UR reached a major milestone this past week in its successful review for reaccreditation. Every ten years, UR, along with many other colleges and universities, must undergo a reaccreditation process in order to maintain good standing as an institution of higher education.
The completion of the University’s Middle States Self-Study, titled The Meliora Imperative, is the result of the efforts and collaboration of numerous UR faculty members that were part of the Self-Study committees. Included in the Executive Committee are UR President Joel Seligman, Provost Peter Lennie, General Secretary and Chief of Staff Lamar Murphy, Dean of the College Richard Feldman, and Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at The Eastman School of Music, Donna Brink Fox.
The team of faculty members conducted a comprehensive study of fourteen different performance standards, including University mission and goals, faculty, and general education. The 161-page document was submitted for review, and the Evaluation Team will be visiting UR from May 1—3.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education oversees the accreditation process in the Middle States region – Delaware, The District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Secretary of Education has granted the Commission the ability to do so since 1919. UR was one of the first institutions to receive accreditation in 1921.
This milestone is one of the final steps in the reaccreditation process. Following the visit from the Evaluation Team, they will submit a report to the Middle States Commission with regards to the self-study and the official visit. The Committees, headed by Seligman, expect to hear a response from the commission some time during the Fall 2014 semester.
O’Brien is a member of the class of 2016.
