Staff Report
The Higher Learning Commission has arrived at UNM to begin evaluating the University for re-accreditation.
Students, faculty, staff and community members can meet with the HLC team for discussion in open forums today.
The HLC is hosting the forums to hear from the UNM community, which should help it in its assessment of how UNM is meeting the five criteria for re-accreditation.
Nancy Middlebrook, University accreditation director, said a member of the HLC accreditation team will open each forum by introducing what they hope to address. As the meeting progresses, the team will direct it by asking specific questions.
"It will be a very open style where people can ask questions," she said. "It will be a two-way conversation with the HLC."
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Middlebrook said the team is interested in hearing comments and listening to students describe their experiences on campus. This will give them an idea of whether UNM is meeting the criteria for re-accreditation.
"There is only so much time that (evaluators) are here on campus," she said. "The open forum gives the opportunity for people to provide some input that wouldn't otherwise have been heard."
The criteria the University must meet to be approved are divided into five categories:
- Missionˇandˇintegrity
- Preparingˇforˇtheˇfuture
- Studentˇlearningˇandˇeffectiveˇteaching
- Acquisition, discovery and applicationˇofˇknowledge
- Engagementˇandˇservice
These five criteriaˇare judged by a set of four to five components to help the team determine whether the institution is meeting the requirements.
Middlebrook said she would like to see a good turnout at the forums for the HLC.
The team will also meet with several campus departments and organizations, but those meetings will be closed to the public.
Middlebrook said today's forums are the only time during the HLC's visit that the UNM community will have the opportunity to meet with evaluators and voice their opinion.
Middlebrook said participation in the forums would be nice because UNM's population is what makes the University great.
"We want to show them that we are a good University. That is what is in everybody's best interest," she said.
Forums today
3:45-4:30 p.m.
Faculty forum: SUB Ballroom A
Staff forum: SUB Ballroom B
Student forum: SUB Lobo rooms A and B
Community forum: Continuing Education Building, Room C
