Number of persons visiting this site since 10/26/99

The accreditation process will take approximately two years for the University to complete. There are four steps in this process:

· First, the institution undertakes a self-study aimed at examining how it meets the General Institutional Requirements (GIRs) and the Criteria. The results of the self-examination are summarized in a Self-Study Report that forms the basis for the Commission’s evaluation. The completed Self-Study Report constitutes the institution’s formal application for initial or continued accreditation.

· Second, the institution is visited by a team of Consultant-Evaluators appointed by the Commission to conduct a Peer Review. This team gathers comprehensive information about the institution and summarizes its finding in a written Team Report. The Report assesses whether the institution satisfies the GIRs and the Criteria, offers advice and suggestions for improvement, and concludes with a formal recommendation for accreditation action. The institution has an opportunity to make a formal written response to the Team Report.

· Third, the Self-Study Report and the Team Report are reviewed by a Readers’ Panel and/or by a Review Committee that meets with representatives of the institution and the team. If the review process results in suggested changes in the team recommendation, the institution and the team chair have an opportunity to respond in writing.

· Fourth, all recommendations are considered by the Commission, which takes official action on the institution’s accreditation.

In order to prepare for NCA’s site visit and review in March 2000, the University formed a twelve-member Steering Committee that began meeting in August. Dr. Tom Buchanan, UW Vice President for Academic Affairs, serves as the chair. The committee members were selected for their dedication to improving the quality of education and research at the University, as well as for their expertise in various areas. Each committee member chairs a subcommittee that examines a facet of the University, such as undergraduate education, technology, or institutional integrity. Subcommittee membership forms a broad campus cross-section, with every unit represented through faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as having representation from students and, in some cases, external constituents.

The information gathered and analyzed by these subcommittees will be used to generate a self-study document for the University. Institutional data provides NCA with baseline information that reveals compliance with certain requirements, while the body of the self-study document develops patterns of evidence that demonstrate fulfillment of NCA’s criteria for accreditation and proof of both the goal of and attainment of self-improvement. More importantly, the self-study helps the University assess its strengths and weaknesses through a critical examination and analysis of all areas of the University.

The recent Academic Planning Process will form a crucial part of the Self-Study process, providing, to a large extent, the information for the academic side of the Self-Study examination.

For ease of access to information generated during this study, this web-site will be maintained throughout the process. Minutes from the various committees will be posted, as well as documents committees might be using in their analyses. At the end of the Summer of 1999, a draft of the Self-Study Report will be posted at this sight for a comment period. Readers will be able to comment both on the document and other readers’ comments. Please feel free to contact committee members or Academic Affairs with questions or suggestions. NCA also has prepared a section on Frequently Asked Questions. There will also be a variety of surveys that will be circulating. Take the time to fill these out or answer the questions over the phone, as your input is valuable to the committees.