Reaccreditation
Ohio State, which has been accredited since 1913, is seeking institutional reaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Institutional accreditation is coordinated through six regional associations located across the country--each regional association named after the area of the country in which it operates. Ohio State is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, often referred to as NCA. NCA covers a nineteen state area, and over 1,000 institutions of higher learning hold membership in the Association. The Higher Learning Commission is an independent corporation that holds membership in NCA and is legally empowered to accredit organizations of higher education in the North Central region.
In April of 2007, a team of consultant evaluators from the Higher Learning Commission will visit Ohio State. This site visit represents the culmination of a university-wide self-study reaccreditation process, that began in 2005. This process, which takes place once every ten years, consists of the following:
- a university-wide self-study process and report of findings;
- a site visit by an outside evaluation team and a report of findings; and
- Commission review and recommendation regarding continued accreditation.
During 2006, a steering committee (made up of faculty, students, staff, and administrators) and a college special emphasis liaison committee (made up of representatives from each college) will be reviewing and analyzing data relevant to Ohio State's self-study. A coordinating team in the Office of Academic Affairs will prepare the self-study report for review and comment by the university community in early 2007. The final report will be ready in March of 2007, with the site visit to occur on April 16, 17, and 18 of 2007.
Accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission demonstrates to the public Ohio State's commitment to assuring and advancing quality. More information on the Higher Learning Commission's accreditation criteria and processes can be found at www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org.
