Educational integrity. Superior teaching. Student-focused.
These strengths and more are synonymous with Weber State University. We're keenly aware of our value. Our peers, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), also agree.
Every 10 years Weber State undergoes a rigorous accreditation process, our last being in 1994. After two-and-a-half years of preparing a self-study and a three-day visit by the NWCCU accreditation team in October, we received an exemplary report. The team commended us on:
- A remarkably strong and coherent sense of mission among all WSU constituents;
- The highly successful "Changing Minds Together" capital campaign, which has garnered new resources for faculty, students, staff, facilities and programs;
- A comprehensive blueprint for facility planning, maintenance and construction, with WSU Davis as an exceptional example;
- Excellent progress in improving library resources and services since the last accreditation review.
We will continue to build on these successes.
The NWCCU committee made only two recommendations for improvement: We need to assess the general university course requirements regularly and also improve the process of mentoring and evaluating part-time and adjunct faculty. We are well on our way to addressing the two recommendations.
The fact that we had only two recommendations is significant. It shows tremendous progress on our part since the last re-accreditation, when we received five. As an accreditation reviewer of other universities, Dr. Marie Kotter, WSU chair of Health Sciences, says she's never seen a school receive just two recommendations.
More than just an official "seal of approval" on how WSU educates students and is managed, the glowing NWCCU review also reflects the quality of our institution. The entire WSU family of students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as the community, can be extremely proud of the outcome.
For our students, the re-accreditation means they are receiving a superior undergraduate education that opens doors to academic and personal success. Faculty and staff passionately bring learning to life, and new initiatives are in place to improve the first-year and undergraduate experiences.
For faculty and staff, the findings are more proof of their dedicated efforts on students' behalf. The evaluation committee noted that "faculty and staff have gone the extra mile to preserve and increase the quality of the educational experience even as student numbers swelled and state funding shrank." I deeply appreciate the commitment of the faculty and staff to help our students grow academically and personally during a time of diminishing state resources.
Alumni can take "purple pride" in knowing that their Weber State degree is becoming more valuable. The strong academic preparation and life skills our students receive here are critical to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
Finally, the re-accreditation signals to the community that Weber State is a vibrant, collaborative partner, sharing resources and expertise as students and faculty help to solve community problems. By providing an educated workforce, the university also contributes to economic growth and stability.
I'm immensely proud of the legacy of education we continue to build together at Weber State. Thank you for your commitment to the university as we continue to provide a life-changing education for our students.
Sincerely,
F. Ann Millner
President