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UD invites comment on periodic review report 4:53 p.m., March 23, 2006--The University of Delaware Provost's Office invites comment on a draft Periodic Review Report (PRR) that has been prepared as part of the ongoing evaluation process by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting arm of the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges. The PRR is a retrospective, current and prospective analysis of the institution, due five years after each institution's last decennial self-study and reaffirmation of accreditation. The University of Delaware's PRR focuses on the institution's progress since the last Middle States site review in 2001 and identifies academic priorities and benchmarks for the next review in 2011. The 2001 Middle States evaluation was highly laudatory noting that the goals set out by President David P. Roselle a decade earlier had been accomplished. The evaluation team members were “enormously impressed by the high level of morale that pervades the faculty, staff and students. Almost without exception, the people we spoke to take great pride in being part of the University.” And, “better than almost any university we are familiar with,” the report stated, “Delaware has a clear sense of what it wants to be, namely, a university that offers a high quality undergraduate education with targeted areas of excellence in graduate education and research.” The report concluded, “The University of Delaware has every reason to take enormous pride in what it has accomplished.” As reflected in the 2001 review, Provost Dan Rich said, the cumulative impact of the changes in the 1990s was widespread and deeply transforming. According to Rich, “The PRR affirms that by 2001, the University of Delaware was a top quality national university recognized for the overall excellence of its faculty, students, programs and facilities, and acknowledged as one of the nation's best higher educational values. As a result of this transformation, it is now appropriate to recognize a new University of Delaware, one that embodies a much higher standard of academic performance and that has the foundation needed for continuous academic progress and greater distinction in the future.” The draft PRR describes the character of the new University of Delaware and its priorities for the future. The PRR includes an executive summary, the institution's response to the suggestions from the previous accreditation visit, a review of academic progress, institutional challenges and current opportunities, analysis of enrollment and finance projections, evidence that outcomes assessment processes for institutional effectiveness and student learning are established, and evidence that linked institutional planning and budgeting processes are in place. Copies of the PRR can be found on the provost's web site at [www.udel.edu/provost/] and the Faculty Senate web site at [www.udel.edu/facsen/]. Comments and suggestions are invited. "We hope that the entire campus community-students, faculty and staff-will take the time to read the Periodic Review Report and share their comments with us,” Rich said. "We want to be sure that the report presents an accurate assessment of the University.” Comments can be sent electronically to [provost-office@udel.edu]. “The review is an important tool to assist the University as it continues to work to ensure that it meets the highest of standards as outlined by Middle States,” Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw, vice provost for academic and international programs, said. “We encourage the full participation of the campus community in this process.” Gempesaw is co-chairing the PRR Steering Committee with Mike Middaugh, assistant vice president for institutional research and planning. The other members of the committee are: Avron Abraham, associate professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences and president of the Faculty Senate; John Cordrey, president of the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress; Therese Rizzo, president of the Graduate Student Senate; Kathleen Kerr, director of residence life; Leila Lyons, director of user services in information technologies; Gregg Silvis, librarian and assistant director for library computing systems; Paul Laux, professor and chairperson of the Department of Finance; Karen Stein, associate professor and director of the leadership program and director of the Office of Educational Assessment; Mohsen Badiey, professor of marine studies and director of the physical ocean science and engineering program; Dick Wilkins, professor of mechanical engineering and associate dean of the College of Engineering; Suzanne Austin, professor of history; Dallas Hoover, professor of animal and food sciences and president-elect of the Faculty Senate; and Richard Zipser, professor and chairperson of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. |
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