Open Forums to Measure SUU Quality

Published: April 03, 2014 | Read Time: 2 minutes

In partnership with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Utah University will hold several public open forums to discuss the University's educational effectiveness. Students, faculty and staff are all encouraged to join the conversation.

The forums, running April 9-11, will follow a Q&A format between NWCCU Evaluation Committee members and the campus community in an open discussion to better understand the University's recent strides as well as areas in which administrators' faculty and staff can yet improve. These meetings are a standard component of the NWCCU's ongoing institutional evaluation of every college and university within its purview.

During the NWCCU's upcoming visit, they will meet with students, faculty, staff, community members and trustees to gather first-hand input about how well SUU is doing in fulfilling its mission. The evaluation committee will issue its preliminary findings on the final day of the campus visit in a formal exit meeting on Friday, April 11, at 3:30 p.m. in the Sterling Church Auditorium. These findings usually include commendations about things SUU is doing well and possible areas for improvement.

Before its final report, the NWCCU will discuss its evaluation with all members of the campus community in open meetings:

• SUU FACULTY - Wednesday, April 9, at 2 p.m. in the Charles Hunter Room (Hunter Conference Center)
• SUU STUDENTS - Wednesday, April 9, at 3 p.m. in the Charles Hunter Room (Hunter Conference Center)
• SUU STAFF - Thursday, April 10, at 3 p.m. in the Starlight Room (Sharwan Smith Student Center)

Periodically colleges and universities who are members of NWCCU are required to go through a comprehensive self-study that describes how well the school thinks it is doing fulfilling its educational mission and standards defined by NWCCU. SUU completed its self-study in February after two years of work and sent it to an evaluation committee designated by NWCCU and composed of faculty and administrators from other member schools. Regional accreditation of post-secondary institutions is a voluntary, non-governmental, self-regulatory process of quality assurance and institutional improvement. As an NWCCU-accredited institution since 1933, the NWCCU last reaffirmed SUU’s accreditation in Fall 2011 after a Year One Evaluation. SUU is now scheduled for a Year Seven Comprehensive Report and visit.

SUU's self-evaluation report for NWCCU is available online.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is one of six regional organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit post-secondary institutions within the United States. The NWCCU is charged with the accreditation of higher education institutions in the seven-state Northwest region which includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. This geographical area includes about 156 colleges and universities accredited by NWCCU.

---

Contact Information:

435-586-5400
Contact the Office of Marketing Communication