by Gina Brown
Managing Editor
Accreditation for the University of La Verne has been “reaffirmed” by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) after a visit by its accreditation team last May.
In its July 1 letter to President Steve Morgan, the WASC Commission cited as positive developments the fact that “morale of the faculty, Board of Trustees and administration is high; financial stability has been restored and enrollments are sound.”
But the letter also listed seven “concerns” that the Commission instructs the “University to address in the next few years. These include the need for more “systematic efforts … to implement the specific elements of the University’s mission throughout the University;” the role and number of full-time faculty; the need for part-time faculty to “understand and attempt to implement the University’s mission statement … academic standards;” course content and rigor … the need for “emphasis on both theory and application … appreciation of international, multicultural and environmental relationships;” doctoral program; faculty “need to be meaningfully involved in library development, and … the library needs to become more a significant part of academic programs;” and finally, “surplus generated by Continuing Education needs to be reinvested in quality improvement of these same programs.”
President Morgan and Dr. Ells Johnson, dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, feel the assessment by the Commission was fair, with a few exceptions.
But Dr. John Gingrich, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, said his “faculty wished they (the Commission) had spoken more about the on-campus programs. So much attention was given off-campus programs instead of what is going on here.
“WASC is a very traditional organization, and when they visit schools of continuing education, it throws them off because they are not dealing with traditional education.”
The University is taking steps to address these issues. In a memorandum to ULV faculty and staff, President Morgan and Dr. Bill Cook, vice president of academic affairs, stated, “None of these concerns are beyond the reach of the University.”
The administration was surprised by the Commission’s critical comments on theory vs. application in the professional programs, and as a result, outside consultants will be brought in to study the programs to see what areas need to be strengthened.
A language requirement is also being considered. Dr. Gingrich explained that ULV wants to “help students deal with the shrinking world we are living in. This will help students deal with different cultures and give them a sense of community. The only way to understand one another is to learn about each other.”
A five-year strategic plan has been developed by the University’s Strategic Planning Committee and was introduced to the University community at last Wednesday’s fall retreat. Trustees, administrators, faculty as well as professional and classified personnel participated in discussions and evaluation of the plan in an effort to chart the course for the University’s future progress.
To address the issue of diversity and multiculturalism, the general education requirements have been under scrutiny. “A task force will be analyzing the general education requirements to make sure they have an exposure to international and multicultural concerns. This is a big task, and we have been working on it for a year,” Dr. Gingrich said.
President Morgan noted that “the University has achieved much since the last accreditation review. We look forward to this year as an opportunity to build on these achievements and to make the University of La Verne what the Commission called ‘a new institutional model of excellence as an adult and off-campus institution.”‘
He said ULV is “rolling up its sleeves” to prepare for a special visit by a WASC team in the fall of 1994. The next comprehensive visit will be set at the February, 1995 Commission meeting.
