As the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ pursues switching accreditors, some faculty members are raising concerns about their involvement in the process.
“To date, planning for this major educational and academic change has not included informing, deliberations with, or approval by the elected faculty governance body, the Faculty Senate,†wrote Leila Hudson, elected chair of the UA faculty, in a letter dated Jan. 5, 2023 to Jamienne Studley, president of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College & University Commission. “The General Faculty is, thus far, not yet fully informed about nor formally represented in this accreditation process through its elected representatives and institutions.â€
The Higher Learning Commission has accredited the UA for more than 100 years. Late last year, however, the UA submitted an application to become accredited by WSCUC. The California-based accrediting body also accredits the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Global Campus, the online university formerly known as Ashford University, which is still working to get the accreditor to remove a notice of concern related to student retention and graduation rates. The UA, fully aware of the notice of concern, acquired the assets of Ashford in 2020 and rebranded it as UA Global Campus. At that time, UA officials said they intended to keep UA Global Campus a separate entity, governed by a separate board.
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But that changed in early 2022, when the UA announced its plan to integrate the online school — and its roughly 27,000 students — into its operation and make UA Global Campus a branch campus. At the time of that announcement, numerous members of the Faculty Senate expressed concern that they had not been properly consulted in the decision to integrate UA Global Campus and demanded a risk-assessment of the deal, which the UA has not provided.
Now one year later, the UA is moving full-steam ahead in its plan to integrate UA Global Campus.
In November, the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Board of Regents approved a $45,000 incentive for UA President Robert C. Robbins if he brings UA Global Campus under the full authority of the UA by June 30.
Soon after that, the UA applied to switch accreditors, because, according to UA spokesperson Pam Scott, the university “believes that (WSCUC) is better suited to our mission, values, purpose and strategic plan.â€
An accreditation team from WSCUC visited the campus last week to conduct a review, which included time for faculty, staff and student input. But the accelerated timeline of the accreditation switch — both the announcement and the visit last week happened in between the scheduled December and January Faculty Senate meetings — frustrated some faculty.
“Consequently, our university’s elected faculty representatives were structurally prevented from deliberating a critical decision impacting academic, educational and faculty personnel issues — accreditation — their statutory duty,†Ted Downing, a faculty senator, wrote in an email to his colleagues in the Faculty Senate one day before the accreditation team visit. The scheduling, Downing wrote, “shows a flagrant disregard for the Senate, colleagues, and statutory, mandatory obligations as an elected faculty member.â€
‘Quid quo pro’?
In addition to concerns about shared governance, Hudson, the chair of the faculty, also wrote in the Jan. 5 letter to WSCUC that some members of the Faculty Senate have a concern that WSCUC “may be entangled in a quid pro quo or a conflict of interest due to its status as the accreditor for (UA Global Campus),†which still has a notice of concern.
In response to the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s questions about this possibility, a spokesperson from WSCUC said that “if the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is granted accreditation by WSCUC, it would be required to secure approval for any structural changes it sought to make,†and WSCUC would review those changes. “There are too many possible forms of arrangements and outcomes that could be brought to the Commission for approval for WSCUC to speculate on the outcome, conditions, or consequences.â€
The accreditor added that, so long as UA Global Campus and the UA remain separate entities, the online school’s notice of concern “would not be affected if the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ were to be granted accreditation by WSCUC.â€
At a meeting of the Faculty Senate on Monday, members publicly discussed their impressions of the accreditation process so far. While several shared the concerns raised in Hudson’s letter to WSCUC, Tessa Dysart, who serves as secretary of the Faculty Senate and as a member of a UA Global Campus integration working group, shared a different view.
“We are not necessarily universally thrilled about the accelerated timeline on UAGC integration, but we understand it’s happening and why it’s happening,†Dysart said. “We want to make sure that it happens the best possible way that includes faculty participation in critical decisions.â€
Others have ‘active role’
Several days before WSCUC’s site visit last week, Dysart and Caleb Simmons, who is also a faculty senator and a member of the UA Global Campus working group, sent a letter to the accreditor, disputing some of the points Hudson’s Jan. 5 letter raised, including a perceived lack of shared governance.
“We have taken an active role in reviewing the accreditation application and offering constructive feedback,†Dysart and Simmons wrote in a letter dated Jan. 13. “We are faculty who will constructively engage with the administration, consistent with the spirit and letter of the Memorandum of Shared Governance.â€
A WSCUC spokesperson declined to answer further questions about the particulars of either letter as it is the body’s policy to “not comment on the substance of a review while it is underway.†The accrediting agency plans to consider the UA’s application, which includes the reports made from last week’s site visit, at a meeting scheduled for Feb. 22-24.
But at the close of Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting, UA Provost Liesl Folks gave some insight into how, from her perspective, last week’s visit went. “We clearly made a profoundly positive impact on the reviewers,†Folks said, “and they went away with an extremely positive view of the institution.â€
The University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ once had a live "Wildcat" mascot; however, the current mascot ─ with a few changes that include wife, Wilma, along the way ─ Wilbur the Wildcat has been a favorite around ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ for more than 60 years.
Photos: UA campus and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 1965
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The Western movie classic "El Dorado," starring John Wayne, was filmed at Old ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 1965. Courtesy of Old ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Studios.
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The adobe church at Old ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ movie studio under construction on September 28, 1965.
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Finalists for the 1965 University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Homecoming Queen. The theme was "74 Years with the Right Women." Emily Sult, seated at right, was elected Queen.
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The Fox Theatre on Congress Street in downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in June, 1965, prior to a massive urban redevelopment project that changed the area forever. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Barry Goldwater, 1964 GOP presidential candidate, addresses a crowd of about 1,400 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Republicans at a Lincoln Day dinner at the Ramada Inn on Feb. 11, 1965. He asked them to work toward party unity. Jon Kamman / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The first four-mile stretch of the Nogales Interstate Highway opened to local traffic in March, 1965. This view of the new expressway is from Irvington Road north toward downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. "A" Mountain is on the left. This first phase of the interstate, costing $3 million, was from I-10 to Valencia Road. Bruce Hopkins / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The $1 million in bond funds recommended for street lighting would put lights like these on East Speedway in March, 1965, on about 20 miles more of busy arterial streets in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

An aerial of University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Band performing during a football game at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium in 1965. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

An ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Air National Guard F-100 fighter takes off from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ International Airport in June, 1965. Art Grasberger / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Mrs. Albert Lanham of Evanston, Ill, takes a picture of her son Bruce and his wife during University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ commencement on May 26, 1965. Photo by Mark Godfrey / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Mrs. William Conley of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ gives her daughter Diana a big hug at University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ commencement on May 26, 1965. Photo by Mark Godfrey / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ band waits to play during commencement at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium on May 26, 1965. Photo by Mark Godfrey / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ students file into ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium for the 70th commencement on May 26, 1965. The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen said 2,710 students received degrees. Photo by Mark Godfrey / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Pompon girls at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium in October, 1965. Bruce Hopkins / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 1965 Homecoming Parade float. Homecoming theme: "Seventy-four years with the right women." ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 1965 Homecoming Parade float. Homecoming theme: "Seventy-four years with the right women." ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 1965 Homecoming Parade float. Homecoming theme: "Seventy-four years with the right women." ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 1965 Homecoming Parade float. Homecoming theme: "Seventy-four years with the right women." ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 1965 Homecoming Parade float. Homecoming theme: "Seventy-four years with the right women." ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The message on this float, "ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Finest Woman," in the 1965 UA Homecoming parade is anyone's guess.
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

"74 Years of Sugar, Spice N' Everything Nice," float in the 1965 UA Homecoming Parade.
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Pulitzer Prize winning poet and playwright Archibald MacLeish spent several days at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in November 1965. He was a guest of the Ruth Stephan Poetry Center. Dan Tortorell / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A model of the proposed new Pima County fairgrounds in March, 1965. It was moved from 6th Ave and Irvington to Houghton and I-10.
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Charles H. Schmid Jr., "The Pied Piper of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥," during a court appearance in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 1965. Schmid murdered three girls, one just to know what it felt like to kill someone. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Snow in El Encanto Estates, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, on Feb. 10. 1965.
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A 1965 view of the proposed urban renewal area that included La Placita Plaza, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Convention Center and Symphony Hall, Pima County Superior Court, and city, county and federal administration buildings. The view is from the then ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Federal Savings Tower. Art Grasberger / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Nearly 1,000 University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ students rioted on May 6, 1965, after male students demanded "panties" at women's dorms. Rocks and bottles were thrown. Sixteen students were arrested. Jon Kamman / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Nearly 1,000 University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ students rioted on May 6, 1965, after male students demanded "panties" at women's dorms. Rocks and bottles were thrown. Sixteen students were arrested. Jon Kamman / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Nearly 1,000 University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ students rioted on May 6, 1965, after male students demanded "panties" at women's dorms. Rocks and bottles were thrown. Sixteen students were arrested. Jon Kamman / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Nearly 1,000 University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ students rioted on May 6, 1965, after male students demanded "panties" at women's dorms. Rocks and bottles were thrown. Sixteen students were arrested. Jon Kamman / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Sargent Shriver speaks at the National Conference on Poverty in the Southwest in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on Jan. 25, 1965. Shriver was the founder of the Peace Corps and a force behind Pres. Johnson's "War on Poverty." Dan Tortorell / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ College of Architecture building opened in 1965, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ College of Architecture building opened in 1965, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
1965 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ College of Architecture building opened in 1965, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Citizen
Kathryn Palmer covers higher education for the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Contact her via e-mail at kpalmer@tucson.com or her new phone number, 520-496-9010.