In Search of Quality

From the perspective of a faculty member, a former coordinator of an institutional self-study, and a consultant/evaluator, I can only wish that this resource had been available when I first became involved with the Association. The lucid historical documentation should go a long way toward dispelling existing misinterpretations of the role of institutional accreditation on our campuses. (Keith O. Anderson, St. Olaf College)With government at both the state and national level encroaching more and more into areas such as assessment - and, by extension, goal setting and institutional character - this readable book could not be more timely. (Dean L. Hubbard, President, Northwest Missouri State University)This is the first critical treatment of the history of one of the six regional accrediting agencies, the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The importance of the book is reflected in continuing calls for attention to quality in education. (Alfred S. Sussman, Dean and Professor Emeritus, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)I was particularly pleased that there was no attempt to 'cover up' any of the controversial issues; positions on both of a number of disputes were summarized. (Margaret B. Lee, Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction, Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL)The book's most important contribution may be to educational institutions which, in the process of preparing to meet accreditation 'standards', must grapple with the relationship between the institutional mission and the 'standards' against which accomplishment of the mission is judged by outside evaluators. This relationship lies at the heart of institutional renewal and, ultimately, educational quality. (Ronald L. Taylor, President, DeVRY Inc., Evanston, IL)

"From the perspective of a faculty member, a former coordinator of an institutional self-study, and a consultant/evaluator, I can only wish that this resource had been available when I first became involved with the Association. The lucid historical documentation should go a long way toward dispelling existing misinterpretations of the role of institutional accreditation on our campuses." (Keith O. Anderson, St. Olaf College)
"With government at both the state and national level encroaching more and more into areas such as assessment - and, by extension, goal setting and institutional character - this readable book could not be more timely." (Dean L. Hubbard, President, Northwest Missouri State University)
"This is the first critical treatment of the history of one of the six regional accrediting agencies, the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The importance of the book is reflected in continuing calls for attention to quality in education." (Alfred S. Sussman, Dean and Professor Emeritus, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
"I was particularly pleased that there was no attempt to 'cover up' any of the controversial issues; positions on both of a number of disputes were summarized." (Margaret B. Lee, Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction, Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL)
"The book's most important contribution may be to educational institutions which, in the process of preparing to meet accreditation 'standards', must grapple with the relationship between the institutional mission and the 'standards' against which accomplishment of the mission is judged by outside evaluators. This relationship lies at the heart of institutional renewal and, ultimately, educational quality." (Ronald L. Taylor, President, DeVRY Inc., Evanston, IL)