State of the College

State of the College Q&A

State of the University

New Alumni Board Members

Eleanor Holmes Norton

Alumni Events

Committee of 150

Folk Dancing at Antioch

Antioch Commons Restoration

Student Reflections from the Field

Recent Graduate Places First!

Alumni Profile

2003 Distinguished Alumni

Reunion 2003!

Learning Theory & the Liberal Arts

Reunion 2004

E-Mail

University Overview

One of the most significant events for Antioch University in the past year was the reaccredidation visit by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Following an extensive University self-assessment process, begun on each campus in 2000, the NCA Review Team conducted its formal evaluation, visiting all campuses in October 2002. The full process was completed in August 2003 when the NCA Board of Trustees validated the recommendations of the Institutional Actions Committee.

The Report concluded that “Antioch University has demonstrated an awareness of the serious issues that need to be addressed. The Board of Trustees has committed to resolving these issues and has hired a Chancellor who has already begun to address these issues. These initiatives provide evidence to warrant another ten-year accreditation cycle.” The Review Team also confirmed that Antioch University continued to meet each of the NCA’s 24 General Institutional Requirements.

The Review Team also required a Focused Visit in spring 2006 to examine institutional progress in addressing certain areas of concern: (a) the adequacy of resources to achieve institutional objectives; (b) the effectiveness of linking planning, budgeting, development and enrollment management; and (c) implementation of new responses to improving the assessment of student learning. Specific issues in each of these three areas were identified.

Beyond the NCA review, many other developments deserve mention, though the information, which follows, is highly condensed. Key leadership positions have been filled in the past year. Following extensive national search efforts, Dr. Peter Temes took over as President of the Antioch New England Graduate School in September 2002, and Dr. LucyAnn Geiselman assumed the presidency of Antioch University Southern California in September, 2003.

Focused efforts throughout the University have sought to improve communication links and enhance connectivity. The efforts have resulted in the implementation of a common e-mail system (FirstClass); publication of a University-wide employee directory and a four-fold brochure, which describes Antioch University and its program offerings at all campuses; and expanded opportunities for instructional and operational exchange activities. In addition, a University viewbook is scheduled to be published this year.

Antioch University received $310,000 in grants from the Pierson-Lovelace Foundation for institution building initiatives, including support for hiring distinguished University professors who will have multi-campus teaching and planning responsibilities in the common disciplines throughout the University. In addition, the University can point to an overall enrollment increase of more FTE (Full Time Equivalent) students in 2002-03, compared to the previous year, and each campus was able to make significant capital improvements.

Individual campus accomplishments are far too numerous to list, but a few deserve special mention:

• Antioch University Seattle continues to utilize its major funding from the Gates Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation to develop the Early College High School Initiative for Native American students. It is expected that additional grant funding will be forthcoming.
  
• Antioch University McGregor is exploring space options to deal with a growing student population and will be featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Champions of Industry” show on October 21, 2003.
  
• Antioch New England Graduate School now physically houses a small, experimental high school, part of a major federally-funded initiative (with additional funding partners) to support alternative schools and new programs of choice.
  
• Antioch University Southern California is hard at work seeking an appropriate new campus in response to emerging needs and an expiring lease.
  
• The Ph.D. in Leadership and Change program, now in its second full year of operation, has more than 60 students enrolled and has hired three new distinguished faculty scholars as Core Faculty.
  
• Antioch College is a founding member of a new organization known as the Eco League, a consortium of six schools who have programming in environmental studies, an interest in environmental advocacy and are seeking ways to create “green” campuses. Other members in the exciting cooperative venture include: the College of the Atlantic, Prescott College, Green Mountain College, Northland College, and Alaska Pacific College.

Antioch University faces a very busy year ahead with the work of the Antioch College Renewal Commission and a presidential search at Antioch College (subjects of separate pieces in this publication). The University Leadership Council will be moving forward on developing, implementing and monitoring strategic and tactical initiatives to create appropriate and satisfactory responses to the issues identified by the NCA as key items for the spring 2006 Focused Visit.

Beyond a cursory overview of the University’s activities, it is most important that Antiochians everywhere know that Antioch University’s mission and the dreams of Mann, Morgan and others remain abundantly evident – in the instructional enterprise, in the incredible expanse of experiential learning opportunities, in the institutional engagement with communities and regions, and in the service which is committed to improving the quality of the human condition in particularly difficult times. We can all be quite proud.