University of Montana president accreditates USU
George Dennison, president for the University of Montana, is visiting Utah State University on Wednesday for the interim regional accreditation assessment which happens every five years.
Dennison has been visiting individuals and associations of USU’s higher administration around campus since Tuesday. He is assessing aspects such as financial stability, quality of education and student attributes for the Commission on Colleges and Universities.
“I am here to see how things are going and pay special attention to the earlier review [five years ago] and the reformation that came out of it,” he said.
In a visit with the Associated Students of USU on Tuesday, Dennison explained two issues he is paying particular attention to.
One is an outcome assessment to gauge results in the curriculum. The other is an evaluation on the effect budget challenges have on institutions throughout the state.
“I think the most important issue in most institutions is that there’s a sense among the students that there is a voice that is respected,” Dennison said.
Mike Brockbrader, ASUSU organizations and traditions vice president, said of USU, “I think we’re [ASUSU] a partner with the president. I find that unique, as I’ve traveled the state and been involved with various student governments.”
Celestial Bybee, ASUSU president, said, “The administration is very apt to hear our concerns … we’re both working to better our university and the students.”
Grayson Osborne, USU director of assessment, said after reviewing a written and in-person evaluation, Dennison will write out his own evaluation of USU. After informing the president and administration of his assessment, he will submit it to the commission, which meets in December.
The commission will either reaffirm the accreditation of USU or inform administrators of changes that need to be made in certain areas. A representative will visit USU two years later to confirm the changes were made.
Osborne said the Commission on Colleges and Universities is part of the Northwestern Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities. As part of that, the university goes through a 10-year review cycle as a reaffirmation of accreditation. A crew of 15 to 20 people comes to USU to assess each major area of the university. The five-year review is a midpoint assessment of how the university is doing on accreditation.
“This is just a small part of a larger program,” Osborne said.
Because Dennison works at an institution similar to USU, he was chosen for the assessment.
-mmackay@cc.usu.edu