|
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The nation's only liberal arts university for the deaf could lose its accreditation unless it addresses concerns about weak academic standards, ineffective governance and a lack of tolerance for diverse views, an education oversight group warned. Gallaudet University was rocked by student demonstrations last fall that shut down the university for several days and forced the board to revoke the appointment of a new president. Afterward, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education said it was delaying a decision on whether to renew the school's accreditation because of concerns raised during the protests and because of a 2005 federal report that rated Gallaudet "ineffective." The federal Office of Management of Budget this month gave Gallaudet an improved evaluation, to "adequate." A letter from the commission, dated Jan. 13 and disclosed this week, summarized the issues the university must address to retain its accreditation. Commission Vice President Linda A. Suskie said the fall protests raise questions about the university's governance and whether the board is out of touch. University spokeswoman Mercy Coogan said interim president Robert Davila had shared the letter with campus leaders, who were addressing its concerns. The university must submit a supplemental report by March 1, and further action is likely at the commission's next meeting in June. Protests over the selection of Jane Fernandes as president shut down the campus at times before her appointment was revoked in October. Some protesters accused campus police of using excessive force. "The extent of the fall protests and repeated allegations of violence and intimidation raise grave concerns" about whether the university fosters respect for different views, Suskie wrote. Reached by e-mail Wednesday, Suskie declined to comment, citing commission policy. Gallaudet receives more than $100 million annually from the federal government. Its graduation rates have consistently been below 50 percent. Seeking accreditation by any of the dozens of private accrediting agencies recognized by the government is voluntary. But accreditation signals that a school meets certain basic standards and is required for students to be eligible for federal financial aid.
|
