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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma',sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Many of you have heard about the
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">recent concerns </span>at Emporia State University’s School of Library & Information Management (SLIM). As these
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">concerns </span>are legal and personnel related, there is no additional information that I can provide (and I
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">really don't</span> know any more than what has appeared in the media). The only thing that I can say is the university is working through its policies and procedures and will take appropriate action when the investigation
is concluded.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
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<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma',sans-serif; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Some have asked how this might impact the ALA accreditation process
for SLIM, which is coming up in the fall. First, it should be noted that the renewal for accreditation is something that happens to each library school every 7 years,
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">and</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">SLIM has been preparing for their accreditation visit for the past year. </span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Second,
</span>a school <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">does</span> not lose its accreditation outright. If ALA finds problems, then the school's accreditation becomes "conditional", with specific comments about what needs to be fixed. While a school is
on conditional status (usually 2-3 years), the degree is still considered accredited. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma',sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">If anyone has questions or comments, they are welcome to contact
<span style="BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Gwendolynne Larson<b>,
</b></span><span style="BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: #333333">Assistant Director, Marketing & Media Relations at ESU - 620-341-5528; 620-340-7544 cell; or
</span></span><a href="mailto:glarson1@emporia.edu"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma',sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><font color="#0563c1">glarson1@emporia.edu</font></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma',sans-serif; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma',sans-serif; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">Perri Parise, Director, Oregon MLS Distance Program<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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