News 2010: Public Comment on UMass Dartmouth Accreditation Invited

News 2010: Public Comment on UMass Dartmouth Accreditation Invited
Public Comment on UMass Dartmouth Accreditation Invited

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will undergo its regular 10-year comprehensive evaluation visit April 11-15 by a team representing the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will undergo its regular 10-year comprehensive evaluation visit April 11-15 by a team representing the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution. 

The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education is one of eight accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole. The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 200 institutions in the six-state New England region. 

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has been accredited by the Commission since 1964 and was last reviewed in April 2000. Its accreditation by the New England Association encompasses the entire institution. For the past year and a half, The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the Commission's Standards for Accreditation. An evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will recommend to the Commission a continuing status for the institution; following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action. 

The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution to:

Public Comment on The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education 
New England Association of Schools and Colleges 
209 Burlington Road 
Bedford, MA 01730-1433 
E-mail: cihe@neasc.org. 

Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution. Comments will not be treated as confidential. Written, signed comments must be received by April 15, 2010. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that due date will be considered. Comments should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments. 

The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Individuals considering submitting complaints against an affiliated institution should request the separate Policy and Procedures for the Consideration of Complaints Made Against Affiliated Institutions from the Commission office.