UT gets certification from North Central

4/18/2002

An independent evaluating team briefly discussed the University of Toledo's strengths and weaknesses yesterday before announcing that it will recommend that the school be reaccredited for 10 years.

Officials from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools wrapped up their three-day visit to campus by saying that they expect to return in three years to check the college's progress in two areas.

UT needs to implement a university-wide strategic plan and a plan for assessing what its students learn, according to Dr. David Asai, a biology professor at Purdue University who led the team.

He praised the UT campus and facilities as well as its faculty and staff for their dedication and resilience. He also said that President Daniel Johnson appears to have gained the confidence of the university community through open communication.

The team advised UT to work on improving diversity among its employees and develop plans for enrollment management and technology upgrades. It also recommended clarifying the board of trustees' bylaws on issues such as conflicts of interest.

Accreditation is a lengthy process colleges and universities undertake to show they conform to certain standards. UT last underwent the process 10 years ago.