Though the date is nearly two years away, dozens of Kansas State University faculty, staff, students and administrators are busily preparing for a reaccreditation visit by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, set for April 9-11, 2012.
"A reaccreditation visit offers K-State the opportunity to review and think about our strengths, and to identify any weaknesses and challenges we might face," said Provost April Mason. "With the K-State 2025 initiative at the forefront, we will use the preparations for reaccreditation to determine how K-State faculty, staff, students and alumni view K-State and where they see the university in 15 years. This is a wonderful opportunity to thoroughly examine our university and to plan how we will meet our goal to be recognized nationally as a top 50 public research university."
Reaccreditation occurs every 10 years and K-State's last visit was in 2002. In preparation for the next reaccreditation evaluation, K-State has begun an extensive self-study process. Brian Niehoff, associate provost, began meeting with both a steering committee and a larger, more comprehensive group in fall 2009 to get the process started.
"We have subcommittees working on various chapters for the reaccreditation study," Niehoff said. "Topics include Mission and Integrity; Preparing for the Future; Acquisition, Discovery and Application of Knowledge; Engagement and Service; Teaching and Learning; and Multicultural Diversity."
Both a printed and Web version of the report will be available in spring 2012. In the interim, the subcommittees will be collecting information on all phases of activity across colleges, units, departments and programs in Manhattan, Salina and the future Olathe campus.
For the self-study process to be truly valuable, the entire campus community must participate, Niehoff said. "We welcome and appreciate participation from everyone affiliated with K-State, including our alumni, current students, faculty, and classified and unclassified employees."