UA to undergo re-accreditation in spring 2000

Every 10 years, the University of Arizona undergoes the North Central Association re-accreditation process, which culminates in a 100-200 page self-study report and a committee review and visit.

UA President Peter Likins said it is "essential" that the university is successful in the re-accreditation process.

The re-accreditation is necessary for UA students to be eligible for federal financial aid. But rarely does a large university fail to be approved by an evaluation, Likins said.

"In practical terms, it is almost assured (the university) will be successful," Likins said.

More importantly for the university, however, is the fact that the self-study reports are used to examine the institution, and make changes for the better, Likins said.

"We characterize the university as a student-centered research university," said Likins, and the self-study report will be used to "test the validity of that concept."

One of the primary purposes of self-study is to guide the university toward fulfilling its mission statement as a student-centered research university, said Randy Richardson, interim vice president for undergraduate education and co-chair of the self-study steering committee.

Richardson, along with Physiology Associate Department Head Betty Atwater, co-chair the steering committee, which takes reports from more than 200 people from eight working teams throughout the campus.

The committee then compiles the information into one comprehensive report.

"It's interesting because we already have a series of team reports over 400 pages," Richardson said. "Since there is a year's worth of work already, it is not from scratch."

The working teams submitted their reports in March and the steering committee has been working with them since.

"We're looking at the strengths and strategic issues of the team reports, finding the most important accomplishments of the university, and its status as a student-centered research university," Richardson said.

"Essentially, we're taking a snapshot of the university," he said.

The NCA team visit, scheduled for Valentine's Day, is one of the final steps in the two-year process. The steering committee will send the final draft of the self-study report by November in preparation for the visit.

The Association is one of six regional agencies that grant accreditation to learning institutions.

Richardson said the NCA committee will focus their review on what they observe in a several-day visit to the university, as well as the self-study report.

"It is an amazing process for learning what your university really does," Richardson said.

"The number of activities that fall under our umbrella is breathtaking," he added.