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Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

MUSG looks at University accreditation process

Marquette University Student Government welcomed guest speaker Gary Meyer, vice provost for undergraduate programs and teaching, to its weekly meeting Thursday to discuss the re-accreditation initiative Marquette will undergo in 2013 and 2014.

University reaccreditation is a voluntary process occuring every 10 years. However, Meyer stressed that if Marquette is not reaccredited, students would then be denied Title IV financial aid from the government.

Meyer said the reaccreditation process is peer-based and conducted by faculty, professors and members of higher education throughout the country.

University President the Rev. Scott Pilarz has discussed the importance of the reaccreditation process in video interviews that Meyer said will appear online in the near future.

“Accreditation is important because we willingly subject ourselves to peer review,” Pilarz said in one video interview shown during the meeting. “The process will encourage us and will direct us to where we’ll be 10 years from now.”

Meyer echoed Pilarz’s thoughts about preparing for the future. He said Marquette has been accredited for more than 95 years, but because the process only occurs once every decade, the stakes are high.

In anticipation of the accreditors’ visit to Marquette, Meyer said the university has prepared a 300-page document stating educational goals and stances.

The accreditors will judge the university on five major criteria and will ensure that academic integrity and discipline is upheld on campus.

The last time accreditors visited campus, in 2003 and 2004, Meyer said they identified areas of concern regarding the university’s educational system, including a noticeable lack in diversity on campus and exceptional issues regarding educational assessment. Meyer said assessment problems were so serious that the accreditors returned to Marquette in 2009 to ensure the problem was improved.

While Meyer said the university has fixed assessment problems, other goals for the initiative include a motto, “reflective, affirming and inspiring,” encompassing all aspirations to continue the accreditation process in good form.

“The idea is very Jesuit, as it asks us to take a deeper look at who we are,” Meyer said.

Meyer said he has worked with various committees on campus in preparation for the accreditors’ visit in ensuring Marquette will have enough resources to operate and that the university is compliant with federal educational regulations.

Meyer said he hopes when the accreditors arrive at the university two years from now, Marquette students will be aware of their presence, ready to answer questions regarding the university.

“You sell this university in ways that no one else can,” Meyer said to students.

Following the presentation, President Joey Ciccone, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said he is hoping for increased student involvement and attendance at MUSG’s next diversity roundtable discussions.

Ciccone said MUSG is in the process of creating a new student outreach policy, but plans are still developing.

SIDEBAR:

–Allison Kruschke, a sophomore in the College of Communication and business and administration committee chair, said all desk receptionists in residence halls are responsible for reporting PrintWise issues.

–Kruschke said her committee is working on providing proper winterization for Norris Park in the upcoming weeks.

–Sterling Hardaway, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences and senator of Student Organizations, said his committee approved two new clubs, Young Americans for Freedom and the Vietnamese Student Association, at its meeting last week.

–Vice President Trent Carlson, a senior in the College of Business Administration, said the Senior Week survey is available online. He said it has so far received more than 200 responses and will be available for another few weeks.

–MUSG is looking for a new financial vice president. Applications are due Nov. 22.

–Next Monday is the deadline for student organizational funding allocations for second semester.

–MUSG is looking for a new Public Relations representative. Applications are due Nov. 21.

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