Rev. Robert A.Wild, S.J.

The eight-member team of higher-education administrators and faculty members from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC) evaluated the College from October 14-17. Its visit ended with an exit interview, during which the team’s chair, Rev. Robert A. Wild, S.J., the president of Marquette University, presented a preliminary oral report.

The report, delivered to senior administrators of the College, conveyed strengths and concerns identified by team members based on the 11 Standards of Accreditation established by NEASC.

While indicating that he would await a written draft report to comment on the accrediting team’s assessment in any detail, Father Shanley noted, “It is appropriate at this juncture to report that their overall assessment was quite positive across all eleven standards.” 

The written draft, which is being compiled by Father Wild, will include more elaborative statements than were presented at the exit interview. After Father Shanley receives the document in late November, he will have 10 days to identify any factual errors and to return it to Father Wild.

Father Wild will amend the report as needed and send the final report to Father Shanley shortly before Christmas. The chair also will send the visiting team’s confidential recommendation on accreditation to NEASC at that time.

Father Shanley will submit a formal response to the final report to Father Wild and NEASC in January. It is expected that Fathers Wild and Shanley will meet with NEASC’s Commission on Institutions of Higher Education in April or May, at which time the College will learn of the commission’s decision on reaccreditation. Accreditation takes place every 10 years; PC was last accredited in 1997.
 
Prior to and during their evaluation of the College, the visiting team members were guided by an 85-page self-study that was prepared under the direction of the Self-Study Steering Committee.