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NECHE Accreditation Process Overview

The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) is one of seven regional higher education accrediting bodies in the United States. Tufts is evaluated by and achieves accreditation from NECHE once every ten years. Our next year for evaluation is 2023. Prior to the formal evaluation visit, a year-long institutional self-study process takes place to demonstrate to NECHE that Tufts University meets its nine Standards of Accreditation, which span all aspects of university life, governance, and mission.

For the past two years, Tufts has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing NECHE’s nine Standards for Accreditation. The self-study was submitted to NECHE in January 2023, and the onsite visit is confirmed for March 12-15, 2023.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution to:
Public Comment on Tufts University
New England Commission of Higher Education3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100Burlington, MA 01803-4514
E-mail: info@neche.org
Public Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution. The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Comments will not be treated as confidential and must include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments.
Public Comments must be received by March 15, 2023. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered.

Timeline

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FALL 2021
SPRING 2021
FALL 2022
SPRING 2023
September
Kick-off
Meeting
September Self-Study Posted for Public Feedback
November Self-Study to NECHE
Site Visit
March 12-15
Working Groups Meet
Steering Committee Reviews Standards
Public Comment

Steering Committee

 

Dawn Geronimo Terkla, Associate Provost
Co-Chair, Steering Committee & Standard 1

As associate provost, Dr. Terkla oversees the Office of Institutional Research (OIR) and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, serves as the university’s MEL team leader for the USAID funded STOP Spillover Project, and provides guidance across the university on issues relating to institutional research, outcomes assessment, and evaluation. Dr. Terkla is the university accreditation liaison officer to the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). In addition, she participates in school-level accreditations, providing support as needed.

Marty Ray

 

Marty Ray, Chief of Staff, Office of the President
Co-Chair, Steering Committee & Standard 1

Marty Ray serves as chief of staff in the office of the president and as assistant secretary of the corporation at Tufts University. In his role, he directs the operations of the president’s office while advising the president on policy, procedural and operational issues. He facilitates matters within the senior leadership team, coordinates strategic initiatives, represents the president on university-wide committees, engages with a broad array of university constituents, and manages special projects.

Melissa Stevenson

 

Melissa Stevenson, Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs, Office of the Provost
Provost's Office Representative

Melissa Stevenson is the assistant provost for faculty affairs in the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty. In this role she oversees the university-level academic approvals process and participates in the review and development of programs and policies that impact academic and faculty affairs. She collaborates closely with dean’s offices, faculty affairs offices, donor relations staff and the trustees office to ensure that school-based and university faculty affairs processes are in alignment. In addition, she is the lead administrator for the trustees academic affairs committee and is a key member of the administrative team supporting the university’s program development (PDAC) process.

 

Jessica Sears, Project Administrator, Office of the Provost
Project Manager

Jessica Sears serves as the accreditation administrator in the office of the provost. In her role, she manages the university’s reaccreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education. She supports and advises the chairs of the steering committee and the nine working group chairs; coordinates and disseminates information to all individuals involved with the accreditation process, both internally and externally; reviews the self-study; and manages the site visit.

 

Tom Malone, Executive Associate Dean, School of Medicine
Chair, Standard 2

As the executive associate dean, Tom Malone serves as chief financial officer and chief operating officer for Tufts University School of Medicine, as well as the school's lead administrative representative on all university-wide matters. In his role, he is leading the implementation of the medical school's new strategic plan and developing the financial plan to ensure investments are made to ensure the plan's success. Tom also focuses on income-generating initiatives for the school as well as program development with an emphasis on launching degree programs in new regions of the country.

Paul Tringale

 

Paul Tringale, Secretary of the Corporation
Chair, Standard 3

Paul Tringale, A82, F01, has had a long and distinguished association with Tufts since his days as a student. He first worked at dining services and then moved to the conference bureau where he became director in 1994. Between 1999 and 2009, Paul served as director of conferences and summer programs and became the director of the all-university commencement activities in 2000. During that time, he took on special assignments as interim registrar, as well as interim director of student activities. Paul became secretary of the corporation in 2009.

 

Dan Jay, Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Science
Chair, Standard 4

Dan Jay is the dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and professor of Developmental, Molecular & Chemical Biology at the School of Medicine. His research has focused on identifying proteins on cancer cells that are important in invasion of neighboring tissue, which could lead to the development of anti-metastasis drugs. He has published more than 80 papers and mentored more than 60 graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and undergraduates in his lab, which he has continued to do as the school’s dean. Jay is also an adjunct professor of drawing and painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts.

 

Camille Lizarríbar, Dean of Student Affairs, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering
Co-Chair, Standard 5

Dean of Student Affairs and Chief Student Officer, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering Camille Lizarríbar leads student-centered initiatives and oversees student affairs at the School of Arts and Sciences (including the School of the Museum of Fine Arts) and the School of Engineering. Before coming to Tufts, she served as the dean of student affairs and senior associate dean at Yale College. While at Yale, she also served as a lecturer in the Humanities. She has extensive administrative, teaching, advising, and legal, and experience.

 

Kevin Kraft, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, School of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering
Co-Chair, Standard 5

As Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Kevin helps students create community and build a culture at Tufts that values accountability, holistic wellness, and personal growth.   Kevin supervises the Offices of Community Standards, Alcohol and Other Drug Education, and Health Promotion. These teams work together to enhance the personal wellbeing of undergraduate and graduate students and facilitate their development by providing preventative education and facilitating learning when challenges occur.  Kevin also leads a variety of cross-functional initiatives and interdisciplinary collaborations to improve the overall student experience at Tufts.

Kevin has extensive experience in residence life, community standards, crisis management, and student affairs leadership.  Kevin’s research and writing have focused on civic engagement in higher education and free speech at colleges and universities.

 

Kris Manjapra, Chair, Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora, School of Arts & Sciences
Co-Chair, Standard 6

A Tufts faculty member since 2008, Kris Manjapra studies global, transnational, and comparative history. He is professor of History, and the chair of the Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora. The author of five books, he has held fellowships from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study, and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, and The Leverhulme Trust. In 2017, he received the Lillian and Joseph Leibner Award for Excellence in Teaching and Advising of Students at Tufts.

 

Nirupa Matthan, Associate Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Co-Chair, Standard 6

Nirupa Matthan joined the Tufts community in 2000. She is currently a Scientist I in the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging and an Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She conducts translational research aimed at bridging the gap between basic, clinical and population science in the field of diet and cardiovascular health, with specific emphasis on biomarkers of diet quality, endogenous metabolism and lipidomics. She has over 90 peer-reviewed publications and provides academic mentoring to graduate and postgraduate scholars. Between 2017 to 2022, she served as a Faculty Senator, chaired the Research and Scholarship Standing Committee and was elected to the Executive Council of the Tufts University wide senate. She has been part of several DEI working groups at Tufts including Administrative Structures and Policies, Council of Diversity, and more recently the Compositional Diversity workstream. She has an active research portfolio, presents at scientific conferences/workshops and has several professional affiliations.

 

Lisa Halpert, Senior Director of Finance and Planning
Chair, Standard 7

Lisa Halpert, senior director of finance and planning at Tufts University is responsible for indirect cost recovery and fringe benefit rate negotiations with the federal government and service center costing oversight.  Lisa designed and manages Tufts’ long range strategic planning model, used by senior executives and trustees for strategic decision making, and provides financial analyses of initiatives and opportunities on a school and university level.

 

Heather Nathans, Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion
Chair, Standard 8

A former Jumbo who earned her doctorate in theatre studies, Heather Nathans's scholarly interests include representations of race, gender, and ethnicity on the U.S. American stage, African American theatre, Jewish American theatre, musical theatre, 18th century French theatre, theatre historiography, and directing. She is also the editor of the Studies in Theatre History and Culture series from the University of Iowa Press.

 

Mike Rodman, Vice President, University Communications and Marketing
Chair, Standard 9

In his current role, Mike Rodman oversees the university’s media relations, editorial, marketing, and communications efforts. His team is responsible for raising the profile of Tufts and its schools, enhancing alumni engagement and loyalty, and cultivating prospective students. Prior to joining Tufts in 2018, Mike served as the assistant dean for communications and marketing at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Previously, Michael served as assistant director of communications at Harvard Law School and as a speechwriter/researcher for U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer in the Committee on House Administration.

 

Christina Butler, Director, Office of Institutional Research
Chair, Data First Forms

Christina Butler currently serves as the director of the office of institutional research. Since joining the office in 2010, Christina has assumed several roles including research analyst, business analyst and assistant director. Throughout her time at Tufts, she has managed several large-scale projects to aid in strategic decision making across the university. Christina is active in the institutional research profession, serving on committees, presenting at conferences, and leading workshops.

 

Mike Howard, Executive Vice President
Member

As chief administrative officer of the university, Mike Howard is responsible for oversight and coordination of core administrative functions including Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Operations, Audit & Management Advisory Services, Strategy & Program Development, Sustainability and Investment Office Administration. 

Prior to joining Tufts, Mike was the executive vice president for finance and administration at Smith College where he led the development of several financial sustainability initiatives, led efforts to improve information technology, built Smith’s response to climate change and increased the college’s commitment to impact investing for its endowment. Mike also served as vice president of finance at MIT, managing an operating budget of more than $3 billion. 

Standard Working Group Members

Standard 1: Mission & Purposes

  • Christina Butler, Director, Office of Institutional Research
  • Bill Gehling, Executive Director, Alumni Relations
  • Mary Jeka, SVP, University Relations & General Counsel
  • Rob Mack, Chief Diversity Officer & Associate Provost
  • Marty Ray, Chief of Staff - Co-Chair
  • Dawn Geronimo Terkla, Associate Provost - Co-Chair
  • Ancy Verdier, Trustee

 

Standard 2: Planning & Evaluation

  • Christina Butler, Director, Office of Institutional Research
  • Mark Damian, Director, Service Planning & Project Management , Tufts Technology Services
  • Kevin Dunn, Vice Provost for Faculty
  • Katelyn Gosselin, Director of Campus Planning, Operations
  • Tom Malone, Executive Vice Dean, Strategy & Operations, School of Medicine - Chair
  • Karen Mulder, Executive Director, Strategy and Program Development, Office of the Executive Vice President
  • Elena Naumova, Professor, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy
  • Denny Paredes, Director of Admissions & Strategic Planning, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering
  • Diane Ryan, Associate Dean, Tisch College
  • Jim Sarazen, Executive Administrative Dean, School of Engineering

 

Standard 3: Organization & Governance

  • Maribel Blanco, Executive Administrative Dean, Fletcher School
  • Betsy Busch, Trustee
  • Chris Helmuth, Executive Administrative Dean, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Linden Hu, Vice Dean of Research, School of Medicine
  • Eric Johnson, Senior Vice President, University Advancement
  • Kathleen McGreal, Senior Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Research
  • Lynne Pepall, Professor, Schools of Arts & Sciences
  • Melissa Stevenson, Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs, Office of the Provost
  • Jeff Taliaferro, Professor, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Paul Tringale, Secretary of the Corporation - Chair

 

Standard 4: The Academic Program

  • Jessica Bates, Associate Dean, University College
  • Lauren Conoscenti, Assistant Director, Office of Institutional Research
  • Chris Economos, Dean, Friedman School
  • Dan Jay, Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Science - Chair
  • Ian Johnstone, Professor, Fletcher School
  • Dana Grossman Leeman, Senior Associate Director, Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT)
  • Carmen Lowe, Dean of Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Anne Mahoney, Senior Lecturer, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Aviva Must, Dean of Public Health and Professional Degree Programs, School of Medicine
  • Karen Panetta, Dean of Graduate Education, School of Engineering
  • Aruna Ramesh, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Dental Medicine
  • Beth Storrs, Director Enrollment Services, Graduate School of Biomedical Science
  • Sam Thomas, Academic Dean, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Janet Walton, Assistant Dean of Public Health & Professional Degree Programs, School of Medicine
  • Roxana Woudstra, Director of Graduate Admissions, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
  • Chantal Zakari, Professor, School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA)

 

Standard 5: Students

  • Kirsten Behling, Associate Dean, Student Accessibility & Academic Resources (StAAAR) Center
  • Laura DaRos, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, SMFA
  • JT Duck, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions & Enrollment Management, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering
  • Joe Golia, Director, Office for Campus Life, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering
  • Janice Gilkes, Assistant Dean of Student Services, Public Health, and Professional Degree Programs, School of Medicine
  • Matt Hast, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Friedman School
  • Rebecca Hatch, Senior Research Analysis, Office of Institutional Research
  • Kevin Kraft, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering
  • Camille Lizarríbar, Dean of Student Affairs, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering - Chair
  • Abigail Lemons, Student, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  • John Morris, Director, Athletics
  • Katie Mulroy, Director of Student Affairs, Fletcher School
  • Rebecca Neary, Trustee
  • Aaron Parayno, Director, Asian American Center, Division of Students for Diversity & Inclusion
  • S. Rae Peoples, Associate Director, Diversity and Inclusion Education
  • João Pedro Ribeiro, Student, School of Arts and Sciences
  • Katherine Vosker, Accommodations Manager and 504 Officer, Office of Equal Opportunity
  • Elyse Nelson Winger, University Chaplain

 

Standard 6: Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship

  • Christina Butler, Director, Office of Institutional Research
  • Maria Blanco, Associate Dean of Faculty Development, School of Medicine
  • Bhaskar Chakravorti, Senior Associate Dean, Fletcher School
  • Jackie Dejean, Associate Dean of Research & Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
  • Felipe Dias, Assistant Professor, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Ryan Evans, Service Designer
  • Ioannis Evrigenis, Professor, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Jennifer Ferguson, Head of User Experience & Student Success, Tisch Library
  • Colin Gerrity, Service Designer
  • Natalie Jeong, Associate Professor, School of Dental Medicine
  • Melissa Kelly, Director of Faculty Affairs and Academic Labor Relations Officer, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering
  • Kris Manjapra, Chair, Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora, School of Arts & Sciences - Co-Chair 
  • Nirupa Matthan, Assistant Professor, Friedman School - Co-Chair
  • Shameka Powell, Assistant Professor, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering
  • David Proctor, Senior Lecturer, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Andrew Ramsburg, Associate Professor, School of Engineering
  • Chris Rogers, Professor, School of Engineering
  • Chris Schonhoff, Assistant Professor, Cummings School
  • Annie Soisson, Director, CELT
  • Jennifer Stephan, Dean of Academic Advising & Undergraduate Studies, School of Engineering
  • Melissa Stevenson, Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs, Provost's Office
  • Thomas Stopka, Associate Professor, School of Medicine
  • Erin Sullivan, Secretary of the Faculty, School of Arts & Sciences

 

Standard 7: Institutional Resources

  • Paul Bergen, Director of Educational Technology & Learning Spaces, Tufts Technology Services
  • Lynne Freeman, Program Administrator, Office of Institutional Research
  • Rob Gheewalla, Trustee
  • Donna Golemme, Executive Director of Operations
  • Lisa Halpert, Senior Director Finance and Planning - Chair
  • Josh Hartman, Sr. Director of Residential Life, Schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering
  • Ashley Hicks, Regulatory Director, Office of the Vice Provost for Research
  • Laurie Hurley, Associate Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Fletcher School
  • Sara Judge, VP of Development, University Advancement
  • Lorna Koppel, Director of Information Security, Tufts Technology Services
  • Mary Anne McInnis, Director of Learning & Development, Human Resources
  • Dorothy Meaney, Director of Tisch Library
  • Cory Pouliot, Senior Facilities Director, Operations
  • Yolanda Smith, Executive Director Public Safety

 

Standard 8: Educational Effectiveness

  • Joe Auner, Dean, University College
  • Steve Babbin, Senior Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Research
  • Kate Beckett, Graduate Program Manager, Cummings School
  • Wayne Chudyk, Associate Professor, School of Engineering
  • Sarah Herchel, Associate Dean, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
  • Nicole Holland, Assistant Professor, Public Health & Community Service, School of Dental Medicine
  • Rebecca Lufler, Associate Professor, School of Medicine
  • Kelly McAllester, Administrative Assistant, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Heather Nathans, Professor of Judaic Studies, School of Arts & Sciences - Chair
  • Tasha Oren, Associate Professor, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Ryan Rideau, Associate Director, CELT
  • Ed Saltzman, Academic Dean, Friedman School
  • Jared Smith, Associate Director of Student Success, FIRST Resource Center
  • Rob Tedesco, Associate Director, Fletcher School
  • Dan Volchok, Academic Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

 

Standard 9: Integrity, Transparency, and Public Disclosure

  • Jean Ayers, Chief Marketing Officer, University Communications and Marketing
  • Akiyo Fujii, Deputy General Counsel
  • Heather Gipson-Cosier, Associate Vice Provost for Research Compliance
  • Mark Gonthier, Executive Administrative Dean, School of Dental Medicine
  • Kerri Greenidge, Assistant Professor, School of Arts & Sciences
  • Jonathan Kaplan, Director, Board of Advisors
  • Beth Knauss, Information Security Compliance Program Manager
  • Emily Look, Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Research
  • Mary McCauley, Director of Public Safety
  • Rebecca Ping, Director of Emergency Management
  • Patty Reilly, Director of Financial Aid
  • Mike Rodman, Vice President, University Communications and Marketing - Chair
  • Jacklyn Varela, Deputy Chief of Staff, President's Office
  • Flo Tseng, Associate Dean, Cummings School