2008 Woodie Awards
NEASC scopes out URI to give stamp of approval
Chloe Thompson
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: News
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10/19/07 - Beginning Monday, the University of Rhode Island will be evaluated for reaccredidation by representatives from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges on its scholarship, finances and integrity.
Provost Beverly Swan explained reaccredidation as "a very positive stamp of approval for a university to have." She said she feels the university has a strong chance of being reaccredited.
"I think we're in very good shape," she said.
The university goes through being reaccredited every 10 years, and this is Swan's third time overseeing the reaccredidation process. In the national process, a university is evaluated upon its meeting certain standards, and the committee deems whether or not the university is reputable.
The committee from NEASC will be looking at several things when they visit campus Oct. 21 to 24, and Swan said she thinks the largest problem area will be the university's financial situation. It is essential to be accredited in order to gain federal funding.
"[Lack of state funding is] not just at URI," Swan said. "This is a national problem. State support for public universities is dwindling, and what they will want to look at is to make sure we are exploring other revenue streams to keep the institution going, and we are."
Vice President of Administration Robert Weygand said last week in regards to the lack of state support, "That's bothersome and it is a red flag for those reviewing us."
He added that during the past two years, the university has seen a net decrease of about $10 million in state funding.
"That's a lot of tuition now on the backs of our students," Weygand said. "That, to me, is the biggest challenge to the university."
Both Swan and Weygand said the university is increasing its number of research projects and capital campaigns, like Making a Difference, which is expected to bring in $100 million for scholarships, to bring in more revenue.
Swan said the biggest part of accreditation is a review of the school's academic programs and the school's mission.
Provost Beverly Swan explained reaccredidation as "a very positive stamp of approval for a university to have." She said she feels the university has a strong chance of being reaccredited.
"I think we're in very good shape," she said.
The university goes through being reaccredited every 10 years, and this is Swan's third time overseeing the reaccredidation process. In the national process, a university is evaluated upon its meeting certain standards, and the committee deems whether or not the university is reputable.
The committee from NEASC will be looking at several things when they visit campus Oct. 21 to 24, and Swan said she thinks the largest problem area will be the university's financial situation. It is essential to be accredited in order to gain federal funding.
"[Lack of state funding is] not just at URI," Swan said. "This is a national problem. State support for public universities is dwindling, and what they will want to look at is to make sure we are exploring other revenue streams to keep the institution going, and we are."
Vice President of Administration Robert Weygand said last week in regards to the lack of state support, "That's bothersome and it is a red flag for those reviewing us."
He added that during the past two years, the university has seen a net decrease of about $10 million in state funding.
"That's a lot of tuition now on the backs of our students," Weygand said. "That, to me, is the biggest challenge to the university."
Both Swan and Weygand said the university is increasing its number of research projects and capital campaigns, like Making a Difference, which is expected to bring in $100 million for scholarships, to bring in more revenue.
Swan said the biggest part of accreditation is a review of the school's academic programs and the school's mission.