Commission: Gallaudet at risk of losing accreditation (AP/CNN)

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's only liberal arts university for the deaf could lose its accreditation unless it addresses concerns about weak academic standards, ineffective governance and a lack of tolerance for diverse views, an education oversight group warned.

Gallaudet University was rocked by student demonstrations last fall that shut down the university for several days and forced the board to revoke the appointment of a new president.

Afterward, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education said it was delaying a decision on whether to renew the school's accreditation because of concerns raised during the protests and because of a 2005 federal report that rated Gallaudet "ineffective." Earlier this month, the Office of Management of Budget gave Gallaudet an improved evaluation, to "adequate."

A letter from the commission, dated January 13 and disclosed this week, summarized the issues the university must address to retain its accreditation. Commission Vice President Linda A. Suskie said the fall protests raise questions about the university's governance and whether the board is out of touch.

University spokeswoman Mercy Coogan said interim president Robert Davila had shared the letter with campus leaders, who were addressing its concerns. The university must submit a supplemental report by March 1, and further action is likely at the commission's next meeting in June.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/02/21/gallaudet.accreditation.ap/index.html