Higher Learning Commission Report - June 4, 2008
On June 4, 2008, the Higher Learning Commission issued their 29 page accreditation report to Washburn University. The accreditation team recommended continued accreditation, noting that the morale among faculty, staff and students reflect an optimism about the current and future state of Washburn University that is rarely experienced by visiting teams.
However, among various recommendations, there is one notable concern that requires follow-up prior to the next visit scheduled for 2017-2018. Concerns about Mabee Library, first cited in the 1997-98 report, still have not been adequately addressed by the WU administration. Excerpts from the report follow:
Criterion Two: Preparing for the Future.
2. Evidence that one or more specified Core Components need organizational attention
d. The need to improve Mabee Library was identified in the report of the last comprehensive visit and that need continues. Progress has been made on staffing issues, but facility and technology support continues to raise concerns. Concerns about the library were raised by library staff, faculty, administrators, and students.
e. While Washburn has developed a strategic planning process (including project specific planning), the process should be reexamined and expanded to include all areas of the institution (including but not limited to Kaw Area Technical School, the Mabee Library, and a comprehensive technology plan that includes hardware, software, and service components).
3. Evidence that one or more specified Core Components require Commission follow-up
Because of the continuing nature of the concerns about the Mabee Library, the team recommends that a progress report be filed by Washburn University by July 1, 2010 detailing a plan, consistent with the Washburn mission, for the improvements of the library facility, technology, and funding. This plan must include the specific actions developed to address all of the items sited by the previous team as well as items that emerge from an expanded strategic planning process, a timeline for implementation, and identification of the resources needed to carry out this plan.
C. Conditions of Affiliation
Reports required
Progress Report – Progress report on improvements in facilities, funding, service, and staffing for Mabee Library due 7/1/2010.
Rationale and Expectations – As acknowledged in the self study, the funding, staffing, and physical space for Mabee Library has been a continuing concern for Washburn University. Throughout the visit, the team heard concerns from students, faculty, staff and the administrative leadership of the library about the facility and services of Mabee Library.
While planning exercises have taken place in the past and there has been some improvement in the staffing of the library since the last comprehensive visit, issues raised during the visit make it clear that there are still major problems to be addressed. Funding for the library, while having increased in the past 10 years, currently sits at approximately 2.8% of the university budget. This has not been sufficient to reach the goal stated in the strategic plan that was produced in response to the last comprehensive visit for the creation of an “information commons.”
At this point, general access computers available to library patrons consist of 6 older computer units. In addition, there are 13 network computing devices available in the public areas which provide patron access to the electronic databases and library catalogs. The team heard reports that when more than 16 individuals use the wireless connection in the library that the library connection will crash, providing additional evidence that the stated goal has not been reached.
The library has conducted 2 failed searches for a new head of the library, resulting in the appointment of a faculty member as the interim dean. Given the fact that over 90% of the students enrolled at Washburn University live off of campus, a well designed and staffed library can play a major role in the academic life of students while on campus.
The team recommends that the progress report include specific plans for the role that Mabee Library will play in the academic life of Washburn University, a timeline and budget for the creation of a facility and necessary staff that will support that role, the identification of a funding stream to implement the plan, and, at a minimum, a new strategy for hiring a full time dean to oversee this process.
We understand that the interim dean is leading another strategic planning effort to upgrade Mabee Library and we applaud that renewed effort to take concrete steps to improve Mabee Library. Given that focus, the team feels that a two year time frame for providing a progress report will give time for thoughtful consideration while still moving this process forward.