Evaluators praised our exceptional level and array of support services, among other good things. Accreditation teams were impressed with the College’s programs and services.

      Two accreditation review teams that visited the College recently had mostly good things to say, according to Becky Johnson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. “Both site visit teams praised our teaching, advising, research, and extended education activities,” she says. “They were also extremely impressed with our teaching and research facilities.”
       The College was up for reaccreditation last year by three bodies. One is the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, which reviewed programs and facilities of the whole University. The other two are the Society of American Foresters (SAF) and the Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST). This combined body accredits the College’s under-graduate degree programs in Forest Engineering, Forest Management, Forest Products, and Forest Recreation Resources, as

well as the general Master of Forestry and Master of Forestry in Silviculture programs.
      The SAF/SWST draft report offered these compliments:
       “The faculty is to be commended for requiring considerable writing and public speaking in a variety of courses.”
       “The CoF provides an impressive level and array of support services to faculty and students.”
       “The faculty provides high-quality instruction in all the programs being considered. This was reinforced in discussions with students, who praised the quality of instruction throughout the CoF. At the same time, the research
productivity is extremely high.”
       “The CoF also maintains the most extensive forestry, forest engineering, and wood products extension programs in the nation. These

programs are widely acclaimed nationally.”
      The teams also noted areas to work on, says Johnson. “We need to establish mechanisms for assessing the degree to which our educational objectives are being met—i.e., move toward outcomes-based education. We need to continue to find ways to
recognize and reward excellence in teaching. Finally, we need to continue to improve the diversity of our students, faculty, and staff.”
       Overall, however, the accreditation teams were quite positive about the College’s programs, says Johnson. “In the review of the whole University, CoF
programs were singled out as being one of the strengths of the overall institution.”

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