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

[Lantrip, Jennifer]

Thank you everyone! You all are fantastic!

I wanted to let you know that I'm also working to encourage others to
submit comments and attend a listening session.

The NWCCU opened up a listening session specifically focused on the
proposed change to the library standard in case you're able to attend:
Wednesday,
March 4, 2-3 pm, PST. Register here
<https://nwccu-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/D54ogr5wTlGRcq8WFhBOug>


*Jennifer Lantrip* (she/her)
Health Sciences Student Success Librarian | Libraries
<https://www.lib.pacificu.edu/>
503-352-3121
Pacific University | 2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR 97116
Tran Library 121

Schedule a meeting with me <https://calendar.app.google/jPFSxHRQMQgYUNEB6>


On Mon, Feb 23, 2026 at 12:04 PM Nancy Hoover via Libs-Or <
libs-or at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:

> This change was proposed 10 years ago during the most recent revision of
> the standards but was successfully tabled because of the massive amount of
> input from librarians.  The thinking of the Association at the time was if
> they prescribed a hiring practice for libraries then they also had to do it
> for all departments on campus.  This of course is flawed thinking.  In my
> opinion, we need to stress that librarians are teachers, that we have high
> level degrees that make us uniquely qualified to teach information literacy
> and how to manage the enormous amount of information (often incorrect) at
> student's disposal and of course how to deal with AI.  These students are
> our future, let's prepare them for it!
> Nancy Hoover
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 20, 2026 at 12:09 PM Mark Peterson via Libs-Or <
> libs-or at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:
>
>> Please see below.
>>
>>
>>
>> There was an email sent out by a member of the Oregon library community
>> that didn’t seem to go through.
>>
>>
>>
>> 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:* Max Macias <max.macias at gmail.com>
>> *Sent:* Friday, February 20, 2026 11:20 AM
>> *To:* Mark Peterson <Mark.Peterson at mhcc.edu>
>> *Cc:* CORNELISEN Wendy * SLO <Wendy.CORNELISEN at slo.oregon.gov>;
>> libs-or at omls.oregon.gov; Academic Library Directors announcement list (
>> al-directors at omls.oregon.gov) <al-directors at omls.oregon.gov>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Libs-Or] [EXTERNAL] Re: IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: NWCC
>> Accreditation Standards Update
>>
>>
>>
>> You don't often get email from max.macias at gmail.com. Learn why this is
>> important <https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification>
>>
>> *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 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/>
>>
>> Librarians With Spines  <https://www.librarianswithspines.com/>
>> --
>> To remove yourself from the Libs-Or mailing list please send the word
>> “unsubscribe” (without quotes) to Libs-Or-request at omls.oregon.gov
>>
> --
> To remove yourself from the Libs-Or mailing list please send the word
> “unsubscribe” (without quotes) to Libs-Or-request at omls.oregon.gov
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