At the heart of accreditation is the Self-Study wherein we assess our performance against five MSA standards. The process will begin in May with surveys distributed to key stakeholder groups (students, parents, faculty, staff, trustees, and alumnae), along with the collection of other important data. In the fall, committees comprising representatives of our stakeholder groups will meet regularly to analyze this information through the lens of five standards:

  • Foundations (mission and values),

  • Governance and Organization,

  • Student Well-Being,

  • Resources (including funding and facilities), and

  • Teaching and Learning.

Through this work, committees will identify both areas of strength and opportunities for growth. Based on these committee findings, in late fall, our Planning Team will develop three to five major strategic objectives that will guide our next chapter.

The completed Self-Study will then be reviewed by the Board of Trustees and submitted to MSA. In the spring, an MSA Visiting Team will come to campus to meet with various stakeholder groups and to validate that our Self-Study reflects a shared and authentic vision for the future of Holy Names. The culmination of this process will be both our re-accreditation and a new, board-approved Strategic Plan.

At the same time, we will engage in a Charism Assessment conducted by Holy Names Educational Ministries (HNEM). This process will focus specifically on our fidelity to the charism and core values of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. A visiting team from HNEM will also join us in the spring of 2027. We are grateful MSA and HNEM are working collaboratively to ensure an efficient and meaningful process that honors both institutional excellence and our unique identity as a Holy Names school.

The Internal Coordinator for this process is Elissa Quinn, a member of our English faculty. Members of the Planning Team are:

  • Heather Bennett JD, PhD P ’14 P ’21,

  • Kristin Vivian P ’14 P ’17,

  • Rhianna Franchini Potocki ’14,

  • Reagan Schwartz,

  • Trisha McLean ’01, P ’31,

  • Wanjiku Waweru ’28, and

  • Jane Ladouceur ’79

We will share additional details and opportunities for involvement as the process unfolds.

We are excited to undertake this important work of collective self-reflection and strategic planning. This process invites the wisdom, insight, and energy of our entire community, and we look forward to shaping together a vision for the future that is both ambitious and faithful to who we are.

Thank you for your continued support of Academy of the Holy Names.

Sincerely,

Signature

Martin Kilbridge, EdD

President