Accreditation Self-Study : Message from the Dean

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to provide you with the following update about important upcoming activities regarding the college’s accreditation.

The self-study process is undertaken by the college as a major component of the seven year accreditation process. Accreditation is granted after completion of the self-study, a successful site visit by a team of reviewers from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), and final review of the formal site visit report by the Commission and its review committees. In preparation for the site visit on February 12-14, 2008, the college has begun its self-study process.

Dr. William P. McArthur, Professor, Oral Biology has agreed to lead the college’s self-study process. As such, he will serve as chairperson of the Accreditation Self-Study Steering Committee. This committee, composed of faculty members representing the various aspects of the dental faculty, is charged with developing and overseeing the self-study process and compiling the final self-study report for submission to CODA. Members are responsible for reviewing work products from ad hoc committees that relate to their area of expertise. They also attend select ad hoc committee meetings.

In order to conduct its evaluation of college programs, the Steering Committee has appointed sixteen ad hoc committees based on CODA’s self-study guidelines. Committee members will gather the necessary data to evaluate compliance with the standards, suggest program enhancements, and develop responses to the standards. These reports will be forwarded to the Steering Committee for review and compilation into a cohesive document for submission to CODA.

I want to thank each of you for your interest in the college’s accreditation process and for your willingness to engage in this critically important effort. The accreditation self-study process provides a rich opportunity to highlight the many strengths of our college and to identify opportunities for improvement. I encourage each of you to serve on an ad hoc committee, participate in upcoming accreditation events and periodically check this web site for ongoing information about the accreditation self-study process.

Regards,

Teresa A. Dolan, DDS, MPH
Professor and Dean