Public comments welcomed as part of university’s accreditation review

by Staff Star Herald
11 years ago

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit April 6-9 by a team representing the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and invites the public to submit comments regarding the institution by Wednesday, April 9. The CIHE is one of seven accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole. The commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 240 institutions in the six-state New England region.
UMPI has been accredited by the commission since 1968 and was last reviewed in 2003. Its accreditation by the New England Association encompasses the entire institution.
For the past year and a half, the university has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the CIHE’s Standards of Accreditation. An evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will recommend to the commission a continuing status for the institution. Following a review process, the commission itself will take the final action.
The public is invited to submit comments regarding UMPI to: Public Comment on The University of Maine at Presque Isle, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, 3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514.
Comments may also be emailed to: cihe@neasc.org.
Public comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution. The commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Comments will not be treated as confidential and must include the name, address and telephone number of the person providing comments.
The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after the April 9 deadline will be considered.