Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Accreditation
Info For:
Middle States Standards

Standard V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment

Co-Chair:

Christine Fiori, PhD: Department Head of Engineering Management Studies and the Program Director of the Construction Management Program, College of Engineering

Dr. Christine Fiori is the Department Head of Engineering Management Studies and the Program Director of the Construction Management Program at Drexel University where she teaches courses in Project Controls, Equipment Applications and Economics, and Strategic Management. Prior to joining the faculty at Drexel University, she served as the Preston and Catharine White Fellow and Associate Director of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech. She received her BS, MS and PhD in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Geotechnical Engineering from Drexel University in 1992, 1994 and 1997 respectively. She served as a Civil Engineering officer in the United States Air Force and taught at both the United States Air Force Academy and Arizona State University.

Her interest in ancient construction practices led to a National Science Foundation grant to explore the construction techniques of the Inca, specifically the Inca road throughout Peru. This research is part of a Smithsonian exhibit at the Museum of the Native American Indian through 2020. She was recognized as an Engineering News Record Top 25 Newsmakers of 2010 for her research on the Inca Road. Additionally, Dr. Fiori was featured on the Science Channel in an Episode of Strip the City pertaining to Machu Picchu. Dr. Fiori led the Construction Engineering and Management program and also facilitated the service learning programs for the Myers-Lawson School of Construction. She has led diverse groups of student teams to Vietnam, Kenya, Belize, Guatemala and Haiti to complete construction projects and community engagement programs. Currently her work is focused in Belize and Africa. She also serves as a Faculty Fellow for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, is a Bridges to Prosperity Construction Mentor, serves on the Board of Directors and as a mentor for the ACE Mentoring program of Southeastern Pennsylvania, was elected as the first Affiliate member of the Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia and is an instructor at the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. In her spare time she enjoys working with non-profits such as Peacework and Habitat for Humanity, traveling, bee-keeping and scuba diving.

Co-Chair:

Anne Converse Willkomm: Assistant Dean, Graduate College ; Assistant Clinical Professor and the Department Head of Graduate Studies, Goodwin College of Professional Studies

Anne Converse Willkomm is an Assistant Clinical Professor and the Department Head of Graduate Studies at Goodwin College. She oversees the revised in Professional Studies Program and the newly developed MS in Nonprofit Management: Public, Professional & Social Sectors Program. She chaired the Graduate Excellence Awards Committee, and co-chaired the Software Evaluation Committee and she serves on the Faculty Committee on Civic Engagement and the UCGA Graduate Affairs subcommittee. Prior Drexel, she served as a faculty member and the Program Director for the MA in Publishing at Rosemont College. Additionally, she has worked in banking and she has years of nonprofit experience. She her AB in psychology at Bowdoin College and her MFA in Creative Writing at Rosemont College. She maintains a weekly blog exploring relevant topics to working professionals and has presented on topics including assessment, communication, influencing others, empathy in the workplace, nonprofits.

Standard V Description

Assessment of student learning and achievement demonstrates that the institution’s students have accomplished educational goals consistent with their program of study, degree level, the institution’s mission, and appropriate expectations for institutions of higher education.

Standard V Criteria

Criteria

An accredited institution possesses and demonstrates the following attributes or activities:

1. clearly stated educational goals at the institution and degree/program levels, which are interrelated with one another, with relevant educational experiences, and with the institution’s mission;

2. organized and systematic assessments, conducted by faculty and/or appropriate professionals, evaluating the extent of student achievement of institutional and degree/program goals. Institutions should:

a. define meaningful curricular goals with defensible standards for evaluating whether students are achieving those goals;

b. articulate how they prepare students in a manner consistent with their mission for successful careers, meaningful lives, and, where appropriate, further education. They should collect and provide data on the extent to which they are meeting these goals;

c. support and sustain assessment of student achievement and communicate the results of this assessment to stakeholders;

3. consideration and use of assessment results for the improvement of educational effectiveness. Consistent with the institution’s mission, such uses include some combination of the following:

a. assisting students in improving their learning;

b. improving pedagogy and curriculum;

c. reviewing and revising academic programs and support services;

d. planning, conducting, and supporting a range of professional development activities;

e. planning and budgeting for the provision of academic programs and services;

f. informing appropriate constituents about the institution and its programs;

g. improving key indicators of student success, such as retention, graduation, transfer, and placement rates;

h. implementing other processes and procedures designed to improve educational programs and services;

4. if applicable, adequate and appropriate institutional review and approval of assessment services designed, delivered, or assessed by third-party providers; and

5. periodic assessment of the effectiveness of assessment processes utilized by the institution for the improvement of educational effectiveness.

Name Title Office/Department  Standard
Christine Fiori PhD Faculty Co-Chair College of Engineering  V 
Anne Willkomm Staff Co-Chair Graduate College V 
Kristen Betts EdD Clinical Professor School of Education V
Susan Blacher Assistant Clinical Professor College of Nursing and Health Professions V 
Carolyn Giordano PhD Assistant Dean for Assessment & Evaluation Drexel College of Medicine V
Jody Graff Associate Professor Westphal College of Media Arts & Design V
Karen Goldschmidt PhD Associate Clinical Professor/td> College of Nursing & Health Professions V
Pamela McGee Assistant Clinical Professor College of Nursing & Health Professions V 
Constance Lyttle PhD, JD Clinical Professor School of Education V 
Manny Sanchez Manager of Operations for Assessment and Accreditation Office of the Provost  V 
Marina Khazana UG Student n/a V
Steve Earth GR Student College of Computing & Informatics V