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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Dear Oregon Library Community<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">On behalf of the ACRL-OR Board<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">What's Changing<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">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.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Current 2020 Standard (2.H.1):</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> "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."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Proposed 2027 Standard (2.F.1):</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> "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."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Why This Matters<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">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:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Creates permission for institutions to eliminate or leave vacant librarian positions<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Disproportionately harms students at under-resourced institutions who rely most on professional library support<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Undermines libraries' essential role in information literacy, research consultation, and student success<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Weakens institutional capacity to manage complex information resources and vendor relationships<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Recommended Actions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Submit individual feedback to NWCCU expressing opposition to removing "employs qualified personnel" and advocating for strengthened language that explicitly recognizes librarian expertise</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">You input on this proposed change can be submitted to NWCCU here:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://nwccu.tfaforms.net/55">https://nwccu.tfaforms.net/55</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Feedback Opportunity<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Learn more about the proposed changes here:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://nwccu.org/standards/standards-revision/">https://nwccu.org/standards/standards-revision/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Sample Feedback Language<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">We have prepared key points you can adapt for your own submission:</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">
<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Diminished accountability</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> - Removes measurable standards for professional library staffing, making it difficult to evaluate institutional compliance with quality
expectations<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">
<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Inequitable outcomes</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> - 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<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">
<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Compromised student success</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> - 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<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">
<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Institutional mission negligence</span></b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> - 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<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Thank you for your support!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif">ACRL-Oregon Board<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none">Have a great day!</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none">Mark Peterson</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Faculty Librarian, Collection Management Coordinator</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none">Mt. Hood Community College</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none">26000 SE Stark Street, Gresham, Or 97030</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:mark.peterson@mhcc.edu" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">mark.peterson@mhcc.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#212121">(503) 491-7693</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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