UW Outreach School Dean Named to Accreditation Board of Trustees

February 22, 2008 — Maggi Murdock, University of Wyoming Outreach School dean and associate vice president for academic affairs, has been elected to a four-year term on the board of trustees of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accrediting organization. She will serve through 2012.

The North Central Association HLC was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

The HLC accredits higher education institutions in 15 states, including Wyoming. UW is accredited by the HLC. The university's next 10-year accreditation visit from the HLC will be in 2010. Murdock says UW's self-study is being initiated at this time.

Murdock is among 15-21 elected trustees charged with making policy for the organization. She and her colleagues serve and lead colleges and universities affiliated with the commission to focus on policy matters related to accreditation.

Among the board's responsibilities are to establish, clarify and continually articulate the mission, expected outcomes and values of the commission; form policy and to evaluate the effectiveness of both policies and processes; plan for the future; and to appoint, support and evaluate the commission's executive director.

"This is a critical time for all regional accrediting agencies and institutions of higher education, especially in terms of assessment of learning and institutional accountability," says Murdock, explaining why she was willing to serve on the HLC board.

A UW faculty member since 1975, Murdock served as dean of the UW/Casper College Center from 1990-2000. She was appointed Outreach School dean and associate vice president for academic affairs in 2002.