The Challenge and Practice of Academic Accreditation: A Sourcebook for Library Administrators / Edition 1

by Edward D. Garten

Overview

Recent years have seen numerous and substantial changes in the processes, expectations, and criteria that inform the work of regional accreditation commissions and professional accreditation associations. This sourcebook offers an overview of the accreditation process focused specifically on contemporary expectations for and challenges to libraries, information technologies, and academic computing, and offers practical advice to those librarians involved with academic accreditation activity.

Chapters in this professional reference book overview and discuss the principal issues and challenges of academic accreditation, the process of accreditation, and the role of libraries in that process. Throughout the book, attention is given to changing student demographics, the impact of new technologies on the mission of the university, and the evolving expectations placed on the library and other campus information centers. Chapter authors include several executives associated with regional accreditation commissions, library administrators who have extensive experience with accreditation, and university administrators knowledgeable of accreditation issues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313288975
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/29/1994
Series:	Libraries Unlimited Library Management Collection
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

EDWARD D. GARTEN is Dean of Libraries and Information Technologies at the University of Dayton. He is a consultant-evaluator with the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, where he currently serves on the Commission's Accreditation Review Council. His many publications include Using Consultants in Libraries and Information Centers: A Management Handbook (Greenwood Press, 1992).

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Challenges of Accreditation
Challenges for Accreditation in a Rapidly Changing Environment by Kenneth L. Perrin
Accreditation Expectations in the Age of New Technology by Ralph A. Wolff and Mimi Harris Steadman
Challenges to Accreditation from the New Academic Library Environment by Delmus E. Williams
The Practice of Accreditation
Reflective Self-Study as Cornerstone of Accreditation: Part I by Edward D. Garten
Reflective Self-Study as Cornerstone of Accreditation: Part II by Edward D. Garten
Understanding the Purpose and Nature of the Site Visit by Edward D. Garten
The Focused Visit: A Special Type of Library Assessment by Susanne O. Frankie
The Practical Librarian's View of Accreditation by Joan H. Worley
Selected Issues
Distance Education and Off-Campus Library Services: Challenges for the Accreditation Process and Librarians by Thomas E. Abbott
The Concern for Information Literacy: A Major Challenge for Accreditation by Howard L. Simmons
The New American College Student and Workforce Competence: Seven Generalizations that Challenge Traditional Accreditation and Licensure by Robert W. Tucker
Challenges to Accreditation Posed by Nontraditional Models of Information Delivery by Cynthia Hartwell and Edward D. Garten
Rethinking Library Self-Studies and Accreditation Visits by Ralph A. Wolff
Current Standards for Libraries, Information Technologies, and Academic Computing
Current Regional Commission Standards and Guidelines by Edward D. Garten
Current Disciplinary and Professional Association Standards and Guidelines by Edward D. Garten
Highlighting Regional Commission Standards for Libraries and Information Technologies by Selected Categories by Edward D. Garten
Observations on the Expectations for Libraries, Academic Computing, and Other Information Technologies as Found in the Professional and Disciplinary Standards by Edward D. Garten
Libraries and Accreditation: A Bibliographic Essay
Academic Libraries and the Literature of Accreditation by Delmus E. Williams and Phyllis O'Connor
Glossary of Commonly Used Terms in Accreditation compiled by Edward D. Garten
Index

Editorial Reviews

Everything you ever wanted to know about accreditation and more can be found in this collection of essays. It is as reliable a guide as there can be in a time in which this "uniquely American" process is under increasing attack and there are no longer the comfortable certainties and assumptions of old. The contributors, and especially the editor, have been involved in the accreditation process and are, therefore, well qualified to map this complex environment. The book opens with chapters on accrediting institutions and the challenges and difficulties they face. These are followed by comprehensive observations, based on real-life experience, of self-studies and the accreditation process. Much of this is written by the editor. The next section addresses the peculiar problems of libraries, librarians, and library administrators (also "information professionals," whoever they may be) as they seek to deal with accreditation in a world of changing technology, changing universities and colleges, and such phenomena as off-campus centers and distance learning. Garten has labored long and hard to gather all the current criteria and standards for academic libraries and other campus units from all regional accrediting associations and a variety of professional and discipline accreditation bodies. This part is tough sledding, but there is much to interest concerned readers. The book closes with a lengthy bibliographic essay. Recommended to those faced with accreditation who wish to survive the ordeal.-Michael Gorman, California State Univ. Lib., Fresno

Library Journal

Provides librarians and other campus information professionals with insight into some of the contemporary challenges being posed to and by regional and professional accreditation as a result of the rapid changes that are now occurring in academic libraries, academic computing services, and other academic support units. The volume is divided into five parts: the challenges of accreditation; the practice of accreditation; selected issues; current standards for libraries, information technologies, and academic computing; and libraries and accreditation--a bibliographic essay. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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