Q&A: Ranger Today talks with Kim Kelley

The first draft of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside's accreditation self-study is now online and ready for your review. Ranger Today asked Kim Kelley, who is co-chairing the accreditation effort with Biological Sciences' Rob Barber, to comment on the value of self-study comments from faculty, staff, students, and the community.

Ranger Today: Do we really want people to comment on the self-study and what's the benefit to the university's accreditation effort if they do?

Kelley: You've heard the phrase "it takes a village to raise a child?" Well, creating a great self-study is much like child rearing; our colleagues, friends, and our students have developed the document through their best efforts as the leaders and members of the criterion committees, and the steering and leadership committees. Now, it's time for our "village," the UW-Parkside community of faculty, students, and staff to give us their views, to help us identify and fill in any gaps, to ensure accuracy, and to get involved so we have a final document that everyone knows is our best effort.

RT: Is it possible for people to provide content for the self-study that the self-study does not yet have? In other words, a faculty or staff member has a personal example of, let's say, community engagement that--until looking at the self-study--did not realize it would enhance the document. It there still time to get that information in the report?

Kelley: Of course! All examples are extremely important and they're evidence that we are living our mission and we can demonstrate our successes. All types of documentation contribute directly to the quality of the self-study and to our Virtual Resource Room, the place we house documentation that supplements and enhances the self-study document. So, don't hesitate! Send anything you think will contribute to the document. 

RT: If you were to personally sit down with every faculty, staff, and student, what would you say to motivate them to look at the self-study and then comment on it?

Kelley: I liken commenting on the self-study to voting. Since we will soon vote for our next president, it seems apropos. I think of the following quote by California Senator Barbara Boxer: "Every citizen of this country should be guaranteed that their vote matters, that their vote is counted, and that in the voting booth, their vote has a much weight as that of any CEO, any member of Congress, or any president." I think that
says it pretty well. 

Right now, each and every person on this campus is being asked to contribute. We need your comments, ideas, and suggestions. Engage with the material and share your views, because December is too late. We need you, we appreciate you, and we ask you to help us present our campus accurately, fairly, and fully. Please comment on the self-study. And vote in November!

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ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 9/13/2012

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