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Priority IX -- Objective 39.1: Produce an evaluative summary based upon reflection during a planning retreat about the quality of life experienced by all employees. Objective 39.2: Conduct an annual evaluation of institutional leadership with input from faculty, staff and campus and off-campus students. The "climate analysis" that was discussed in the previous article could be designed to cover objectives 10.3, 39.1, and 39.2 quite successfully. The Governance Documents and NEAS Accreditation The above documents are some of the plans that Goddard is held to for keeping its accreditation. These documents make numerous references to democratic practices and structures that are to be adhered to and built upon. If we are not in a sound financial grounding as an institution that may threaten accreditation. If we do not adhere to and are inconsistent with the democratic practices that we set up for ourselves that may also threaten accreditation.
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As president it is Dick's responsibility to make sure that the college is not in danger of losing
its accreditation. Since it appears there is not an "objective" methodology to determine if the
institution is implementing the democratic values mentioned above how can the possible loss of
accreditation be avoided? In addition, there has not been any sort of systematic methodology
implemented that would determine how democratic and progressive an institution Goddard really is.
Comparing Goddard to Hampshire College (or other `progressive" institutions) does not qualify as
an objective, systematic, or complete methodology to determine what Goddard needs to improve upon.
The creation of evaluative tools and methodologies that would gauge Goddard's ability to being
"truly" democratic is a necessary step in the right direction. The information gathered through
such a process and shared with the community in open forums would strengthen Goddard's actualization
of participatory democracy. Such a process would place Goddard firmly at the "leading edge" of
progressive education.
In Solidarity, |
