Inside Gallaudet

 

Much like athletes preparing for a tournament, Gallaudet is in training. To win re-accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), Team Gallaudet has undertaken a strict regimen to ensure peak performance.

 

And the training is showing results. President Davila explained to the campus community at a September 6 Town Hall how the University has made great strides, taking advantage of the MSCHE’s mandates to ensure its position as the unsurpassed champion in the education of deaf and hard of hearing people.

 

In addition to explaining the timelines until the November MSCHE’s 2008 deadline for Gallaudet to be in compliance with re-accreditation standards, Dr. Davila outlined the steps the University is taking to exercise the best use of its resources, and the top priorities he has set—all of which center on offering students the tools they need to be successful.

 

Davila began his presentation by giving the crowd an enthusiastic welcome to a “New Gallaudet.” Besides the tangible changes—a new undergraduate curriculum, new mission statement, and documented progress toward maintaining accreditation, for example, he pointed to traits that can perhaps only be felt–the air of excitement of new students, a renewed sense of optimism, and a spirit of collaboration. Davila pointed out that he has “noticed a positive change” in how people on campus interact, the courtesy and respect they exhibit to one another. “That’s my kind of environment, and I know it’s your kind of environment as well,” he said.

 

Regarding the MSCHE review, Davila said that the next team review will be October 9 and 10. What is notable about this visit is that the team will consist of peers from the higher education field—including one member with a background in deafness—rather than the past two visits, which have included three college presidents. During this visit, the MSCHE team plans to meet one-on-one with various members of the campus of their choice, and an “evidence room” will be set up for them to have access to material that will demonstrate how the University has progressed in meeting re-accreditation goals.

 

Davila informed the crowd about the rest of the MSCHE timelines: progress reports from the University are due this month, December, April and next September; MSCHE commissioners will meet this November; in addition to the team visit next month, other campus visits will take place in January, May, and next September; and the commissioners will meet once again next November to rule on Gallaudet’s accreditation status. He added that before Gallaudet is re-accredited, it must move from probationary status to a warning level by January 2008 to ensure re-accreditation by November 2008.

 

On fiscal matters, the president said that the budget for the 2007 fiscal year, which ends September 30, is “sufficient” to ensure students “get the top value for the dollar.” However, the University must be cautious. “We have an outstanding employee base on campus, and that fuels my confidence and enthusiasm in meeting the MSCHE challenge,” said Davila, but he added, “… we need to cut corners to support our programs.” Therefore, the University must be frugal: conserving utility use, decreasing employees’ travel, capping the payroll, not giving payroll increases without an increase in federal revenue, holding merit increase to a 2 percent average and a 4 percent maximum, and eliminating 30 employee positions—a process that can be done by eliminating duplication in programs as well as attrition.

 

Davila took advantage of the Town Hall to reemphasize the role of everyone on campus to promote Gallaudet. While there is a strategic plan being developed for enrollment management and student recruitment, he said he has noticed a perception that recruitment “is the responsibility of a few, but no, it is the responsibility of us all.”

 

A number of issues were discussed during a question-and-answer period where Davila was joined by Board of Trustees Chair Benjamin Soukup, Provost Stephen Weiner, and Vice President of Administration and Finance Paul Kelly. One question raised dealt with the presidential selection process. Soukup replied that the topic is “definitely on our agenda for the October meeting.”