Full accreditation reaffirmed – In late January, UIW hosted a group from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC), the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. The purpose of the visit was to review the impact of what SACS terms “substantive change” represented by the addition of the Feik School of Pharmacy and the UIW School of Optometry. The Substantive Change Team reviewed all aspects of the university, seeking to ensure that the integrity of the Mission, the financial resources, the faculty and administrative personnel are able to incorporate the new programs while continuing to meet the stringent compliance criteria required for accreditation. The team expressed the highest praise for the entire university and for the two new programs in particular. SACS reaffirmed UIW’s full accreditation to include the Feik School of Pharmacy and the School of Optometry.
Pharmacy school accreditation – After the graduation of the first class in May, an accreditation requirement, UIW’s Doctor of Pharmacy program was accredited in June by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
Theatre Arts accreditation – The Department of Theatre Arts received official notification from the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) of its reaccreditation. UIW’s program has been upgraded from associate membership to full membership. The next full review will be in 2014-15.
Renovation plans – Construction has started to expand and renovate the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Catch the action by logging on to the university’s webcam that will be showing real-time updates of the renovation at www.uiw.edu/nursingcam.
