Dear colleagues, 

I would like to thank the department heads and faculty of the College of Engineering (all programs), the College of Arts & Sciences (Music, Physics, and Engineering Physics), and the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (Communication Disorders) for the dedication and hard work demonstrated throughout the recent accreditation processes these past few weeks. 

Assessment and accreditation are deeply interwoven processes that play a crucial role in driving our institution's effectiveness. Assessment enables us to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of our academic programs, services, and administrative functions, ensuring alignment with our goals. This process identifies strengths and areas for improvement, forming a foundation for data-informed decisions. Accreditation is an external evaluation, which requires evidence of continuous improvement to maintain quality of our programs. It serves as both a motivator and benchmark, driving strong assessment practices aligned with accepted standards. 

Together these intertwined processes from the foundation of our institutional effectiveness framework, administered by our Office of Institutional Effectiveness team. I am excited to welcome Dr. Cecilia Hernandez, the newly appointed Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, to the OIE team and Provost's Office. A college professor of science and teacher education and clinical director of alternative licensure at NMSU, Dr. Hernandez bring extensive leadership experience in program planning and accreditation. Her background includes Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation report preparation, quality assurance, and system-wide quality improvement, positioning her well to oversee institution-wide accreditation efforts. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Hernandez as she takes up this new role, effective November 1. 

I would like to to acknowledge the dedicated support of the continuing staff in OIE: Ms. Carley Casey, who manages Institutional Effectiveness logistics, websites and conference operations, supporting accreditation and key committees; Ms. Kerry Forsythe, who provides data and project support for program reviews, assessment, and accreditation; and Ms. Laura Grant, who administers Watermark Faculty Success for over 1,700 users and coordinates HLC accreditation evidence. 

I would also like to thank the team of Faculty Fellows – Prof. Bárbara Gamillo, Dr. Sarah Daughtrey, and Dr. Ryan Goss – for their invaluable contributions during the vacancy of the APIE position. Prof. Gamillo has worked with NMSU leadership and OIE to improve processes and ensure HLC compliance. Dr. Daughtrey has led program assessment, implementing new reporting on Canvas. Dr. Goss has advanced the general education program to meet state and institutional standards. Their contributions have kept key initiatives on track. before leaving OIE, they will onboard Dr. Hernandez and ensure a smooth transition and continuity in our work. 

We are excited about the framework we have established for our assessment and accreditation activities. With full cooperation from academic units, IT, and data support from the Office of Institutional Analysis, we are working together as one team. We are NMSU. 

Lakshmi N. Reddi
Interim Provost
New Mexico State University