studies and User Experience - Dereck Haughey-Leak (DJ)
Admissions Counselor - Cody Klaus
Online Programs Admissions Counselor - Christopher Mowl
Assistant Director, Financial Aid - Brett Vance
Associate Director, Secondary School Services, Programs, and Partners - Richard Wirth
Assistant Professor, Information Systems Engineering & Management
Working Group 5 Focus: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
Assessment of student learning and achievement demonstrates that the institution’s students have accomplished educational goals consistent with their programs of study, degree level, the institution’s mission, and appropriate expectations for institutions of higher education. Together, Working Group 5 structured three primary Lines of Inquiry (LI) that aligned with three Requirements of Affiliation (RA) and three Institutional Priorities (IP).
Click here for additional details of Working Group 5.
Members
- Rebekah Harriger, Co-Chair
Experiential Learning Manager - Shane Tomblin, Co-Chair
Associate Professor, Enterprise Engineering & Healthcare Informatics, Program Lead PhD Information Systems Engineering & Management - Chad Chu
Instructor, Computer Science - Janelle Junkin
Corporate Faculty, General Education - Andrea Nagy
Assistant Professor, Analytical Chemistry - Robert Pittman
Assistant Professor, Systems Engineering - Catherine Santai
Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry - Joseph Zagerman
Assistant Professor, Project Management
Working Group 6 Focus: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
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. Together, Working Group 6 structured four primary Lines of Inquiry (LI) aligning with three Requirements of Affiliation (RA) and three Institutional Priorities (IP).
Click here for additional details of Working Group 6.
Members
- Sandra Nelson, Co-Chair
University Registrar - John Quigley, Co-Chair
Director, Center for Environment, Energy & Economy - Billie Anderson
Professor, Analytics - Lewis Ellis
Instructor, Interactive Media - Duane Maun
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer - Keith Ramirez
Operations Manager, Philadelphia - Charles Shearrow
Program Lead & Associate Professor, Advanced Manufacturing
Working Group 7 Focus: Governance, Leadership, and Administration
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 student, and other constituents it serves. Even when supported by, or affiliated with, governmental, corporate, religions, educational systems, or other unaccredited organizations, the institution has education as its primary purpose, and it operates as an academic institution with appropriate autonomy. Together, Working Group 7 structured five primary Lines of Inquiry (LI) aligning with three Requirements of Affiliation (RA) and two Institutional Priorities (IP).
Click here for additional details of Working Group 7.
Members
- Kelly Logan, Co-Chair
Vice President for Strategic Workforce Development - Nancy Mimm, Co-Chair
Assistant Professor, Program Lead, MS Nursing - Sa Liu
Assistant Professor, Interactive Media Studies - Phil Grim
Instructor, Computer Science - Scott Rainey
Program Lead & Instructor, Project Management - David Runyon
University Librarian
Working Group 8 Focus: Verification of Compliance
HU’s working group structure includes the establishment of a separate team (Working Group 8) for overseeing the federal compliance segment. Three university representatives, one faculty and two staff members, agreed to oversee the verification process by coordinating content-specific meetings. Phase I confirms the extent of existing, required documentation. Phase II assembles the evidence for submission.
Click here for University’s Functional Units involved with the verification process.
Members
- Michael Seavers
Program Lead, Healthcare Informatics - Jeremy Warmer
Financial Business Manager - Christopher Mowl
Assistant Director, Financial Aid
Working Group 9 Focus: Communications
Harrisburg University’s Co-Chairs for the self-study recommended the Executive Steering Committee form a separate workgroup for the communications activities associated with conducting the self-study and hosting the visiting team. Further discussion influenced the separate intended outcome 4: Identify elements of an effective internal and external communications plan. Key activities and milestones consider communication needs throughout the self-study process, and references specific audiences, including students. Additional charges involve determining areas of success, opportunities for continuous improvement, and where innovative efforts have led to success or might serve as a means for communication enhancement.
Click here for a detailed outline of communication efforts associated with the self-study.
Members
- Yvonne Dunst, Co-Chair
Program Coordinator - Eric Veronikis, Co-Chair
Communications Liaison - Sam Black
Web Developer - Yuliya Goss
University Administrative Representative - Jordon Lentz
Student Success Coordinator - Jordon Snavely
Senior Admissions Counselor - Glenn Williams
Instructor, Advanced Manufacturing