Aug. 20, 1997 Contact John R. Crosiar (541) 346-3135 EUGENE--The University of Oregon's leadership in implementing new technologies, its "creative and entrepreneurial response to the state budget reductions" and its positive sense of community earned it high praise along with full accreditation from the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC). Those commendations and others are part of the final report of the 15-member site visit team, approved during a formal hearing of the accrediting body's Commission on Colleges in Ogden, Utah, in late June. Evaluators spent three days on campus in April. "The positive findings of the Northwest Association are gratifying but not surprising," said UO President Dave Frohnmayer. "We have a wonderful institution with a marvelous story to tell." Frohnmayer gives full credit for achieving the 10-year reaccreditation to the many faculty and staff involved in the university's accreditation self-study. He said a steering committee and others across campus worked diligently during the past two years to make it happen. The evaluation committee's final report found "an attractive and aesthetically pleasing campus" with new and renovated facilities that are "attractive and functional in carrying out the university's mission." They especially praised the university's success in private fund raising since launching The Oregon Campaign in 1994. As of June 30, the campaign has raised $184.3 million toward its December 1998 goal of $200 million to support library collections and technology, research initiatives, graduate student aid programs, and building construction and renovation. In addition, the evaluation team commended the university for its "exemplary achievement in optimizing resources and facilitating collaboration through its interdisciplinary centers and institutes." The regional accrediting body also recommended improvement in four areas: * Continue giving priority attention to increasing faculty and staff salaries. * Continuing and consistent review of faculty performance, especially of tenured faculty. * Coordination and improvement of educational assessment processes whose results should directly influence future planning and decision-making. * Consideration of modifications to the university's general education program to bring more coherency to it. Frohnmayer says the university appreciates the very positive report on its status and will take steps to address the accrediting association's recommendations. Accreditation, based on an evaluation every 10 years, is intended to assure that the University of Oregon and other NASC-member colleges and universities meet self-regulated standards. These standards involve institutional mission and objectives, finance, physical plant, library and information resources, educational programs, continuing education and special instructional activities, instructional staff and faculty evaluation, administration, students, scholarship and research, and graduate programs. The 15-member accreditation site team's three-day visit to the UO campus last spring was the culmination of a 14-month self-study by university officials. During that time, an Accreditation Self-Study Steering Committee, co-chaired by Assistant Vice Provost Susan Plass and chemistry professor Robert Mazo, gathered and analyzed information from many parts of campus to document UO compliance with the standards. Dave Hubin, executive assistant president, served as accreditation liaison officer. The site team's visit provided outside evaluators, chaired by Joan K. Wadlow, chancellor of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, an opportunity to meet with campus representatives in a series of public and private sessions to review and clarify any questions team members may have had about the university's self-study. The University of Oregon, elected to membership in the Association of American Universities in 1969, has full accreditation from the NASC and from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Individual programs in the university's professional schools and colleges are accredited by various accrediting organizations related to their respective fields of study. -30- #O-2036/Local,OrDailies,PDX