Navigating the crossroads of higher education requires a commitment to quality assurance to achieve excellence in policy, practice, and professional development.

Kathryn Dodge applies education and experience to support success.

Policy 

"Practitioners who understand and anticipate the implications of policy are well positioned to innovate. "

Understand current policy issues. Kathryn has been active as co-founder, contributor and commissioner.

Education Commission of the States

"… created by states, for states, in 1965. We track state policy trends, translate academic research, provide unbiased advice and create opportunities for state leaders to learn from one another."

Governors of New Hampshire have reappointed Kathryn Dodge as a Commissioner to four-year terms since 2011.

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements 

"...an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts."

Kathryn Dodge served as a founding board member of NC-SARA through 2020.  She was on the U.S. Department of Education negotiated rules panel for Program Integrity in 2008 that informed development of the initiative.

Radio Higher Ed - scholars’ repository at the University of New Hampshire.

"... a podcast series designed to inform and challenge listeners to consider higher education policy issues and their implications."

Kathryn Dodge co-founded Radio Higher Ed (RHE) with colleagues Alison Griffin and Elise Scanlon. Their first podcast was in November of 2011 and the 60th podcast was broadcast in 2018.

In 2018 we realized that, after pioneering the podcast world for higher education, it was time to re-imagine the future.  In addition to having learned quite a bit about higher education policy and implications of such, we have also learned quite a bit about podcasting.  In an effort to respond to an inquiry, we realized that such learning may be valuable to individuals and organizations.  Consider us a ready resource to apply our learning in an advisory and/or production capacity. 

All podcasts are available at the scholars’ repository at the University of New Hampshire.

Practice

"Good-intentions translate to success when people and organizations are well equipped."

Expand capacity for quality. Through integration of experience as a public member in accreditation, instructor at the graduate degree level, consultant and coach, strategic, systemic and sustainable perspectives are available.

Accreditation

Collaboration with Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

In summer 2022, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), working with higher education consultant Kathryn Dodge, fielded a survey to determine how public members are chosen, trained, and utilized by institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations in the United States. The objective of the survey was to advance understanding of the recruitment, orientation, and value of public members in accreditation.

The survey was sent to the accrediting organizations recognized by CHEA, U.S. Department of Education or both. The results of the survey were confidential. A total of 25 of the 85 accreditors responded.

This article (https://www.chea.org/public-member-survey) is a summary of findings from the survey responses. While this is not comprehensive, it provides an overarching sense of current practice regarding recruitment, orientation, and the value of public members in postsecondary education accreditation within recognized accrediting organizations in the United States.

Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
ACCSC Public Commissioner July, 2017 - present
Program Review Committee member 2015-2017.
Vice Chair 2019

ACCSC’s scope of recognition with the U.S. Department of Education includes the accreditation of postsecondary, non-degree-granting institutions and degree-granting institutions, including those granting associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees, that are predominantly organized to educate students for occupational, trade and technical careers, and including institutions that offer programs via distance education.

Commission of Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE).
CAPTE Public member 2015-2022.

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is an accrediting agency that is nationally recognized by the US Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CAPTE grants specialized accreditation status to qualified entry-level education programs for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.

Classroom

Adjunct faculty member at New England College in the Ed.D Education program since Spring, 2013.

Adjunct Professor at the University of New Hampshire teaching in the Ph.D. program in Education 2014-2019.

Coaching/Consulting

Kathryn provides customized solutions that expand institutional and individual capacity to anticipate and innovate. 

Individual/Coaching:

"In working with Kathryn, I was struck by the generous focus she maintained—on me, my needs, and goals as I transitioned back to the faculty after 27 years as Dean and Provost. Coupled with the respect she demonstrated for my values and her patience for my uncertainties, Kathryn delivered exactly what was needed." -- Anna DiStefano, Fielding Graduate University.

Institutional/Consulting:

“Our capacity to self-reflect and regulate institutional practices is significantly enhanced as a result of engagement with Kathryn. The process is enlightening and extremely helpful for improving overall transparency and infrastructure.”  -Gabriella Ganugi, President,  University of the Arts - American University of Florence.  

As acting CEO of Marian Court College crafted the closing process to identify necessary administrative steps and to address the needs of former students.

The American University of Madaba, accredited in May 2011 by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Jordan and authorized to grant degrees by the State of New Hampshire in May of 2013, evolves to embrace the cultural and operational ideals of American higher education.

Professional Development

"We find our voice and our way, in community."

Challenges considered in context with a small group of colleagues become opportunities for innovation. Kathryn founded leadership groups that enable participants to reflect and explore in ways that increase their capacity for creative leadership.

Enrollment Leadership Colloquia

– Senior Enrollment officers consider: pricing pressures, the role of relationships in the context of institutional objectives, how to build teams, and aligning passion with excellence in the profession.

Academic Leadership Colloquia

– Chief academic officers consider emerging faculty roles in the context of a shared governance model, leadership/management in the context of presidential shifts, implications of national policy development, and blurring divisional lines to accomplish academic and organizational objectives. This project is currently on pause.

Bio

Kathryn G. Dodge Ph.D.
Founder and Principal
Dodge Advisory Group, LLC

Kathryn Dodge is founder of Dodge Advisory Group, LLC, focused on quality assurance to achieve excellence in policy and practice in Higher Education.  A decade as a State Higher Education Executive Officer in New Hampshire and over 13 years at Keene State College, a public liberal arts college, inform engagement with systemic, strategic, and sustainable, initiatives.

In addition to serving as a public commissioner on Commission for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and Accreditation Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), she was on the founding board of National Council – State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA).  Dodge works with institutions domestically and globally on efforts aimed at strengthening capacity for institutional effectiveness through a commitment to quality assurance and student success.

Dodge founded and facilitates affiliation groups in New England and has taught policy and leadership in doctoral programs at University of NH and New England College since 2013. She also co-founded Radio Higher Ed, a national podcast that provided information and commentary on education policy issues and their broader implications.

Dodge earned a B.A. in biblical literature, M.A.s in organizational development and student guidance and counseling, and a Ph.D. in human and organization systems from Fielding Graduate University with a dissertation focused on the organizational entry process for new college presidents.