TCU Daily Skiff Masthead
Friday, November 22, 2002
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University takes next step toward re-accreditation
By Sarah McNamara
Staff Reporter

The university’s public release of its self-study report Oct. 28 represented one of the last major phases in preparation for the upcoming visit from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, said Bonnie Melhart, director for the office of self-study.

Melhart said that the draft form of the self-study document can be found at the project Web site, (sacs.tcu.edu/SelfStudy/), and all students, faculty and staff are invited to review the document and provide comments.

“We want them to understand how higher education works,” Melhart said. “We want them to feel like they understand what the whole process is gaining for TCU.”

Dennis Alexander, director of foundation relations for University Advancement, served as the editor of the self-study report and said he wanted to release the document to the campus as soon as possible because students and faculty have expressed interest in what the findings were.

“The report is not meant to be a secretive process,” Alexander said.

In preparing for re-accreditation, the self-study program, which consists of 150 faculty, staff and students, has reviewed and documented all facets of the institution in order to meet the criteria determined by SACS, Melhart said.

The self-study document contains information regarding how the university is in compliance with SACS criteria. University Librarian Bob Seal said he is not largely concerned about whether or not the visiting team will find anything where the university is not in compliance.

“We’ve got a good, strong report,” Seal said. “TCU is a very good university and that will be evident when they visit.”

The visiting team is made up of 20 college administrators and faculty within SACS and will have read the self-study report before inspecting the campus from Feb. 24 to 27, 2003, to decide whether to renew the university’s accreditation.

Under SACS regulation, universities are required to apply for re-accreditation every 10 years. A SACS committee last visited the university in 1992.

A decision to renew the university’s accreditation or not will not be made until December 2003.

Sarah McNamara

 

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