[Vision2020] The UI Friday Letter

[Tom Hansen]

University of Idaho

Office of the President

Moscow, Idaho 83844-3151

Phone: 208-885-6365

Fax: 208-885-6558

 

The Friday Letter

A Newsletter for University of Idaho

Alumni and Friends

October 8, 2004

Dear Friends,

 

We are in the final throes of the re-accreditation process for the
University of Idaho, in which all aspects of the university's activities
over the past decade are evaluated in more than 200 areas. As detailed
below, we have much pride in the analysis, and as friends of the university
you should share in that pride of accomplishment, many of which were
achieved because of your generosity. In addition to several commendations,
the accreditation team provided us with some excellent recommendations for
improvement in several areas that we already are in the process of
addressing, such as institutional mission, strategic planning and financial
accountability.

 

I never imagined that I would be writing so soon with the news of yet
another student death. Nicholas Curcuru, a senior majoring in microbiology,
was killed Wednesday morning in a motorcycle accident on Moscow's east side.
Nicholas was a native of Plymouth, Mass. Passenger Jessica Glindeman, a
sophomore from Bonners Ferry majoring in anthropology, was injured in the
crash and was treated at Pullman Memorial Hospital. Obviously, this is an
unprecedented string of tragedies in the Vandal family, and we extend our
heartfelt condolences to Nicholas family and friends. Dean of Students
Bruce Pitman and professionals in the UI Counseling Center are working with
friends, roommates and others close to Nicholas to help them through this
difficult time.

 

Tim White

President

 

Here's the latest news from the University of Idaho:

 

As part of the standard re-accreditation process, an accrediting team from
the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) outlined its
draft recommendations and commendations for the University of Idaho this
morning at the conclusion of a three-day visit to the Moscow campus. NWCCU
has authority from the U.S. Department of Education to grant institutional
accreditation to eligible universities and colleges in the multi-state
Northwest region.

 

"We've heard positive comments, which you would expect, and we've heard some
negative comments, which you would expect," said Jay Gogue, president at the
University of Houston in Texas and chair of the accrediting team. "But
everyone we've heard from has had the basic good of the university at heart.
During our visit, we saw many things that you do much better than our own
institutions." He noted the air of optimism and hope for the future.

 

In general, the team commended the UI for its commitment to students,
learning and living facilities, the new core curriculum, access to
technology, the dedication of faculty and staff, and success with private
fund raising. The team's recommendations for improvement are centered on
clarifying institutional mission, initiating strategic planning,
strengthening assessment, reviewing governance and addressing staffing and
financial issues.

 

Gogue said the team will provide a draft copy of its report to White within
the next 10 days to ensure it is factually accurate. A final report will be
submitted by early November to NWCCU, which will vote on UIs
re-accreditation in mid-January. An audio recording of President Gogue's
report is available under Faculty/Staff Announcements on Today at Idaho at
www.uidaho.edu.

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