Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Industrial Studies recently hosted a visit from the National Association of Industrial Technology and received a full six year accreditation.

UWP was the first school to receive the maximum six year accreditation from NAIT, of which it is a charter member. For the accreditation, the department of industrial studies prepared a self study report, which addressed each of the more than 100 points of accreditation. Several examples include the mission, program definition, course sequencing, communication, course requirements and enrollment, classroom and laboratory activities, internships, results of student evaluations and vitae, or qualifications of faculty.

"NAIT is like an auditor. We tell them what we do and they come and verify it. We set high standards. Accreditation means that someone is saying our programs meet minimum requirements and are of good quality. Students and parents look at accreditation as a signal for the quality of our program," said Dick Klawiter, chair of the department of industrial studies.

The NAIT representatives, Rick Coscarelli, executive director of NAIT; C. Ray Diez of the industrial technology department at the University of North Dakota; and Jason Nemeth of V-Sim Inc., visited with Tom Covert, academic computer support specialist for the UWP College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture; Diana Trendt, interim director and career consultant for the UWPCareer Center; Pete Davis, assistant director of facilities managementat UWP; Carol Sue Butts, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UWP; Shane Drefcinski, general education and assessment coordinator at UWP; Cathy Riedl-Farrey, director of business services at UWP; Mick Viney, assistant chancellor for student affairs at UWP; Duane Ford, dean of the UWP College of BILSA; Jennifer Snoek-Brown, UWP reference librarian; Don Moen, a UWP alumnus; Angela Udelhofen; director of the Office of Admission and Enrollment Services at UWP; student organizations and department of industrial studies faculty.

"NAIT is extremely pleased that UWP has chosen to be accredited by NAIT and utilize its accreditation tools to continuously make quality improvements. These tools are based upon a set of proven and tried standards. Quality is when every part is made the same. By being accredited, UWP ensures their graduates have the same skills sets. UWP has such a high placement rate because it recognizes the importance of quality. When an employer hires a quality graduate from an accredited institution, they are more likely to come back to that institution the next time they hire because they know those graduates will have the same skill set," said Coscarelli.

The NAIT team told Klawiter that they were very impressed with how prepared and knowledgeable everyone was. They were most impressed with UWP's library preparation and the way UWP handles its application materials.

"The team said they were very pleased and impressed with the completeness and organization of the NAIT material," said Klawiter.

Contact: Dick Klawiter, chair, department of industrial studies, (608) 342-1246, klawiter@uwplatt.edu Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu