Contrary to rumors, UNR accreditation in good standing

Rumors of UNR's academic demise are premature, according to the president of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Media outlets have received reports from critics saying the association sent the Reno campus a stern letter listing weaknesses in campus programs and basically threatening its continued accreditation.

Sandra Elman of NWCCU said Wednesday UNR's accreditation "has been reaffirmed and is in good standing." She said the letter makes recommendations where the accreditation team believes UNR can improve, but that it shouldn't be considered negative.

"The accreditation process is one that is aimed at continuous improvement," she said. "Every institution of higher education, whether it be Harvard University or the University of California Berkeley, can always improve.

"The commission found, based on the evaluation committee's observations, that there are areas which need to be addressed in order for the university to reach its fullest potential."

UNR President Milton Glick said that's the way he took the letter: "Its purpose is to help us identify areas where we can improve."

He said some of the recommendations have already been implemented.

"They asked us to respond to some areas of concern, which they will then look at and revisit us," he said.

Elman said the letter is very similar in tone to the letters many western universities get.

Hearing the letter was generating rumors, she said, "I was kind of distraught because the committee and the commission thinks UNR, particularly with its undergraduate students, is doing a good job. It's committed to these students, which many universities aren't committed in the same way."

She said the committee report on UNR describes it as a campus with high morale, a highly qualified and dedicated faculty with good research productivity and a thoughtful strategic planning process.

The evaluation report also praised improvements in UNR's academic advising process over the past decade, but recommended UNR better define what academic advising means to all constituents. It recommended creating a program to do systematic performance reviews of all part-time instructors and faculty, called on the campus to ensure sufficient library and information services staff to handle demands when the new library/knowledge center opens.

It recommended improvements in the evaluation and analysis of the performance of all academic programs along with development of a process to address growing space and other needs on campus.

Elman said those recommendations are designed to improve UNR, not threaten it.

"We found a great place and we want to make it better," she said.

Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.