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

Fri Feb 20 11:19:31 PST 2026

Thank you all!!

Here is template
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hf-UhMlPQ0RcWuwxo4fWJHwVOcwdP9GHUmsmzRVqpg0/edit?usp=sharing>
that
might make it easier to submit and is based upon the
accreditation standards.

Respectfully,

Max Macias

On Fri, Feb 20, 2026 at 11:13 AM Mark Peterson via Libs-Or <
libs-or at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:

> On behalf of the entire ACRL-OR board:
>
>
>
>
>
> Thank you Wendy and Bryan for your support!!
>
>
>
>
>
> 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
>
> (503) 491-7693
>
> *From:* Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> *On Behalf Of *CORNELISEN
> Wendy * SLO via Libs-Or
> *Sent:* Friday, February 20, 2026 10:25 AM
> *To:* libs-or at omls.oregon.gov
> *Cc:* Academic Library Directors announcement list (
> al-directors at omls.oregon.gov) <al-directors at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject:* [EXTERNAL] Re: [Libs-Or] IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: NWCC
> Accreditation Standards Update
>
>
>
> *CAUTION:* This email originated from outside of the MHCC organization.
> Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and
> know the content is safe.
>
> 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
>
> Office: 503-378-4367| Mobile 971-375-3992
> www.oregon.gov/library
>
> [image: 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> 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
>
> (503) 491-7693
>
> --
> To remove yourself from the Libs-Or mailing list please send the word
> “unsubscribe” (without quotes) to Libs-Or-request at omls.oregon.gov
>
>
>
> --
>
> Bryan Miyagishima (he/him), Director
>
> Lincoln County Library District
>
> Newport, Oregon
>
>
>
>
> --
> To remove yourself from the Libs-Or mailing list please send the word
> “unsubscribe” (without quotes) to Libs-Or-request at omls.oregon.gov
>

-- 
-
Max Macias [image: A button with "Hear my name" text for name playback in
email signature] <https://www.name-coach.com/max-macias>
*Pronouns: | He, Him, His/They |*
*Strengths:* Input, Ideation, Context, Connectedness, Intellection

“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of
doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”
― Charles Bukowski

The ideas expressed in these emails in no way represent any organization's
viewpoints, or opinions.  The opinions, ideas and reflections are my own
personal intellectual property.

Publishing

Lowrider Librarian <http://lowriderlibrarian.blogspot.com/>
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