ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries C&RL News ■ A p ril 1 9 9 8 / 2 6 9 Are you qualified to serve on the accreditation team? Survey results of six accrediting agencies by W illia m N. Nelson I n acco rd with the ACRL Strategic Plan, the ACRL Standards and A ccreditation Com m ittee has begu n to p lace equal f cus on accred itatio n issues, as well as on the p ro fe ssio n ’s standards and guid elines. W hat follow s is o n e product o f this e f­ fo r t.1 D uring D e c e m b e r 1997 and Ja n u a ry 199S, the six regional accred itin g a g e n ­ cies w ere surveyed to determ ine the p ro ­ cess em ployed for acad em ic librarians to b e co m e p eer evaluators on regional a c ­ crediting teams. Five questions w ere asked o f each agen cy. Initial co n tact was by e- mail with a follow -u p te le p h o n e call, as necessary. The e x p e cte d result was for the com m ittee to co m p ile and dissem inate the inform ation so that person s with a p p ro ­ priate q u alification s may apply to b e co m e p eer evaluators. W ho are lib ra ria n e v a lu a to rs? Five o f the six regional accred itin g a g e n ­ cies alw ays, or alm ost alw ays, include a librarian as a m em ber o f every p eer ev alu ­ ation team . In rare cases, a librarian can qualify as a team m em ber for the other regional accred itin g agency. T he ap p lication p rocess for b eco m in g a librarian ev alu ato r varies greatly, but m ost frequ ently the region al accred itin g o ­ a g en cy re ce iv e s re co m m e n d a tio n s from librarians or institutional adm inistrators. In som e instan ces a formal recom m end ation by the institutional president or c h ie f a c a ­ dem ic o fficer is required for consideration. Most o f the agen cies w elcom e nom inations o f ex p e rie n ce d , w ell-qu alified librarians. S electio n to the evaluation team for a s p e ­ cific institu tion g en erally d ep en d s on a num ber o f factors; typically the b est-q u a li­ fied p erson for that particular assignm ent is se le cte d from a d atabase o f potential librarian evaluators. S p e cific q u a lifica tio n s for an a ca d em ic lib rary p e e r e v a lu a to r vary am o n g the re g io n a l a c c re d itin g a g e n c ie s . M ost re ­ q u ire an MLS and e x te n s iv e and a p p r o ­ p riate k n o w le d g e and e x p e r ie n c e in li­ b ra rie s . T h e trend is d e fin ite ly tow ard s e le c t io n o f in d iv id u a ls w ith m u ltip le sk ills and th e ab ility to view th e in s titu ­ tio n as a w h o le . A librarian evalu ator is frequently e x ­ pected to have b road -b ased k n ow led g e in inform ation te ch n o lo g y and inform ation literacy. T he grow ing em phasis by the re­ gional accrediting ag en cies on institutional e ffe c tiv e n e s s and stu d en t lea rn in g o u t­ co m es is b eg in n in g to affect the selectio n o f acad em ic librarians for the p eer ev alu ­ ation team s. About the author William N. Nelson is library director at Augusta State University in Georgia; e-mail: wnelson@ aug.edu mailto:wnelson@aug.edu 2 7 0 / C&RL News ■ A pril 1998 Su rv e y resu lts (A lp h a b e tica lly, by a ge n cy) M id d le S ta te s A s s o c ia tio n o f C o lle g e s an d S ch o o ls, C o m m is sio n on H ig h e r E d u ca tio n Area: D elaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New J ersey, New Y ork, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands 1. Is a li b r a r i a n a m e m b e r o f ev ery p e e r enced as professional librarians. They may e v a lu a t io n ( a c c r e d it in g ) team ? be currently holding such a p osition, or Yes. in anoth er faculty or adm inistrative p o si­ tion, or retired.2. C an a lib r a r ia n q u a lify a s a te a m m e m ­ ber? 5. A re t h e r e q u a lific a t io n s th a t y o u e s p e ­ Yes. c ia lly s e e k in a te a m m em b er? Most team members com e from colleges 3 . W bat is th e p r o c e s s f o r app ly in g ? or universities in the Middle States region, A qualified librarian may submit a letter which are similar to the institution being o f interest and a full curriculum vitae to visited, but som e may be from other re­the executive director o f the commission. gions. First-time evaluators are invited to The applicant must be endorsed by the attend a special workshop to prepare them president or ch ief academ ic officer o f his for their visit. or her institution. Most o ften , librarian evaluators are nominated by the president A dditional inform ation or ch ief academ ic officer. Commission staff 1. Web site URL: http://www.msache. assem ble teams in light o f the current situ­ org/. ation at each institution being reviewed, 2. For further information on evaluation teams, one may order a copy of the H a n d ­draw ing p o te n tia l ev a lu a to rs from the b o o k f o r E valu ation Teams, available through com m ission’s database, and ensure that the the order form on the Web site at http:// team members are acceptable to the insti­ www.msache.org/orderpub.html.tution. 3. There is the possibility of gaining expe­ 4. W bat q u a lific a t io n s a r e r e q u ir ed ? rience in accreditation by serving as an “Evalu­ Evaluators designated with the respon­ ation Team Associate.” Further information on sibility for evaluating the library are indi­ this program is available on the Web site at viduals who are both trained and experi­ http://www.msache.org/poassoc.html. N ew E n g la n d A s s o c ia tio n o f S c h o o ls an d C o lle g e s, C o m m is sio n on In s titu tio n s o f H ig h e r E d u ca tio n Area: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont 1. Is a lib r a r ia n a m e m b e r o f ev ery p e e r In addition to the usual qualifications o f e v a lu a t io n ( a c c r e d it in g ) team ? librarianship, the commission looks for those Yes, in general; som etimes an informa­ who can view an institution as a w hole, tion technology person is used instead. and can work as a m em ber o f a team under 2. C a n a lib r a r ia n q u a lify a s a te a m m e m ­ conditions o f haste, as well as those who ber? understand that it is the com m ission’s stan­ Yes dards, not those o f another agency, that are being applied.3 . W bat is th e p r o c e s s f o r apply in g ? The invitation to librarians com es from A dditional inform ation the commission staff— usually the person 1. Web site URL: http://www.mec.edu/ has been recommended by a librarian who neasc/cihe.htm. knows the com m ission’s work or by an­ 2. The commission’s S tan dards f o r A ccred i­ other administrator who knows both the ta tio n are online at http://www.mec.edu/ com m ission’s work and the candidate. neasc/stancihe.htm. 4. W bat q u a lific a t io n s a r e r e q u ir e d ? 3. The accreditation process is described 5. A re th e r e q u a lific a t io n s th a t y o u e s p e ­ on the Web site at http://www.mec.edu/neasc/ c ia lly s e e k in a te a m m em b er? ciheacc.htm. http://www.msache http://www.msache.org/orderpub.html http://www.msache.org/poassoc.html http://www.mec.edu/ http://www.mec.edu/ http://www.mec.edu/neasc/ C&RL News ■ A p ril 1 9 9 8 / 2 7 1 N o rth C e n tra l A s s o c ia tio n o f C o lle g e s a n d S c h o o ls, C o m m is s io n on In s titu tio n s o f H ig h e r E d u c a tio n Area: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, OHIO, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virglnia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming 1. Is a l i b r a r i a n a m e m b e r o f ev ery p e e r If the applicant can show some significant e v a lu a t io n ( a c c r e d it in g ) team ? related experiences, that will be highly val­ No. The com m ission uses rather small ued, too (e.g., working in special relation­ teams, but will put a librarian on by re­ ships with faculty in applying technology or quest. The commission uses librarians when developing curricula, noted for pioneering certain issues bring forward the matter o f work in developing learning resource sup­ learning resources support (e.g ., distance port for distance education programs, etc.). education, off campus education, etc.). 5. A re t h e r e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s th a t y o u e s p e ­ 2. Can a librarian qualify a s a team m em ber? c ia lly s e e k in a t e a m m em b er? Yes. The com m ission tries to identify people 3 . W hat is th e p r o c e s s f o r ap p ly in g ? cap ab le o f being “gen eralists”— not only Contact the organization for a form to experts in a specific professional field, but com plete, or you can recom m end people capable o f evaluating other aspects o f an and the com m ission will send application institution o f higher education as well. forms to them. Plans are underway for a Web site form. A d d itio n al inform ation 1. Web site URL: http://www.ncacihe.org/.4. W hat q u a lific a t io n s a r e r e q u ir e d ? 2. Expectations of a consultant-evaluator The commission tends to seek multiple are fo u n d on th e W eb s ite at http:// skills in site visitors. Therefore a librarian with www.ncacihe.org/peer/peer/ceexp.cfm. academic credentials and/or experience will 3. An e-mail form is found on the Web site be highly valued. This is less important as for queries about the commission; a consult­ the commission identifies visitors for major ant-evaluator form can be requested here at universities— the teams grow as the size of http://www.ncacihe.org/cerequest.cfm. the institution to be visited grows. Obviously 4. Commission publications may also be the commission seeks som eone with appro­ o rd e re d from th e s ite at http://www. priate professional credentials for a librarian. ncacihe.org/publications.cfm . N o rth w e st A s s o c ia tio n o f S c h o o ls an d C o lle g e s , C o m m is s io n on C o lle g e s Area: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, O regon, Utah, and W ashington 1 . Is a lib r a r ia n a m e m b e r o f every p e e r e v a lu ­ dates for peer evaluator and will accep t a tio n (a c c r e d itin g ) team ? recom m endations from colleagues. Yes. Most frequently it is a librarian, but 4. W hat q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a r e r e q u ir ed ? can be som eone else with expertise in library There is not a set list o f qualifications, and information technology resources. rather the commission seeks persons with 2. C an a lib r a r ia n q u a lify a s a tea m m e m ­ extensive and appropriate knowledge and ber? experience in libraries. Yes. 5. A re th ere q u a lific a tio n s th at y o u esp ecially 3. W hat is the p r o c e s s f o r applying? s e e k in a tea m m em ber? The commission regularly seeks new po­ For librarian evaluators, the commission tential evaluators through mailings to mem­ seeks persons with a broad-based knowledge ber institutions. Interested persons are encour­ in information technology. The best candi­ aged to reply to these solicitations. Potential date is one who has knowledge o f the needs evaluators are entered into a databank, which o f the students relative to information tech­ is used to make assignments for upcoming nology and also o f what tools or strategies peer evaluation teams. In making assign­ an institution needs to support these needs. ments, the commission endeavors to closely match the evaluators with a size and type of A d d itio n al inform ation institution most like their own. The commis­ The commission plans to develop a Web sion is always looking for good library candi­ site in 1998. http://www.ncacihe.org/ http://www.ncacihe.org/cerequest.cfm 272 I C&RL News ■ April 1998 S o u th e rn A s s o c ia tio n o f C o lle g e s an d S ch o o ls, C o m m is s io n on C o lle g e s Area: Alabama, Florida, G eorgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, T ennessee, T exas, and Virginia 1. Is a l i b r a r i a n a m e m b e r o f e v er y p e e r 5. A re t h e r e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s th at y o u e s p e ­ e v a lu a t io n ( a c c r e d it in g ) tea m ? Y es. c ia lly s e e k in a te a m m em b er? 2. C an a lib r a r ia n q u a lify a s a te a m m e m ­ The usual requirem ent is an MLS and ber? exp erience at the degree level o f the insti­ tution under review.Yes. 3 . W hat is th e p r o c e s s f o r ap p ly in g ? A dd itio n al inform ation The commission accepts nomination by 1. Web site URL: http://www.sacs.org/. the institutional president, a staff member, 2. The commission’s 7996 Criteria f o r A c­ or colleague. cred itation is found on the Web site at http:// 4. W hat q u a lific a t io n s a r e r e q u ir e d ? www.sacs.org/pub/coc/cri70.htm. W e stern A s s o c ia tio n o f S c h o o ls an d C o lle g e s , A c c r e d it in g C o m m is s io n f o r S e n io r C o lle g e s an d U n iv e rs itie s Area: California, Hawaii, American Samoa, G uam, and T rust T erritories of the. Pacific 1. I s a lib r a r ia n a m e m b e r o f every p e e r e v a lu ­ ings, budget, and buildings— toward a much atio n (a c c r ed itin g ) team ? more learning-centered approach that can be Yes. Every comprehensive evaluation team made pan of a broader team effort to assess typically has a librarian. The association is, the institutional learning community. however, looking into making the teams 5. A re th ere q u a lific a tio n s that y o u esp ecially smaller, in which case a librarian may not be s e e k in a team m em ber? on every future comprehensive evaluation Increasingly the commission is looking for team. people who can: 1) move beyond the library 2. C an a lib r a r ia n q u a lify a s a team m em ­ and engage the faculty; 2) address informa­ ber? Yes. tion literacy and learning goals for the library; 3 . What is the p r o c e s s f o r applying? and 3) address technology issues on an insti­ Most librarians are nominated by an insti­ tutional scale. The commission is assessing tution or by other librarians. Commission whether they should have a librarian on all members observe librarians during a visit and comprehensive visits; the answer will be de­ also inquire about qualified librarians. termined by the extent to which they can get the kind of people identified above.4. What q u a lific a tio n s a r e requ ired ? Extensive experience as a librarian and at least an MLS degree are required; significant Additional inform ation years in library administration and demon­ 1. The commission usually works with librar­ strated judgement and vision are expected. ians within the region, so it welcomes new nomi­ nations and especially desires strong candidates. The commission is currently trying to move For visits to larger institutions, the commis­the process toward a greater emphasis on sion goes outside the region, especially to student learning and other outcomes. The Arizona, Oregon, and Washington.commission is therefore interested in librar­ 2. Web site URL: http://wascweb.org/ ians who are capable of conceiving the li­ senior/wasesr.htm. brary as a significant center for student learn­ 3. Commission publications available online ing, integration of technology into the learn­ from the Web site include Principles a n d G uide­ ing process, and information literacy issues. lines f o r Developing Policy a n d D ata Portfolios The commission is interested in evaluators to Support Special Topics Self-Studies at http:// who are capable of going beyond the tradi­ www.waseweb.org/senior/POLS.HlM (requires tional program— review o f library staff, hold­ Adobe Acrobat reader). N ote 1. For another com m ittee initiative see: William N. Nelson, “Leadership Beyond the Library: Accrediting Teams,” C&RL News, 58 (June 1997): 410-12, 426. http://www.sacs.org/ http://wascweb.org/ http://www.waseweb.org/senior/POLS.HlM