Public Input Requested for Colorado State University’s Continuing Accreditation Evaluation

Colorado State University will undergo a comprehensive accreditation evaluation visit Feb. 23-25, 2004, by the Higher Learning Commission, the agency responsible for providing institutional accreditation throughout the North-Central region of the United States. The public is invited to submit comments to the HLC regarding Colorado State’s qualifications and merit for continuing accreditation.

For the past 18 months, Colorado State has been actively engaged in a detailed process of self-study, addressing the commission’s requirements and criteria for accreditation. Incorporating feedback and comments from university administration, faculty, students and staff, a self-study committee has created a 430-page self-study accreditation report. The final self-study report is available for public review on the university’s Advancing the Quality of Learning Web site at www.accreditation.colostate.edu. The site also details the accreditation process, goals, timelines, university committees involved, information about the HLC site visit and other background information.

An HLC-appointed team of educators will visit the Colorado State campus to assess and evaluate all aspects of the university. The team will gather evidence to ensure that the self-study is thorough and accurate and will recommend to the HLC a continuing accreditation status for the university. Following a review process, the commission will make a final decision.

Typically, the accreditation team meets with the president, provost, vice presidents, deans, directors and the self-study committee. Team members also visit administrative, collegiate, department and support units. Faculty, staff and students will be invited to participate in the site visit by meeting in an open forum with evaluation team members.

The public is also welcome to mail comments to the HLC at the following address:

Public Comment on Colorado State University

Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400

Chicago, IL 60602

Written, signed comments must be received by HLC no later than Jan. 20, 2004. Comments should include the name, address and telephone number of the person providing the information. All acceptable comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Submitted comments will not be treated as confidential.

The commission cannot settle disputes between institutions and individuals, and complaints will not be considered third-party comment. Individuals with a specific dispute or grievance with an institution should request the separate Policy on Complaints document from the HLC office.

Colorado State has been accredited by the HLC since 1925 and is accredited to offer all levels of higher education degrees through the doctoral degree level. To ensure academic excellence and fiscal stability, this accreditation requires an institutional review every 10 years.

The HLC, part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, is one of six accrediting agencies in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Accreditation through the HLC is voluntary. Institutional accreditation evaluates the entire university institution and accredits it as a whole. Other agencies provide accreditation for specific programs.

The commission, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 950 institutions of higher education in the 19 state region of Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.

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