Reaccreditation to happen in '98

In March of next year the College and the Conservatory will be examined by the re-accreditation commissions of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), Oberlin's regional accrediting bodies.

In preparation for the examination, the Self-Study Committee, chaired by Associate Professor of History Carol Lasser, has begun gathering evaluative information from administrative and academic departments.

The accrediting body examines institutions based on a number of criteria. The body checks that appropriate missions and goals are in place for the institution. The institution also must have resources to accomplish these goals and must demonstrate that the goals are currently being worked on.

The institution must also demonstrate integrity in the execution of the mission and goals.

"This is an opportunity to look at ourselves rather hard to see if we're accomplishing the goals that we've set for ourselves," Lasser said.

The Self-Study Committee will meet during the summer to draft a report summarizing the evaluative information. The report should be finished by September.

The Committee will be sending questionnaires to seniors in several academic departments in order to gauge students' impressions of each department. In addition, the Office of Institutional Research will be conducting surveys. According to Lasser, the surveys will provide valuable information for the Committee to include in the study.

Accreditation by a regional accrediting body is done every 10 years. Failure to gain re-accreditation results in the discontinuation of federal funding to the institution.