The draft self-study report undertaken as part of the process for the 10-year reaccreditation of the University by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education is now available for campus comment, Bobby Gempesaw, vice provost for academic programs and planning, has announced.

The report, consisting of 10 chapters with supporting figures, tables, executive summary and conclusions, is available to the University of Delaware community online at [www.udel.edu/middlestates/ report]. The web site includes a form to submit comments on the report. To ensure that comments are limited to those from University of Delaware students, faculty, and staff, the report and comment form are accessible only from computers using [udel.edu] logon addresses.

Gempesaw also announced that open meetings to discuss the report will be held on two dates: from 11 a.m.-noon, Thursday, Nov. 9, in 329 Purnell Hall, and from 3:30-4:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 16, in 103 Gore Hall.

"We hope that the entire campus community–students, faculty and staff–will take the time to read the report and share their comments with us, either by using the comment form on the web site or by attending one of the two open meetings," Gempesaw said."We want to be sure that the report presents a true picture of the University."

Gempesaw and Michael Middaugh, assistant vice president for institutional research and planning, are serving as co-chairs of the steering committee that is directing the self-study effort.

"We have made an effort to ensure inclusiveness and broad representation of University constituencies on the eight task forces that conducted the research for the Self-Study Report," Middaugh said. "We hope that we will also have such broad representation during this comment period."

The draft report will be edited to take into account comments from the University community and then will be submitted to the Middle States Commission in early December. The reaccreditation process will continue with a site visit by an evaluation team in late February 2001. William B. Kirwan, president of Ohio State University, will lead the evaluation team.

The Middle States Self-Study began in fall of 1999 with the appointment of eight task forces to study the University's mission, students, faculty, educational programs, library resources, assessment programs, planning and resource allocation processes, and facilities and equipment. All the task forces were asked to plan their research with a focus on a general theme of the impact of technology of University functions. The task forces were composed of more than 90 faculty, staff and students.

For more information on the task forces, including their members and charges, visit the self-study web site at [www.udel. edu/middlestates/]

 

 

The University Community is invited to comment on the

Draft Middle States Self-Study Report.

Read the report and submit comments over the web at

[www.udel.edu/middlestates/report].

Or, comment at open meetings:

11 a.m.-noon, Thursday, Nov. 9, in 329 Purnell Hall

3:30-4:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 16, in 103 Gore Hall