University of Denver to Appeal
Accreditation Denial
University of Denver officials say they will appeal the American Library Association's July 12 decision to deny accreditation to UD's Master of Library and Information Services degree program. Director of Program Development Dan Callahan told American Libraries the denial came as a shock, and the appeal, which must be filed by August 23, will clarify what he characterized as misunderstandings on the part of ALA's Committee on Accreditation.
The committee made the determination not to accredit after a 44-month process, concluding that the program (established in 1995) had too few full-time professors, needed a stronger research focus, offered too few electives, and needed to clarify its mission in relation to its governing unit, UD's University College.
Callahan said part of the reason accreditation was denied may be that UD's is a "nontraditional program" that offers courses "on an accelerated basis," mostly evenings and weekends to students who are largely working professionals. "It didn't look like other programs the COA were familiar with," he observed.
Posted August 2, 1999.
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