All faculty and staff members are encouraged to be on campus Monday, Feb. 12, through Wednesday, Feb. 14, to welcome the team that will evaluate Wayne State University for reaccreditation.
Ten NCA reviewers from The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools will visit campus to interview faculty, staff, students and community members and look for evidence that Wayne State meets the association's five criteria for reaccreditation.
The NCA is one of the six regional agencies that accredit United States colleges and universities at the institutional level. Accreditation provides assurance to the public and to prospective students that an institution meets the NCA's standards of quality.
The NCA has accredited Wayne State since 1915. Accreditation reviews are conducted every 10 years. Wayne State's last review was in 1997.
The five criteria for reaccreditation are below:
• Mission and Integrity
• Preparing for the Future
• Student Learning and Effective Teaching
• Acquisition, Discovery and Application of Knowledge
• Engagement and Service
A Self-Study Report for the evaluation team addresses how Wayne State meets the five criteria. Faculty and staff members are to review the report at www.ncareport.wayne.edu or the Executive Summary at http://www.ncareport.wayne.edu/summary.php.
In preparation for February's site visit, units also should make sure their Web site links are working and that references to personnel are current. The site team will follow a schedule, so faculty and staff members will know where and when they need to be available, says Paula Wood, dean, College of Education, and co-chair, NCA Reaccreditation Self-Study team.
"The NCA reviews an institution in its entirety, says President Irvin D. Reid. Each office and each function will be examined for effectiveness, so it is important for all employees to be available during the visit. Preparation for the site visit should include reviewing the Self-Study Report at www.ncareport.wayne.edu."
In fall 2004, Reid and Provost Nancy Barrett appointed Wood and Sandra Yee, dean, University Library System, as co-chairs of the NCA Reaccreditation Self-Study team. Hilary Ratner, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School and International Programs, was appointed to the reaccreditation team as liaison for the Office of the Provost. Wood and Yee established a broad-based steering committee of 40 members who began meeting in January 2005 to conduct the self-study and prepare for the February site visit.
The Steering Committee met monthly, except during summer, from January 2005 through June 2006. Subcommittees were organized around the NCA's five criteria. Committee members are listed in the Self-Study Report and the Executive Summary.
-- From Life@Wayne