UMass Amherst Accreditation Review to Take Place November 1-4
The University of Massachusetts Amherst will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit November 1-4, 2009, by a team representing the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education is one of eight accrediting commissions in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Accreditation is voluntary and applies to the institution as a whole. The Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits approximately 200 institutions in the six-state New England region. The University of Massachusetts Amherst has been accredited by the Commission since 1932 and was last reviewed in 1998. Its accreditation by the New England Association encompasses the entire institution. For the past year and a half, UMass Amherst has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation. Information on the self-study process and related documents are available at www.umass.edu/neasc. An evaluation team will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will recommend to the Commission a continuing status for the institution; following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action. The public is invited to submit comments regarding the institution to: Public Comment on University of Massachusetts Amherst Commission on Institutions of Higher Education New England Association of Schools and Colleges 209 Burlington Road Bedford, MA 01730-1433 E-mail: cihe@neasc.org. Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution. Comments will not be treated as confidential. Written, signed comments must be received by November 4, 2009. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments received after that date will be considered. Comments should include the name, address, and telephone number of the person providing the comments. The Commission cannot settle disputes between individuals and institutions, whether those involve faculty, students, administrators, or members of other groups. Individuals considering submitting complaints against an affiliated institution should request the separate Policy and Procedures for the Consideration of Complaints Made Against Affiliated Institutions from the Commission office.
What’s in a Name?
The use of the appellation “UMass Amherst” to define our school has spun way out of control. I understand that the previous chancellor strongly advised that it be used—for fundraising purposes I assume.
If your magazine were to conduct a poll of alums, you would find overwhelmingly that we graduated from “UMass.” Period. None of my friends graduated from UConn-Storrs or UNH-Durham.
Here are a few examples:
1. Boston Globe (June 8, 2009): “Madeleine Blais, a guest columnist, is a professor at Amherst-UMass.” (Should we merge with Amherst College and become the MinuteJeffs or the Lordsmen?)
2. A community newspaper: “A class in landscaping captured his attention so much so that he will be going on to UMass-Amherst at Stockbridge.” (Maybe we have opened a branch at the western end of the Mass Pike?)
3. UMass Amherst magazine (Spring 2009): Brandice Balschmiter (our truly outstanding softball pitcher): “I’ve known coach half my life. It was always my dream to come to UMass Amherst.”
I have serious money to wager that she did not say that. The one bastion of sanity are our athletic teams, where we are branded simply and correctly as “UMass.” Our athletes would not say that. I hope you did not change her quote in the name of over-the-top correctness.
I read the magazine cover to cover but every time I see our fabricated name, I have to take a deep breath. I think you would find that many other alumni agree. I pray that the usage is not backfiring.
Dick Macklem ‘62, ‘63MBA
Manchester
Can you please stop using “UMass Amherst” in the magazine? I don’t know anybody that calls it that when we talk about our glory days in college. I went to “UMass” and that is it. It’s really the only bone of contention I have with the magazine, I love everything else that is in there. Please think about looking into it since I’m sure you’ve gotten many complaints about this before (I’ve heard it from several alumni myself). We are the flagship campus and the “Amherst” gives us a directional connotation. Thank you.
Tim Koerner ‘03
Boston, MA
Lost Notes, Not Mind
I am a 1970 grad (history) who looks forward to this magazine. Have I lost my mind or have the class reports been deleted? I find that impossible so I must be wrong. Please set me right. Maybe you didn’t notice but I could not be more upset.
G. Michael Peirce ’70
Hopkinton
The money-saving decision to publish highlights of class notes in place of full year-by-year listings beginning with the Spring 2009 issue was facilitated by the arrival of MaroonCentral, the Alumni Association’s student and alumni online community. You can read all class notes at the free social networking site any time by visiting MaroonCentral at UMassAlumni.com. To post a class note, a one-time registration is required. Contact the Alumni Association at 800-456-UMASS or at alumni@admin.umass.edu for your alumni ID.
