Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2021

REPORT AFFIRMS CORE IDENTITY Cedarville continues to be recognized by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for fulfilling its mission and meeting the high-quality academic expectations it requires for accreditation. Four years ago, the HLC reaffirmed the University’s accreditation through 2026. During the 2020 checkpoint evaluation, HLC offered no findings on its final report, indicating continued adherence to the accreditation criteria. The university submitted a 35,000- word report to an HLC team of peer reviewers outlining adherence to the University’s mission statement and the Criteria for Accreditation. The University undergoes periodic reviews related to five core criteria as part of HLC requirements. “We must present and support Cedarv i l l e ’ s mi s s i on , i nt egr i t y , resources, student learning, and overall operations,” said Sandra Yang, Associate Professor of Music History and coordinator of the accreditation process for the University. “This most recent report included 654 pieces of evidence.” Cedarville’s Office of Assessment and Accreditation Services also played a key role in developing the 2020 report, as well as Tom Betcher, Director of Assessment and Accreditation Services, Mandy Nolt, Assistant Director of Assessment and Accreditation, and a team of 25 faculty and staff. “ T h e k e y w o r d h e r e i s accountability,” said Thomas Mach ’88, Vice President for Academics. “They want to see that we are constantly improving every year based on our evidence to ultimately maintain our mission.” “Dr. Yang was the perfect choice to lead this process,” said Mach. “She is someone who loves the institution and will sacrifice for it, who respects and is respected by everyone equally, and who is very conscientious with details and the weight they carry. I’ve never seen anyone who can manage the details as well as she does. Nothing slips.” Cedarville’s 2020 report took into consideration a new mission statement for the University. “Dr. White wanted us to spend time as a community thinking about our mission statement, and we changed it to ‘Cedarville University transforms lives through excellent education and intentional discipleship in submission to biblical authority,’” Mach shared. “With that, our 2020 report had to show how in every component and area, we were meeting this new mission as a university.” Cedarville first gained accreditation in 1975. The Uni ver s i ty ’ s c l ear adherence to its faith-based mission has been maintained throughout its accreditation and reaccreditation history process with the HLC. “Back in the 60s when we started seeking accreditation, people were concerned that i t may hur t our Christian identity, but the HLC is just concerned that we operate within our mission,” Mach shared. “None of our reviewers have criticized our Christian goals, because that’s what our mission states and who we truly are.” KEEP UP WITH CEDARVILLE ON SUBSCRIBE TO INSIDE VIEW E-NEWSLETTER cedarville.edu/InsideView CEDARVILLE STORIES PODCAST cedarville.edu/CedarvilleStories facebook.com/cedarville twitter.com/cedarville instagram.com/cedarville linkedin.com/school/cedarville-university CAMPUS NEWS 34 | Cedarville Magazine