NEASC Updates from President Selma Botman

November 29, 2011
NEASC Accreditation Follow Up

The final NEASC Site Visit Report 2011 is now published and available under 
"NEASC Site Visit Report".

July 21, 2011

Dear Colleagues:

We now have the final NEASC Site Visit Report. It has been officially submitted to NEASC. This report represents a long, careful process that has engaged a broad and representative swath of the University of Southern Maine community. The work in preparation for the team's site visit provided a very productive opportunity for us to reflect on USM, in all its complexity, as well as to assess both how we are doing and how we can improve.

The university looks forward to working with the Commission during the next stage of this process. I know that all of us stand ready to provide whatever additional information or assistance the Commission deems necessary for a successful conclusion of USM's accreditation process. NEASC is expected to make a decision on our re-accreditation in the early fall.

Sincerely,

Selma Botman
President

The NEASC Self Study Report 2011 is now published and available under 
"NEASC Self Study Report 2011".

April 15, 2011

Dear Colleagues:

The eight members of the NEASC Evaluation Team concluded their visit on Wednesday, April 13 with "broad brush observations" that included references to students who are enthusiastic about their educational opportunities, programs that are strong and innovative, and faculty who are skilled teachers and scholars.

Chair Patricia Meservey, president of Salem State University, also told those of us gathered for the exit report that we must maintain our focus on ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability; pay close attention to the use of data; refine our assessment tools; and continue to ensure that information is shared, consumed and understood.

Although preliminary in nature, I am very pleased with this report and the open, forthright way in which we presented ourselves. Thanks so much to all of you, including many colleagues behind the scenes, who work so hard to make this a university with a very bright future.

The Evaluation Team will submit a written report to NEASC in June, which we will have an opportunity to review. NEASC is expected to make a decision on our re-accreditation in the early fall.

Sincerely,

Selma Botman
President

April 6, 2011

Dear Members of the USM Community:

Every 10 years, the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) thoroughly evaluates member colleges and universities to determine whether they meet rigorous standards for institutional accreditation.

USM was last accredited in 2001. We are now in the final stages of the process to earn reaccreditation.

The NEASC Evaluation Team, an 8-member team of peers from other institutions, will be here on April 10-13 to submit a recommendation on our fitness for reaccreditation.

Numerous meetings, including open forums for faculty, staff and students, have been planned. The complete schedule of meetings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the visit is available here.

This has been a rigorous process, spanning nearly two years and involving some 200 members of the campus community. A major component of this process was completion of a 100-page Self-Study Report that offers an honest appraisal of how we have met 11 NEASC standards. The NEASC Accreditation Self Study Report 2011 is available on this site.

Finally, if you have the opportunity, please join me in thanking members of the NEASC Steering Committee and Chair Luisa Deprez for guiding us through this process. 

Sincerely,

Selma Botman
President