Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - As the University of Wisconsin-Platteville continues to prepare for its 10-year on-site review by The Higher Learning Commission, six faculty members have been named chairs of committees to prepare for certain reaccreditation criteria.

There are five criteria that shape how the commission reviews institutions of higher education, and UW-Platteville has formed committees to target these criteria. Assistant dean of the UWP College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture Dick Klawiter will serve as chair of the committee on "Mission and Integrity"; professor of engineering Joanne Wilson, "Preparing for the Future"; electrical engineering department chair Mesut Muslu, "Student Learning and Effective Teaching"; and assistant professor of biology Kris Wright, "Acquisition, Discovery and Application of Knowledge." Kevin Bernhardt, associate professor of agribusiness, and Sue Curtis, coordinator of the Community University Partnership, will co-chair a committee on "Engagement and Service."

The six faculty members will join general education and assessment coordinator Shane Drefcinski and steering committee co-chairs Tom Nelson and Machelle Schroeder in heading up the reaccreditation effort. A number of additional faculty and staff serve on the steering committee: Esther Ofulue from the College of BILSA; Abulkhair Masoom and Barbara Barnet, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science; Alison Bunte and Pat Bromley, College of Liberal Arts and Education; Derek Dachelet, University Advancement; Rich Egley, Student Affairs; and John Krogman, assistant vice chancellor for Information Services.

"The people who were chosen to be on this steering committee are excellent leaders within the university," provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs Carol Sue Butts said. "Many of them are faculty members, and we have leaders from other areas of the university as well. The accreditation looks at all aspects of the university - the academic side, the financial side, advancement, development, student affairs - so we need leaders from each one of those components."

The Higher Learning Commission is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Founded in 1895, the association is one of six regional institutional accrediting organizations in the United States. Individual universities are reviewed on-site by the Higher Learning Commission every 10 years; UWP is scheduled for its next on-site review in 2006.

Contact: Carol Sue Butts, provost, 608-342-1261, buttsc@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Dan Lehnherr, UWP Public Relations, 608-342-1194, lehnherd@uwplatt.edu