Accreditation Update: February 18, 2013

As the College moves into the final year of its self-study and continues to make preparations for the Higher Learning Commission Comprehensive Evaluation, the Self-Study Steering Committee has been not only considering the Criteria for Accreditation, but also those areas that the Higher Learning Commission listed as "topics requiring institutional attention" during its last visit.  As part of our preparation, we are expected to reflect seriously on those issues and provide evidence to the Commission documenting the extent to which we believe they have been addressed.  The evaluation team indicated that five topics should receive attention by Concordia; the Commission expects us to have made progress in each.  The next few updates will provide a little more information about those topics.  Information about the first, second, and third topics can be found here and here and here.

In 2003, the report from the Higher Learning Commission indicated that though Concordia's "facilities were evaluated as generally exceptional," they suggested the "upgrading of science laboratories and other facilities; need to address safety, space, and currency." The team specifically referenced safety features in the science laboratories as needing attention and encouraged the continued updating of additional buildings; those specifically mentioned included the library, field house, locker rooms, the Jake, and some residence halls.

Though noting that the College has not moved as rapidly as we had hoped, we will indicate that this issue has been addressed.  The concern about safety in the Chemistry laboratories was identified as a lack of sufficient hood space.  The faculty in the Department of Chemistry has revised curriculum and limited enrollment in lab sections to ensure the safety of all students until a more permanent renovation occurs.  We will highlight the progress that has been made on the planning for new construction and renovation of Ivers/Jones, as well as its prominence in the 2012-17 strategic plan.

Additional campus renovation since the last team visit includes the locker rooms and additional updates to Memorial Auditorium.  We will describe the successes of the "Update the Jake” campaign and renovation or new construction of Townhouses, Riverside Center, Advancement Center, Welcome Center, Knutson Campus Center,and President’s House. Improvements have been made to the library and to Fjelstad, Brown, Hallet, Grant, Erickson, and Hoyum Halls. Finally we will highlight the renovation of Grant Center to house the Offutt School of Business and Barry Auditorium.

The Campus Master Plan was revised in November 2010.  Included in this revision was an identification of those campus facilities that required renewal because of deferred maintenance. 

A booklet describing all of the requirements of the Higher Learning Commission can be found here. If you have questions about the Higher Learning Commission or Concordia’s approach to the self-study, please direct them to either of the coordinators - Kristi Loberg or Michael Wohlfeil - or to any of the members of the Self-Study Steering Committee.

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