Archives
Middle States evaluators to visit UB next week
By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor
A team of evaluators from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education will be on campus next week as UB enters the final leg of a two-year, institution-wide process to win reaccreditation.
UB could receive a final decision on accreditation in November.
UB submitted its final self-study report to Middle States on Aug. 26 and will host the team of evaluators Monday through Wednesday, says Beth Del Genio, assistant vice provost for academic affairs and staff coordinator for the accreditation process. While on campus, the team will meet with members of the university community, including President William R. Greiner, Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi, members of UB's Middle States Leadership Team and Steering Committee, senior administrators, deans, faculty, staff, students and alumni, "to gather information and perspectives as to how well UB is meeting its institutional goals," Del Genio says. Evaluators also will make an off-campus visit to Roswell Park Cancer Institute and will participate in a videoconference with representatives of the Singapore Institute of Management.
The university outlined its institutional goals and the progress it's made in reaching these goals in the self-study report, an extensive document that investigates, analyzes and assesses multiple aspects of the university by the Steering Committee and numerous subcommittees composed of faculty, staff and students. The report specifically addresses the university's institutional resources, institutional planning process, administrative and leadership effectiveness, admissions process, student support services, educational programming and assessment of student learning.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is the unit of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the Middle States region. Accreditation is crucial, UB administrators say, because it provides an affirmation that institutions are meeting basic academic standards.
Del Genio marvels at the progress UB has made since the university's last accreditation effort in 1993. "It has been amazing to review UB's transformation over the past 10 years, especially in the areas of technology, student services, research innovation, academic program offerings and undergraduate student selectivity," she says. "During the time since our last decennial review, UB has become a leading institution in regard to information technology—libraries and student support services—and research. Over the past few years, our entering freshman classes are comprised of students who are more and more prepared to succeed in a competitive college environment.
"Additionally, UB has witnessed a physical transformation," Del Genio notes. "Over the past five years, UB has moved from a "commuter" campus to a "residential" campus. As a result, UB is finding that students have become more successfully integrated into the university academic and social arenas."
Del Genio also praises the commitment of faculty in preparing the self-study report. "UB's faculty have been absolutely instrumental in this self-study process, and one of the most important outcomes of this process has been to witness our faculty's due diligence in this effort," she says. "Our faculty eagerly led this two-year effort of institutional examination and garnered additional support from professional staff and students to assist in this exhaustive project."
Kerry Grant, vice provost for academic affairs, dean of the graduate school and a member of the Leadership Team, also lauds the efforts of the university community in the reaccreditation process. "The opportunity to work with such a broad-based group of individuals around issues of importance to our campus has been deeply gratifying because of the diverse experiences and view points represented," Grant says. "This process has been a value to the institution, but also to all of us fortunate enough to participate."
Now that the self-study report has been submitted and the evaluation visit scheduled, what happens next?
Approximately two weeks after the evaluators' visit, a first draft of the evaluation team's chair's report to the Middle States commission will be completed and a copy sent to Greiner, Del Genio says. At that time, UB will have an opportunity to suggest changes to the report based upon the university's perceptions. Seven days after receipt of a corrected draft from UB, the chair of the evaluation team will send a final report to UB, which will have an opportunity to formally respond.
Middle States will consider UB's accreditation status at its November meeting, Del Genio adds.