CU seeks re-accreditation

A team from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools will visit the University of Colorado at Boulder Feb. 22–24 to conduct an evaluation that is done every 10 years to ensure the university’s continued accreditation.

CU-Boulder has been accredited by the commission since 1913. The commission accredits about 1,100 institutions of higher education in a 19-state region.

CU-Boulder has been doing a self-study for more than a year and a half.

The evaluation team will visits institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will make a recommendation to the commission based on how well CU meets five criteria, and following a review process, the commission itself will take the final action.

“Accreditation is vital to both the public’s confidence in us, and our confidence in ourselves and our mission,” CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano said in a December news release requesting public comments about the campus in advance of the visit.

Suggestions that arose from the 2000 site visit included reorganizing the administration, improving the student advising and auditing system and de-coupling the campus capital campaign from the one for the entire CU system.

Concerns and recommendations raised after that review 10 years ago included enhancing diversity planning, addressing state funding restrictions to “retain and energize top faculty, expanding the physical plant, improving city/university relations and improving learning assessment.

The report on the self-study, as well as other information about the site visit, is available online at www.colorado.edu/accreditation.