In less than 80 days the accreditation visiting team will be on UMSL's campus.
The countdown began long ago.The University of Missouri - St. Louis reminds everybody of this on the school's homepage. Many were used to seeing a triple digit number. Finally, the number of days until the North Central Association site visit is nearing a single digit.
Judith Walker de Felix, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, has been preparing for the re-accreditation for the past six years.
"In 2002, we began looking at the new criteria and attending conferences held by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Accrediting Agency," Walker de Felix said.
Accreditation is a process in which an institution ensures that the education being provided is of quality. Without accreditation UMSL would not be able to offer federal financial aid.
"Students need to know that they're attending a university that cares about its quality. The re-accreditation visit, which happens every 10 years, assures students of that quality," said Walker de Felix.
"It will be very important for the entire campus to be informed about the process and to be on campus during their visit, November 10-11, if possible," said Walker de Felix.
The process requires a self-study, a document that takes over two years to write. The self-study is an official document that is filed with the Higher Learning Commission.
"The self-study is at the printer and we are making last-minute changes. The review team will receive the report in early September and can be studying the references on our website. Ms. Pat Dolan [Academic Affairs] has not only edited every chapter, but also made certain that everything we submit responds to the requirements and she's also making all the arrangements for campus meetings and site visit. Dr. Tim Farmer, former chair of the Faculty Senate, has taken a hands-on approach and suggested revisions of every version of the report," said Walker de Felix.
When the visiting team arrives they will have previously read the self-study. Once they are on UMSL's campus it is their decision on how to verify whether or not the self-study is accurate.
"For example, we think that the visiting team will ask students about the quality of the UMSL experience and we've been told that they may ask any member of the staff what they do to help students learn. If you haven't thought about those questions, it would be good to consider them before November," said Walker de Felix.
Walker de Felix said that many different organizations on campus should expect a visit from the visiting team because of the significant roles they play at UMSL.
The Student Government Association, Faculty Senate, University Assembly Committees, Staff Association and members of the Steering Committee should all prepare for a possible visit.
Once the visit is complete, the UMSL community will have to wait just a little while longer to find out if it was a success or not.
The official decision will arrive after winter break when Chancellor Thomas F. George will have verbal feedback on November 13.
If UMSL secures its re-accreditation for the next 10 years, UMSL can expect a celebration.
"We'll have a campus-wide celebration for sure. We haven't had time to plan that, but I imagine that Ms. Dolan has a lot of creative ideas about that!" said Walker de Felix.
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