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

[Bryan Miyagishima]

I am sharing my submission to NWCCU if it helps anyone else in drafting
their own response. For those of you who do not work in academic libraries,
please know that the current NWCCU standard is a drastic shortening of the
previous standards, and that this change was met with quite a bit of
concern and pushback at the time. Now they wish to diminish library quality
even more. While I did not mention this in my response, my personal feeling
is that it is college administrators who are pushing for this new standard
which does not seem to have anything to do with the quality of library
resources but the ability to engage in cost-cutting.

Bryan

***********************************************

Dear members of the NWCCU,
My institution provides support not only to public libraries here in
Lincoln County, Oregon, but also to school libraries and academic libraries
within our area. The Chinook Library network, which is administered by my
office, serves public libraries in Tillamook and Lincoln County, as well as
libraries at the Oregon Coast Community College, Tillamook Bay Community
College, and Clatsop Community College. And so I feel well placed to speak
regarding the needs of incoming and current college students and the needs
of the academic libraries which we serve. Today's information environment
is quite complex. It's not just the difficulties students have from
responding to generative AI, libraries and faculty have to deal with an
ever changing models for publication and licensing. Having qualified
librarians on hand has helped our institutions meet these challenges.
Librarians teach students information literacy and research skills
necessary for preparing students for the future. They provide streamlined
access to media and resources necessary for instructional programs, and are
still vital in helping faculty discover and access necessary curricular
materials.

I think that it's useful to acknowledge that the current 2020 standards
regarding library resources are a drastic shortening of the previous 2010
standards, which I provide here for your reference:

2.E.1 Consistent with its mission and core themes, the institution holds or
provides access to library and information resources with an appropriate
level of currency, depth, and breadth to support the institution’s mission,
core themes, programs, and services, wherever offered and however delivered.
2.E.2 Planning for library and information resources is guided by data that
include feedback from affected users and appropriate library and
information resources faculty, staff, and administrators.
2.E.3 Consistent with its mission and core themes, the institution provides
appropriate instruction and support for students, faculty, staff,
administrators, and others (as appropriate) to enhance their efficiency and
effectiveness in obtaining, evaluating, and using library and information
resources that support its programs and services, wherever offered and
however delivered.
2.E.4 The institution regularly and systematically evaluates the quality,
adequacy, utilization, and security of library and information resources
and services, including those provided through cooperative arrangements,
wherever offered and however delivered.

I encourage you to revisit the former standard, 2.E.2 -  "Planning for
library and information resources is guided by data that include feedback
from affected users and appropriate library and information resources
faculty, staff, and administrators." I can assure you that the proposed new
standards are not sufficient to meet your libraries' needs nor the needs of
your students and faculty. I am certain that academic librarians around the
Pacific NW will concur. More importantly, I am certain that your faculty
and staff at NWCCU institutions will echo the need for qualified personnel
to staff their libraries.

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
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