2020 Bryant University NECHE_Self-Study Report_Final1

Level of postsecondary offering check all that apply Less than one year of work First professional degree At least one but less than two years Master’s and/or work beyond the first prof

Institutional Self-Study

Report Submitted to:

New England Commission

on Higher Education february 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Institutional Characteristics i

Organizational Charts viii

Introduction xxxiii

Institutional Overview xxxix

Standard One: Mission and Purposes 1

Standard Two: Planning and Evaluation 9

Standard Three: Organization and Governance 16

Standard Four: The Academic Program 23

Standard Five: Students 42

Standard Six: Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship 56

Standard Seven: Institutional Resources 66

Standard Eight: Educational Effectiveness 79

Standard Nine: Integrity, Transparency, and Public Disclosure 99 Appendices:

A: Affirmation of Compliance with Federal Requirements of Title IV A-1 B: E-3 Series Forms on Assessing Student Learning Outcomes B-1 C: Audited Financial Statements: 2018, 2019 C-1 D: Memo on Auditor’s Management Letters D-1 E: List of Supporting Documents in Team Workroom E-1

Institution Name: Bryant University

0

Budget / Plans

Contact Person: ? Carol DeMoranville

E-mail address cdemoran@bryant.edu

DATA FIRST FORMS GENERAL INFORMATION

Annual Audit

Revised April 2016

1 Corporate name of institution: Bryant University

2 Date institution was chartered or authorized: 1863

3 Date institution enrolled first students in degree programs: 1916 _

4 Date institution awarded first degrees: 1918

5 Type of control:

(Specify) _ Proprietary

Other: (Specify) _

6 By what agency is the institution legally authorized to provide a program of education beyond

high school, and what degrees is it authorized to grant? State of Rhode Island and Providence

7 Level of postsecondary offering (check all that apply)

Less than one year of work First professional degree

At least one but less than two years Master’s and/or work beyond the first

professional degree Diploma or certificate programs of Work beyond the master’s level

at least two but less than four years but not at the doctoral level

(e.g., Specialist in Education) Associate degree granting program A doctor of philosophy or

Four- or five-year baccalaureate Other doctoral programs _ degree granting program

Other (Specify)

ii

8 Type of undergraduate programs (check all that apply)

Occupational training at the Liberal arts and general

crafts/clerical level (certificate

or diploma)

Occupational training at the technical Teacher preparatory

or semi-professional level

(degree)

Two-year programs designed for Professional

full transfer to a baccalaureate

9 The calendar system at the institution is:

Semester Quarter Trimester Other

10 What constitutes the credit hour load for a full-time equivalent (FTE) student each semester?

a) Undergraduate 15 _ credit hours

b) Graduate _9 credit hours

c) Professional _ credit hours

11 Student population:

a) Degree-seeking students:

b) Number of students (headcount) in non-credit, short-term courses: _0

12 List all programs accredited by a nationally recognized, specialized accrediting agency

iii

13 Off-campus Locations List all instructional locations other than the main campus For each site,

indicate whether the location offers full-degree programs or 50% or more of one or more degree

programs Record the full-time equivalent enrollment (FTE) for the most recent year

Add more rows as needed

A In-state Locations

B Out-of-state Locations

14 International Locations: For each overseas instructional location, indicate the name of the program, the location, and the headcount of students enrolled for the most recent year An overseas instructional location is defined as “any overseas location of an institution, other than the main campus, at which the institution matriculates students to whom it offers any portion of a degree program or offers on-site instruction or instructional support for students enrolled in a predominantly or totally on-line program.”

Do not include study abroad locations

15 Degrees and certificates offered 50% or more electronically: For each degree or Title IV-eligible certificate, indicate the level (certificate, associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, professional, doctoral), the percentage of credits that may be completed on-line, and the FTE of matriculated students for the most recent year Enter more rows as needed

iv

*Program has 5 start terms per year and

first matriculated students in Jan 2019

16 Instruction offered through contractual relationships: For each contractual relationship through which instruction is offered for a Title IV-eligible degree or certificate, indicate the name of the contractor, the location of instruction, the program name, and degree or certificate, and the number of credits that may be completed through the contractual relationship Enter more rows as needed

Name of contractor Location Name of program Degree or certificate # of

credits N/A

17 List by name and title the chief administrative officers of the institution (Use the table on the following page.)

18 Supply a table of organization for the institution While the organization of any institution will depend

on its purpose, size and scope of operation, institutional organization usually includes four areas Although every institution may not have a major administrative division for these areas, the following outline may be helpful in charting and describing the overall administrative organization:

a) Organization of academic affairs, showing a line of responsibility to president for each department, school division, library, admissions office, and other units assigned to this area;

b) Organization of student affairs, including health services, student government, intercollegiate activities, and other units assigned to this area;

c) Organization of finances and business management, including plant operations and maintenance, non-academic personnel administration, IT, auxiliary enterprises, and other units assigned to this area;

d) Organization of institutional advancement, including fund development, public relations, alumni office and other units assigned to this area

19 Record briefly the central elements in the history of the institution:

Bryant University is a private, independent institution of higher education located on a 420‐acre campus in Smithfield, Rhode Island Ten miles from Providence and forty miles from Boston, Bryant is situated in a suburban setting with access to metropolitan centers of business, finance, and culture The history of Bryant University extends back to 1863, when two entrepreneurs, Henry Bryant and Henry Stratton,

v

founded a branch of the Bryant and Stratton National Business College in downtown Providence to serve the needs of returning Civil War veterans seeking preparation for business careers In 1916, the Rhode Island State Legislature empowered the College to grant degrees In 1966 Bryant was accredited by

NEASC (now NECHE) and became a four‐year institution In 1969, Bryant established its graduate school Bryant moved to the Tupper campus in Smithfield in 1971 In 1994, Bryant received accreditation from the AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business AACSB accreditation was reaffirmed in fall 2018 Bryant’s Carnegie classification status changed from “Business Specialty

School” to “Master’s Colleges and Universities I” category in 2002 On August 25, 2004, Bryant College became Bryant University and established two colleges – the College of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences In 2014 Bryant University instituted its first clinical program, a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and in 2015 opened its international branch campus in Zhuhai, China offering a Bachelor

of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and a minor in Economics Bryant started offering its first fully online degree program, the Professional Master of Business Administration, in January 2019 Click to view some of Bryant University’s historical highlights

vi

CHIEF INSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS

Executive Vice President N/A

Deans of Schools and Colleges Madan Annavarjula Dean, College of Business 2016

Bradford Martin Dean, College of Arts and

Sciences

2015

Business Affairs/Treasurer 2002 Chief Student Services Officer Inge-Lise Ameer Vice President for Student

Chief Information Officer Chuck LoCurto Vice President for

Information Services, CIO 2012

Development Center

2019

Enrollment Management

2015

University Relations

2014

vii

Alumni/Parent Engagement

2016

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Modern Languages, Mathematics Science/Technology

Academic Affairs - Student Success

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Academic Affairs - Graduate and Professional Education

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xvii

Business Affairs - Campus Management

Scon Gauthier Superintendent of Custodial Operations

- (2 00 shift-9 urtion) Michael Curran Shill Supervisor of

- Custodial Operations (3"' shift-8 union) Mel1Mam1

Asst Vice President of Facilities Operations VACANT

Bryant University Campus Management Organization Chart

November 2019

Vice President for Business Affairs/Treasurer Barry Morrison

James Lucia

- Assistant Facilities _ Locks & Keys Financial & Project Engineer - David (2) Carpenters

Leduc (7) Painters (2) Grounds Staff

Senior Project Manager I - Coordinator Tom Telford David Papitto

1

-(13 union) Supervisor of Trades VACANT r- Electricians

(4)

HVAC(6) Plumbers (2) Facilities and

Maintenance Coordinator Yolanda Andrews

Student Affairs Vlt:c Prt:sidcut for studcnr

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B ryant Unive rsity

"""''"du/2111• STUDENT AFFAIRS

University Advancement - University Relations

UNIVERSITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

JANUARY 2019

x

I JEFF STUPAKEVICH I

to lhll llP FOf

Ent-ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT DIVISION

Organizational Chart Michelle Cloutier Vice President for Enrollment Management

1

Brenda Doran Interim Director of Transfer Adm

Tabitha Marsden Assistant Director of Transfer Adm

Danle ) WySl.ejlel<

Director of

Director of Applications and COninJ.nleiltlon

of Financial Aid

Aimee O'COnnell Associate Director of

o

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Patricia Farhat Financial Aid

Ser<ar MnUsion Assi'IQI\ Senlar ADm Assi<:ant

F Ull TTIT10'-lOm<nU1s

l>/J c hele · llnobbcli ance COOrdinato<

Lynn Tarro Adrrission Assistant Fun TTmo (10 1r0nths)

Information Services - Applications Development

University Business Systems

Info r mation Services - IT Infrast r ucture

Infrastructure Services and

Security Operations

Service Desk(s) and

Print Services Campus Technology Services

Information Services - Class, Labs & AV

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Casey,

23

Information Services - Library

Assistant to Vice President and Associate

Director of US - Chi n a Institute

Assistant Director for

Business Programs

Assistant Director for International

Student and Scholar Services

Zhengxiang Wang

Academic coordinator

Xiang {AOa/Ti

Academic Director (Zhuhai)

shared with Brvant Zhuhai

Emily Collins Garcia

International Student Coordinator

Kun-Xie

Assistant Director of

Confucius Institute

Confucius Classroom Coordinator (Vacant)

Human Resources

x

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xxxiii

INTRODUCTION

Bryant University has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE, formerly NEASC) since 1966 Since its last Comprehensive Evaluation in 2010, the University has seen major changes as evidenced by its three Substantive Change Reports: the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in January 2014; the Bryant Zhuhai branch location in January 2015; and the

Professional MBA Online in March 2018 The Self-Study year preceding the 2020 Comprehensive Evaluation has given the institution an opportunity to reflect upon the progress of each of those changes

as well as examining the status and performance of its activities

Bryant University started its Self-Study Process in spring 2018 with the identification of co-chairs who would lead the institution through the self-reflection process and the development of the Self-Study Report The co-chairs, Dr Carol DeMoranville, Associate Provost and Dr Bradford Martin, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences consulted with the Provost and President in the selection of members for the nine Standard Teams who would examine the University’s processes for their assigned NECHE standard Each Team was chaired by a Vice-President and one member of each team was designated as the Data First Form Coordinator Four students also participated in the study and served on teams

Requests for participation were made in August, 2018 Supervisors were first notified about the

forthcoming request for their staff members’ participation to ensure that each member would have both the requisite institutional knowledge, and time to devote to the process over the AY2018-2019 Once supervisor approval was secured, requests for participation were sent and virtually all selectees agreed to participate A 21-person Steering Committee was also appointed and was comprised of the Chair of each Standard Committee plus selected personnel across campus with specific knowledge that would assist the process; for example, the Executive Assistant to the President, the Associate Vice President for University Relations, the Executive Director of Public Safety, and others A kick-off luncheon was held in

September for the 90 participants, which included employees across all University divisions with 13% minority and 44% female representation

Each participant was given a personalized binder containing the complete NECHE Standards, the NECHE Self-Study Guide, a list of all of the Self-Study Standard Teams and participants, a timeline for activities and deliverables, and a separate chapter for the assigned standard along with the standard’s Data First Forms Information Services set up a group site in Office 365 for each team where they could

communicate and share documents The co-chairs populated each group’s site with a set of documents including the areas of emphases from the 2015 Fifth-Year Interim Report and three Substantive Change Reports, the 2010 Self-Study Report and the 2015 Fifth-Year Interim Report, and all of the documents included in each participant’s binder

The co-chairs attended the first meetings of each Standard Team and were available for additional

meeting as requested The Steering Committee met monthly during fall 2018 and twice during spring

2019 Dr Carol Anderson, Associate Vice-President of NECHE, was invited to speak at the March 27th

Steering Committee meeting to provide guidance for developing the Self-Study Report

Each team was asked to identify and describe Bryant’s processes and status regarding the elements of their assigned standard and then reflect upon how the institution is performing for the standard, noting areas of particular excellence as well as those where we could improve The team deliverable, due March

The Self-Study Report addresses NECHE’s areas of emphases summarized here:

From Fifth-Year Interim Report

1 achieving enrollment goals at the undergraduate and graduate levels – highlighted in StandardsFour (26, 33, 38) and Five (43-45);

2 achieving goals to diversify the student body, faculty, and staff – discussed in Standards Three(12-13), Five (44), and Six (57);

3 assessing effectiveness of changes to the graduate programs – presented in Standard Four 35);

(31-4 implementing its strategic plan and ensuring the institution’s financial stability – discussed inStandards Two (10-14) and Seven (69-74, 76-78)

From Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

1 ensuring adequate levels of personnel for preparation of national certification – ARC-PA

Continuing Accreditation was achieved in 2019 Also described in Chapter Six (56, 57, 59);

2 ensuring adequate faculty and staff for recruitment and maintenance of clinical sites – discussed

in Chapter Four (57, 59)

From Bryant Zhuhai branch campus

1 focus on delivery and assessment of general education objectives – Chapter Eight (82, 90-91)contains description of development and implementation of assessment processes in Bryant Zhuhai;

2 ensure consistency with Smithfield practices, particularly in the areas of faculty development andevaluation – employment policies discussed in Chapter Seven (67);

3 find ways to foster the spirit of free inquiry while respecting local laws and customs – academicfreedom presented in Chapter Six (62) also applies to Bryant Zhuhai faculty;

4 budget and planning activities ensure adequate instructional and academic support resources toachieve stated educational goals – Chapter Three (20)

From Professional MBA Online

1 achieving enrollment and financial goals for the online MBA program – Chapter Four (33,34);

2 assuring the sufficiency of qualified faculty to support the program – Chapter Four (32);

3 implementing plans to assess student learning in the program – Chapter Eight (81, 90)

xxxv

With NECHE’s approval, the Self-Study Report narrative slightly exceeds the 100-page limit because of additional focus on the above three Substantive Changes Each is addressed with specific sections in Chapters Four and Eight, with other narrative incorporated into the report, particularly in Chapters Five and Seven

Bryant University is pleased to submit this Self-Study Report which describes a strong institution of higher education with a collegial community focused on the success of its students

xxxvi

Bryant University 2018-2019 Self-Study:

Standards Review Teams

Standard 1: Mission and Purpose

Mr Tim Paige, Chair

Standard 4: Academic Program

Mr Glenn Sulmasy, Chair

Standard 6: Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship

Dr Hong Yang, Chair

Mr Barry Morrison, Chair

Mr Chuck LoCurto, Chair