MEDIA ADVISORY

TO:                      News Directors, Education Reporters

FROM:                 University Relations

SUBJECT:            University Community Invited to Speak Up at Open Forum

DATE & TIME:     Tuesday, May 1, 2001, 1 p.m.

LOCATION:         Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom

As part of a self-study, the University of Alaska Fairbanks accreditation steering committee wants to hear from the university community on UAF’s strengths and weaknesses at an open forum on Tuesday, May 1, 2001 at 1 p.m. in the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. The committee would specifically like to hear from students, alumni, and area advisory boards and councils as well as UAF staff and faculty.

The self-study is an important step in the reaffirmation of accreditation because it allows for essential feedback. Input is also requested on UAF’s performance regarding nine accreditation standards. When completed, the self-assessment should accurately represent the institution and how well it meets those standards. It will be forwarded to the accrediting body in August 2001. There will be a site visit by the 12-member accreditation evaluation team Oct. 8 — 10, 2001, followed by a written formal evaluation report and finally a vote on reaffirmation of accreditation in December.

"This is an opportunity for us to take a good hard look at ourselves and an incredible array of services, facilities, and processes to see where improvements can be made," said Dana Thomas, UAF Accreditation Steering Committee Co-Chair. "For the stakeholders and supporters of the university, it’s an opportunity to give us feedback about our strengths and weaknesses."

Accreditation refers to the process of assessing and recognizing the educational institution for performance, integrity, and quality. To maintain accreditation, most institutions of higher education undertake self-studies every ten years that usually involve an appraisal of their mission, goals, processes, operations, and achievements. UAF has been continuously accredited since 1934. Such recognition is required for federal funding of financial aid and the transfer of credit hours between institutions. UAF’s accreditation is granted by the Commission on Colleges and Universities of the Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools.

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CONTACT: UAF Accreditation Steering Committee Co-Chair Dana Thomas at (907) 474-6103, or Co-Chair Ron Gatterdam at (907) 474-6174. For more information on UAF’s accreditation or to make comment on the standards go to http://www.uaf.edu/provost/accreditation. CJB/04/24/01-065ma