March 5, 2008

Ohio Wesleyan Works Toward Reaccreditation from Higher Learning Commission

Every Ohio Wesleyan faculty and staff member has the opportunity to influence the future of the University.

OWU is currently preparing for a reaccreditation site visit by a team representing the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. An important aspect of the reaccreditation process is a self study, including a survey, which Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Assessment and Accreditation Barbara Andereck and other members of a steering committee are coordinating.

All Ohio Wesleyan employees received an invitation via e-mail to complete the anonymous survey. “The self study is an overall look at and evaluation of ourselves,” notes Andereck. “In this process we determine how to present ourselves in the self study report. The survey is one way to gain a broad perspective. The breadth on the steering committee is also helpful in getting a complete picture of OWU. We are also drawing on many recent open meetings and planning sessions, where community ideas were sought.”

The self study also includes a report addressing key areas requested by the HLC. Andereck says the five criteria Ohio Wesleyan must show evidence of meeting effectively are:

• Mission and integrity
• Planning for the future
• Student learning and effective teaching
• Acquisition, discovery, and application of knowledge
• Engagement and service

“We submit the self study report and supporting documents to an HLC visit team consisting of faculty members and administrators trained to be consultant evaluators,” Andereck says. “The visit team will meet with individuals and groups of people to gather information that will supplement what they have read in the self study report and help them determine whether we have met each of the five criteria. They will also have access to a resource room on campus, where we will have assembled a wide range of documents and reports to provide evidence supporting statements in the self study report.”

Andereck says the HLC visit team will visit Ohio Wesleyan on March 23-25, 2009, and in the meanwhile, there are ways everyone on campus can contribute.

Besides completing the survey for the self study, all members of the OWU community may read and comment on the self study report during the beginning of the fall semester. Andereck says that the campus community should also feel free to ask questions and express opinions to her or to any member of the steering committee at any time.

As reaccreditation is essential for Ohio Wesleyan to continue as a University, everyone on campus should be interested in the self study process as well as the survey.

“Colleges, universities, and secondary schools are all accredited by their regional agency,” says Andereck. “Accreditation—or reaccreditation in our case—is necessary for recognition as a legitimate institution of higher education. It is necessary for continuing to enroll students because they need a degree from an accredited institution. It is necessary to receive government funding and student loans. It is necessary to obtain grants from philanthropic organizations. Basically, it is necessary for us to be a university.”

If you have not yet completed the survey for the self study, you still have time. Contact Andereck for the Web address of the survey or for a paper copy, and complete the survey by March 21. Buildings and Grounds employees can obtain copies of the survey from their supervisor.

For details about any aspect of the self study or reaccreditation, contact Andereck at bsandere@owu.edu or any member of the steering committee:  Laurie Anderson, Sualeha Ansari ’04, Cameron Bennett, Theresa Byrd, Karen Crosman, Carol DelPropost, Tricia DiFranco ’09, Bob Gitter, Roger Ingles, Amy McClure, Myron McCoy ’77, Joe Musser, Don Omahan, Sue Pasters, Patricio Plazolles, David Robbins, Chris Setzer, Chuck Stinemetz, Dale Swartzentruber, and Rock Jones and Kathe Rhinesmith, ex officio.

– Ericka Kurtz