Re: accreditation/assessment/certification(?)

[Jon Olson <jeo3@psu.edu>]

Judy, isn't your disclosure of "jealousy" a good illustration of how
divisive accreditation could be in the writing center field?  I'm pleased
that, after all these years of discussion, people are finally acknowledging
the important difference between accreditation and assessment.  I like the
word Lisa Ede and others have suggested:  review.  A review could make a
writing center stronger but wouldn't make the have-not writing centers
second-class centers.  Moreover, I think NWCA has developed to the point
where it could help with assessments and reviews.  I don't think it's
reached the point where it could swing an international program of
accreditation.  --Jon, Penn State, jeo3@psu.edu

At 01:22 PM 3/25/98 -0600, you wrote:
[snip]
>I must hasten to add that I've been jealous about the Academic Learning
>Center's ability to tout accreditation. The university president has
mentioned
>that accreditation in public discussions about support of students on campus,
>and the fact that I can't say we're accredited makes the writing center
kind of
>a second-class citizen in some people's eyes even though people in the
know are
>aware of the high quality services we provide. [snip]