The teams working on Middle States here at Widener are heading into the break with their tasks right on schedule. After a very productive semester, we are happy to say that all the Working Groups turned in their outlines by the December 1 deadline, and the Steering Committee spent a constructive two hours last week peer reviewing all the drafts. The discussion was robust and collegial, and the Working Groups are well-positioned to write their draft reports, due on January 31. Another round of peer review will follow, before the final draft deadline later in the spring.
We wish all of the members of the Middle States team — and all members of the campus community — a restful break. The blog will be on hiatus until the new semester begins, so if you’re looking for some winter reading, here’s a roundup of recent articles of interest, assessment/accreditation-related as well as examining higher ed and teaching more broadly.
“Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Advocates Oppose Proposed Changes to NEASC Standards,” by Colleen Flaherty, Inside Higher Ed [link]
“Despite Efforts to Increase Them, University Graduation Rates Fall,” by Jon Marcus, The Hechinger Report [link]
“Collegiality as Pedagogy,” by Sean Michael Morris [link; scroll down for some comments on “rigor”]
“The 2015 Influence List: A Special Report,” from The Chronicle of Higher Education [link]
“Ending Well,” by Bonni Stachowiak, Teaching in Higher Ed [PODCAST; link]
Widener University Middle States News 