Team will visit, assess Youngstown State

Faculty, students and staff will get a chance to speak with the visitation team.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University will be putting its best foot forward when some special visitors arrive on campus later this month.

A visitation team from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools will give the university close scrutiny Feb. 18-20.

The examination of programs, facilities, faculty and more is part of YSU’s efforts to secure reaccreditation from the commission for another 10-year period.

The current accreditation expires this year, coinciding with YSU’s centennial celebration.

Dr. David C. Sweet, YSU president, told the university’s Academic Senate Wednesday that YSU has put together a good case backing its reaccreditation bid.

Included in that preparation was an extensive self-study that featured a campus climate survey that looked at such things as mission fulfillment, diversity, employee relations, job satisfaction and more.

Although the survey did reflect employee concern about board of trustee understanding of faculty, staff and student concerns, it also showed that employees believe the university’s activities and commitments are congruent with its mission to provide open access to high-quality education through a broad range of programs.

The survey also showed that increasing minorities on the faculty and staff is a high YSU priority.

Most felt their work is appreciated but also that the university hasn’t taken steps to improve relationships and morale.

A strong majority expressed job satisfaction.

Dr. Bege Bowers, associate provost and chairman of the university’s Self-Study Steering Committee, told the Senate that the strengths and challenges compiled in that self study have been presented to various campus constituencies and that process is continuing.

There will be open forums for faculty, staff and students to meet with members of the Higher Learning Commission’s visitation team, she added.

Dr. Ikram Khawaja, YSU interim provost, called on the campus community to rally behind Bowes and the university as the accreditation process proceeds.

The commission is an independent corporation which accredits degree-granting educational institutions in the North Central region of the United States. It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

Institutions of higher learning voluntarily seek that accreditation which involves examining the school as a whole, not just its academic programs.

The entire process takes about two years.

Accreditation is viewed as a means of assuring the public that a school has met the commission’s requirements and criteria and can reasonably be expected to continue to do so.

gwin@vindy.com