AIC's good marks will help it attain accreditation

Academic professionals from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools visited AIC in the fall to evaluate the campus' academic viability. The campus is in its second semester of classes.

The committee gave the campus favorable reviews and initial candidacy for accreditation, which is a step in the right direction to attain status as an independent university, said Celestino Fern ndez, executive vice president for AIC. He said gaining initial candidacy from the NCA is required before the students can receive federal financial aid.

"Federal financial aid is only available to students who attend accreditated universities," Fern ndez said.

He said that although the campus has gained initial candidacy, accreditation will not be offered to AIC until at least the year 2000.

"The policies of the NCA's time table grant full accreditation at the time or after the first class has graduated," Fern ndez said.

AIC is currently a campus of the University of Arizona but plans to become an independent university once it receives separate accreditation.

Fern ndez said the committee's reviews of AIC were positive.

"They were quite favorable. The most favorable I've ever seen," Fern ndez said. "They supported our independent nature, our personal approach and the fact that the faculty are quite available to the students."

The committee found some challenges for AIC as well, Fern ndez said.

"(The challenges included) having enough resources to lay a foundation for the campus, our small virtual library and the need for additional classrooms," Fern ndez said.

Mike Celaya, AIC director of enrollment and student services, said the committee was also concerned that many of the campus' student services reside on the UA's main campus.

"Many of the services we provide to students originate on the main campus," Celaya said. "The committee believed we needed residence halls and other facilities to support students being here."