|
By Larry B. Dendy
The leader of a national organization on accrediting for colleges and universities will speak this week at the university, where the decennial self-study to retain accreditation is under way.
 Judith S. Eaton, president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, will deliver the annual Louise McBee Lecture Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. Titled “Assuring the Quality of Accreditation,” the lecture will be in rooms K-L of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education and is open free to the public.
The Washington, D.C.-based Council for Higher Education Accreditation promotes quality assurance and accountability in higher education through voluntary accreditation. The council is composed of more than 3,000 colleges and universities.
UGA is currently conducting the extensive self-study that is required every 10 years to retain accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. While demonstrating compliance with SACS criteria, UGA’s study will focus on the relationship of the undergraduate experience to the mission of a public research institution.
Following her lecture, Eaton will participate in a forum with the university community on ensuring the self-study’s usefulness in creating positive change at UGA [see sidebar].
The McBee Lecture was created in 1988 to honor Louise McBee, who retired that year as vice president for academic affairs. During 25 years at UGA, McBee held leadership positions in both student affairs and academic affairs and became one of the university’s most respected administrators. After retiring, she was elected to the Georgia General Assembly and is in her third term representing a portion of Clarke County.
The lecture annually brings to UGA a leading scholar or public figure in higher education. Eaton became president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in 1997 after serving as chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. She previously was president of the Council for Aid to Education and vice president of the American Council on Education.
|
