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Welcome
to the UAMS Web Site
for HLC/NCA Accreditation
UAMS was accredited by the Higher
Learning Commission of the North Central Association of
Colleges and Schools (NCA) in September, 2007 for a ten year period ending in 2017. The
accreditation process required the preparation of an institutional self-study. The self-study process was carried out by five Criterion Committees with guidance from a campus Steering Committe, over a period of 20 months. A site visit team appointed by NCA/HLC visited the campus from April 2-4, 2007 to conduct interviews and examine evidence to support the University's self-study document.
In preparing for
institutional accreditation, UAMS
was presented with the opportunity
to conduct self-examination to assure
high quality education.
This web-site provides information about that process, evidence resulting from the accreditation (e.g., survey data), and the self-study document itself, which offers a comprehensive overview of the history, progress and needs of the institution.
Download the UAMS Self-study
Introduction
to the NCA
NCA
Mission Statement:
"Serving
the Common Good by Assuring and
Advancing
the Quality of Higher Learning"
The
North Central Association
(NCA) is one of six regional accrediting agencies made up of member
organizations from nineteen states. Two independent commissions
are also members of NCA, one of which is the Higher Learning Commission
(HLC), in Illinois . The HLC is the entity that holds the legal
authority to conduct accrediting activities for institutions of
higher learning in the north central region, including UAMS.
While
the process takes place in higher learning institutions, the accreditation
involves review of the whole institution not just its academic programs.
It also assesses governance and administration, financial stability,
admissions and study personnel services, resources, student academic
achievement, organizational effectiveness, and relationships with
outside constituencies.
For
more information visit the NCA website at http://www.ncahlc.org
UAMS'
History with the NCA
The
University of Arkansas was first accredited by the North Central
Association in 1924 and has been continuously accredited since that
time. In 1975 the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences was
designated as a distinct campus and continued its accreditation
through the University of Arkansas . In 1986, UAMS presented a self-study
and was visited by an NCA evaluation team after which, the Commission
on Institutes of Higher Education voted on June 19, 1987 to grant
the university full accreditation. UAMS was once again granted accreditation
in 1997, and must be accredited again in 2007. UAMS' Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs is leading the campus effort in plans and preparations
associated with the re-accreditation process.
The
Value of NCA/HLC Accreditation to UAMS
Although
receiving and maintaining accreditation is a voluntary process,
it is also extremely valuable for two important reasons:
1.
UAMS' status is enhanced through NCA accreditation to
prospective students and faculty, affiliated institutions, funding
agencies, donors, state and local policy-makers, and key constituencies
and stakeholders in the community. It is a "seal of approval" that
guarantees the public that UAMS is a financially stable institution
where both programs and personnel meet exacting standards, capable
of delivering quality instruction to its students and outstanding
service to the community.
2.
The campus will benefit from the accreditation process
itself, which entails a great deal
of self-examination, internal
assessment and quality improvement initiatives. Through this process,
institutions typically discover - or come to better understand -
problem areas, issues and concerns aside from those most in question
because of accreditation. Inevitably, the accreditation imperative
provides the impetus for improvement and correction throughout the
institution at a pace that would not occur otherwise.
Steering
Committee
Under
the direction of Dr. Larry Milne, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
and Research Administration, an NCA Accreditation Steering Committee
has been established to oversee the university's application for
continued accreditation. Click here
to learn more about the Steering Committee and to see a list of
members.
Criterion
Committees
Feedback
and Concerns
Your
feedback is very important to us and to the accreditation process.
Please feel free to give us your comments and/or concerns regarding
any aspect of the accreditation or the self-study process, to ask
questions, or offer useful suggestions.
Contacts
Larry
D. Milne, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Research Administration
501-686-5672 / milnelarryd@exchange.uams.edu
Elizabeth
A. Bard
Director of Administration and Institutional Reporting
501-296-1275 / ebard@uams.edu
For
further information or to make comments about this page,
please
contact: ebard@uams.edu.
This
site last modified
08/25/2009
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