[Libs-Or] IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: NWCC Accreditation Standards Update

Fri Feb 20 10:25:23 PST 2026

Thank you, Bryan, and the ACRL-OR Board, for highlighting this important topic. Please see attached for the message I sent to NWCCU President, which says in part:

Libraries, and the trained librarians who make them possible, help spark the curiosity and creativity that are core to the mission of every institution of higher education. Information is essential to any field of study. The amount of readily available information is increasing exponentially. Students and faculty must sift through that growing data to determine what is useful, credible, and current. That task can be daunting for new students and seasoned experts alike.

This is the power of professionally trained librarians. Every day, these valuable personnel are finding, evaluating, collecting, and facilitating access to information. Librarians share their expertise with students and faculty by:
•      Providing instruction on information literacy and research skills.
•      Keeping costs affordable by providing access to resources that help students succeed.
•      Creating learning conducive spaces and technology hubs.

  *   Increasing student feelings of belonging and engagement.
  *   Assisting with multi-disciplinary work and other research.
  *   Promoting equity for underserved and under-resourced communities, who may need additional support gaining critical evaluation and research skills.

Professional librarians, together with support staff, are essential to effective and equitable educational institutions. Libraries are more than book warehouses. They are a set of services that ensure equitable access to information, support students and faculty, encourage information literacy, and instruct in skills necessary to succeed in today’s academic environment.

Organizations such as NWCCU should be encouraging institutions of higher education to employ professional librarians, as this will help each institution meet their mission while providing students with the most affordable, well-rounded educational experience that will prepare them for the challenges to come. I urge you to retain reference to having qualified library personnel in the 2027 NWCCU Standards for Accreditation.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Wendy

Wendy Cornelisen (she, her, hers)
State Librarian
State Library of Oregon
wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov>
Office: 503-378-4367| Mobile 971-375-3992
www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>
[Title: State Library of Oregon]

From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of Bryan Miyagishima via Libs-Or
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2026 4:00 PM
Cc: libs-or at omls.oregon.gov
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: NWCC Accreditation Standards Update

I'd like to echo Mark's request to provide input to NWCCU regarding their proposed change to accreditation language. Accreditation is one of the few pieces of leverage that academic libraries have to ensure continued/improved staffing. Do I think that institutions would take advantage of reduced standards to reduce library costs? Please keep in mind that even with the current NWCCU language several of our academic institutions, including Linn-Benton Community College, Oregon Coast Community College, and the University of Oregon have greatly reduced staffing in the last few years.

If you believe that information literacy and research instruction is vital for our students, you want our libraries to have qualified personnel. If you believe that collection development and support that meets the needs of local programs is important, you want our libraries to have qualified personnel. If you believe that academic librarians lend themselves to course, program, and student excellence at our institutions then you wish for them to have qualified personnel.

And if you feel that just because you're a public or school or special librarian that you are not qualified to comment, please know that you are a community member whose community is served by graduates of your local college, and whose financial health is impacted by the quality of your local college. Therefore you are a stakeholder and your voice is important. Although I am. no longer working in academia I shall be sending in my own input.

Bryan Miyagishima,
Oregon Library Association Vice-President

On Thu, Feb 19, 2026 at 2:58 PM Mark Peterson via Libs-Or <libs-or at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:libs-or at omls.oregon.gov>> wrote:
Dear Oregon Library Community

On behalf of the ACRL-OR Board

We are writing to alert you to a critical proposed change in the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) accreditation standards that would significantly weaken requirements for academic library staffing across our region.

What's Changing
NWCCU is currently revising their 2020 Accreditation Standards for implementation in 2027. They are proposing to remove the requirement that institutions "employ qualified personnel" from the library resources standard.

Current 2020 Standard (2.H.1): "Consistent with its mission, the institution employs qualified personnel and provides access to library and information resources with a level of currency, depth, and breadth sufficient to support and sustain the institution's mission, programs, and services."

Proposed 2027 Standard (2.F.1): "Consistent with its mission, the institution provides access to library and information resources with a level of currency, depth, and breadth sufficient to support and sustain the institution's mission, programs, and services."

Why This Matters
This change eliminates accountability for employing credentialed library professionals at accredited institutions. Academic librarianship requires specialized graduate education, typically a Master's degree from an ALA-accredited program, in information organization, research methodologies, instructional design, and collection management. Removing this requirement:

  *   Creates permission for institutions to eliminate or leave vacant librarian positions
  *   Disproportionately harms students at under-resourced institutions who rely most on professional library support
  *   Undermines libraries' essential role in information literacy, research consultation, and student success
  *   Weakens institutional capacity to manage complex information resources and vendor relationships

Recommended Actions
Submit individual feedback to NWCCU expressing opposition to removing "employs qualified personnel" and advocating for strengthened language that explicitly recognizes librarian expertise

You input on this proposed change can be submitted to NWCCU here:
https://nwccu.tfaforms.net/55

Feedback Opportunity

Learn more about the proposed changes here:
https://nwccu.org/standards/standards-revision/

Sample Feedback Language
We have prepared key points you can adapt for your own submission:

  *   Diminished accountability - Removes measurable standards for professional library staffing, making it difficult to evaluate institutional compliance with quality expectations
  *   Inequitable outcomes - Under-resourced institutions may use this change as justification to eliminate or leave vacant librarian positions, disproportionately harming students at community colleges and smaller institutions who most need professional support
  *   Compromised student success - Loss of professional research consultation and information literacy instruction directly impacts students' ability to complete coursework, develop critical thinking skills, and meet program learning outcomes
  *   Institutional mission negligence - Without specialized librarian expertise in collection development, licensing negotiations, archives, and emerging and cutting-edge technologies, institutions waste resources and cannot adequately support faculty scholarship or curricular needs
This is a critical moment for academic libraries in the Northwest. Your voice matters. Please take action and encourage your colleagues to do the same. If you have questions or need assistance preparing feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your support!

ACRL-Oregon Board

Have a great day!

Mark Peterson
Faculty Librarian, Collection Management Coordinator
Mt. Hood Community College
26000 SE Stark Street, Gresham, Or 97030
mark.peterson at mhcc.edu<mailto:mark.peterson at mhcc.edu>
(503) 491-7693
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--
Bryan Miyagishima (he/him), Director
Lincoln County Library District
Newport, Oregon

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