[LIBRARYDIR] Library Accredition Standard

Fri Oct 30 06:06:09 PDT 2015

I will add that this letter is very general in tone compared with the various ACRL letters that I've seen, and I did that purposefully. It is meant to be merely a show of support from our corner of the world. They are probably getting so many letters that specificity is not really the name of the game at this point. Here are the other letters that I know of:

1. ACRL-New England Chapter sent a lengthy letter with research supporting the importance of including library services and information literacy instruction strongly in the standards
2. ACRL- Oregon Chapter sent a letter with some research, similar tone but shorter
3. Oregon Library Association sent a shorter letter, a bit more general in tone
4. Information Literacy Group of Oregon (ILAGO) is sending a letter (focus is on the need to explicitly call out librarians and Information literacy instruction in the standards)

I will go in this morning and add some final touches on my end to this letter. I hope that others do the same. Remember, noon today is the deadline. They must receive it by then.

Best,

Candice

________________________________
From: LIBRARYDIR <librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> on behalf of Watkins, Candice <cwatkins at tacomacc.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2015 8:42 PM
To: WACTC Library Directors
Subject: [LIBRARYDIR] Library Accredition Standard

Hello, I sent an email earlier to the closed listserv not realizing that there was a different membership. This conversation should open and available to all. I've copied/pasted my original email below for context. In the meantime, I also created a very rough draft of a letter that addresses the importance of retaining the accreditation standard for library services. I've written it to be sent by the chair of LLC should the body and chair decide it's appropriate. Please feel free to edit the letter to your liking. The deadline, I believe, is tomorrow by noon to: Dr. Barbara E. Brittingham, the President of the Commission, at bbrittingham at neasc.org<mailto:bbrittingham at neasc.org>.

Note for those not in on the original email - this addresses the recent change for the NE accrediting body, not the NWCCU. However, I along with others are concerned about a dangerous precedent.

Here's the google doc/letter that I created:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LLG8vbcBltJA81Hnj47wVWUD56nVvUmLJlvbsUWmoFQ/edit?usp=sharing

Here's my original email earlier this afternoon providing background:

Hello, I wanted to bring the recent accrediting issue with NEASC – the accrediting body for NE colleges and universities – to your attention. Perhaps you’re already aware of this and have discussed it at your meetings, but if not, it’s something that we should be aware of and perhaps proactive in discussing and acting upon with NWCCU. Basically, the NEASC has removed the library standard from its standards for accreditation. I’ve copied/pasted an email describing this below – this email has been circulating quite a bit and details the removal.

I know that the library groups in Oregon – ACRL OR, OLA, and ILAGO have written letters to the NEASC advocating for the library standard and describing the dangerous precedence that the removal sets. I’ve also attached a letter from the New England chapter of ACRL for your review. I’m new to this group – LLC – but I did want to bring this to your attention. I’m sure that more experienced hands here will know what steps to take.

Best,

Candice Watkins
Library Director
Tacoma Community College
________________________________________________________________
From: Banach, Patricia S. (Library)
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 1:15 PM
To: Faculty Distribution List
Subject: NEASC Standards draft revision eliminates Library standard

Dear Faculty,
I would like to make you aware of the August 2015 draft of the NEASC Standards for Accreditation. The new draft is a major re-write and has eliminated the previous  STANDARD SEVEN:  LIBRARY AND OTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES. The new draft is 30 pages and has the word Library in it once.

The draft 2015 Standards are at https://cihe.neasc.org/sites/cihe.neasc.org/files/downloads/New_of_the_Website/DRAFT_Standards_for_Accreditation_8.25.15.pdf

The 2011 Standards are at
https://cihe.neasc.org/standard-policies/standards-accreditation/standards-effective-july-1-2011

The Council of Connecticut Academic Library Directors is  preparing  comment on the draft  for NEASC in the hopes of  revising the draft to include the importance of libraries, library resources, and librarians to student success. I believe the faculty also benefit from a strong library, appropriately staffed and resourced.  I encourage you to spread the word among your professional colleagues both here and in other New England institutions. The comment period is rapidly coming to a close. Comments I made months ago to CIHE were not acknowledged so I do not know if they were actually received or went into a spam folder.

Comments to NEASC about the draft 2015 Standards can be emailed to the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) at cihe at neasc.org<mailto:cihe at neasc.org> or to Dr. Barbara E. Brittingham, the President of the Commission, at bbrittingham at neasc.org<mailto:bbrittingham at neasc.org>.

I also bring to your attention an article about possible Federal action in regard to  accreditation.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/10/20/obama-administration-plans-executive-action-higher-education-accreditation#.ViYDqearU4o.mailto

Patricia S. Banach
Director of Library Services
 J. Eugene Smith Library
Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
Email: banachp at easternct.edu<mailto:banachp at easternct.edu>
Phone: 860-465-4466<tel:860-465-4466>
Fax: 860-465-5522<tel:860-465-5522>

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