FM Helps to Set the Standard for UW Accreditation

by Chris Malins

Every ten years the UW must submit a report to the Commission on Colleges and Universities that illustrates how it has maintained high academic and administrative standards and why it should continue to be considered an “accredited” university. Accreditation is an extremely important distinction for an institution of higher learning. A degree earned from an accredited university gives the degree validity and is a reflection of the quality of the education. On the research side, an accredited university is much more likely to receive federal and state funding.

Each professional school and program (i.e., Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, etc) must submit an accreditation report on a periodic basis, but the institution as a whole is reviewed once each decade. The overall accreditation report is a massive compilation of information from all parts of the University. It is divided into nine “standards” and can exceed 1,000 pages.

Under the direction of Vice Provost Steven Olswang and Associate Vice Provost Cheryl Cameron, the accreditation steering committee was formed in 2001 to lead the charge. Charles Bennett from Financial Accounting is the Financial Management representative and has worked with Associate Vice President Sandra Lier to amass the necessary information. The steering committee is just wrapping up work in anticipation of the April 2003 campus visit from the Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The standard called Finance (Standard Seven) is an excellent high-level discussion of how the University is funded and the financial challenges facing the UW in the future. Charles was ably assisted by Nancy Treibel, Bill Christensen, Chris Malins, Ann Sarna and many others in developing Standard Seven. The hard work is apparent in the finished document. The completed 2003 Decennial Accreditation, including Standard Seven, is available for viewing at:

http://www.washington.edu/about/accreditation/index.html

If you are interested in how the UW works and how what we do in FM relates to the rest of campus, be sure to take a look at this document.

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