UI Nears End of 10-Year Accreditation Process

For nearly two years, about 70 University of Illinois faculty and administrators have been evaluating the university's academic quality - now it's time for the public to have their say.

Every ten years the U of I and other colleges go through an accreditation process, along with nearly every other grade, middle and high school in the state. That U of I faculty and staff committee reports its findings to the Higher Learning Commission North Central Association, which makes the final decision on accreditation. But before that decision, anyone who wants to can submit their comments on the university's operations.

Vice provost Richard Wheeler says accreditation ensures students and the community that the U of I is meeting its mission. "They (the accreditation committee) actually have free range to look at anything that's going on here, and we are a research university, so our report is among other things devoted to making it clear that we have a very strong research environment here," Wheeler said. "But their concerns are more likely to be focused on undergraduate education."

Wheeler says the North Central Association has accredited the U of I since 1913, though ten years ago it hesitated over concerns about how the university was handling the Chief Illiniwek controversy.

People can submit their comments in writing to Public Comment on University of Illinois, The Higher Learning Commission, 30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400, Chicago IL 60602.