IUB granted NCA accreditation

Intensive self-study required work from dozens of faculty, staff

By Susan Voelkel

It always happens. And it has happened again. The IU Bloomington campus has been accredited by the North Central Association (NCA), just as it has been continuously since 1913. The NCA is responsible for accrediting colleges and universities in the central United States.

The notice that the campus has "passed" its regular 10-year review always brings a huge sigh of relief from numerous administrators and faculty. And, well it should. The accrediting process takes a couple of years and huge blocks of numerous individuals' time.

The process involves an intensive self-study. This is both agonizing and exhilarating. It is agonizing because the campus community must take a deep and critical look at itself and sometimes be painfully honest in ferreting out weaknesses. But there is also the pleasure of being reminded of all the strengths. And there is the excitement of considering ways to improve the university.

Dozens of IU faculty and staff, under the leadership of Steering Committee chairman Peter Burkholder, spent countless hours on the project. The results of their work are contained in a more than 250-page self-study report: Indiana University Bloomington: Focus on the Future. Burkholder, who is acting vice chancellor for academic affairs and acting dean of the faculties, worked intensively with steering committee members: Ellen Brantlinger, Trevor Brown, Leslie Coyne, Judith Granbois, Kenneth Gros Louis, Morton Lowengrub, Tony Mobley, Deborah Olsen, Doug Priest, Steve Sanders, Elizabeth Skomp, Patricia Steele, George Walker and Shane Windmeyer.

There were also two other major committees. Burkholder chaired the one on Mission and Purposes. Others serving were Gerald Coddington, Deborah Freund, Norman Overly, James Patterson and the late Bill Van Antwerpen. Patricia Steele and Maynard Thompson chaired the committee which concentrated on Organization of Resources. Other members of this committee were Jeffrey Alberts, James Andrews, Robert Cochran, Gary Kent, Ginger Lawrence and Lynn Smith.

In April, a North Central Association peer evaluation team visited the campus. The conclusion: "The team is unanimous in its evaluation that Indiana University Bloomington meets or exceeds all of the general institutional requirements and the criteria for accreditation." The team report further enumerated numerous academic, financial and other strengths, including: "Indiana University enjoys great pride in and loyalty to the institution by the trustees, administration, faculty and staff, and students."

IU received formal notification of the re-accreditation last month. While this was expected and there would have been great consternation if accreditation had been denied, receiving it is considered simply affirmation of what is already known and thus, not a cause for great celebration. But there have been quiet smiles of satisfaction all over the Bloomington campus.