Philip P. DiStefano

I want to take this opportunity to thank students, faculty, staff and administrators for their dedication and sacrifice in preparing for our 10-year re-accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North-Central Association of Colleges and Schools culminating in last week’s site visit by 14 peer educators. Many of you had the opportunity to meet the members of this esteemed team of evaluators who soon will issue a final report to the commission.

I have every confidence that the University of Colorado at Boulder will earn continued and full endorsement as a pre-eminent international comprehensive research university and a leading state flagship that enables us to attract top students, faculty and staff in the pursuit of knowledge and discovery. The foundation of this re-accreditation is our Flagship 2030 strategic plan as the daily blueprint for our future as we move into the second decade of he 21st century.

Many people on campus displayed loyalty by working long days, nights and weekends as they took on additional responsibilities and adjusted their work schedules to make this effort a success. Your work was honorable because re-accreditation allows students to receive federal financial aid and it eases transfer of academic credit. It also verifies that we meet standards established by our peers, provides assurances to the public about our quality and maintains confidence in higher education.

The re-accreditation process began one and a half years ago with the 358-page Self Study, “Shaping the New Flagship,” that many of you had a hand in conceiving and completing. The Self Study, required by the HLC/NCA as part of the re-accreditation process, will continue to be a valuable campus resource as we refine and articulate our goals as a leading model of the new flagship for the new century.

I would like to express special thanks in this important achievement to the 70-member Re-accreditation Steering Committee made up of community members from all corners of our campus including our five site team hosts, John Sleeman, Steve McNally, Michael Grant, Russell Moore and Anne Heinz. I would especially like to acknowledge Joey White, project coordinator and senior advisor, and Lou McClelland, director of Institutional Analysis, who gracefully guided our success in this monumental effort.

Many others worked hard behind the scenes. Again, my thanks to each and every one of you for your time and energy in this critically important undertaking for the future of our students and our campus at the University of Colorado at Boulder. I hope that you share my pride in this campuswide endeavor.

Miramontes Festival celebrates women in the arts

CU-Boulder INVST program celebrates 20 years of developing leaders

Students will spend spring break helping others

Realizing campus accessibility through collaboration

Cracking the 'abominable mystery' of flowers

Successful re-accreditation a tribute to our faculty, staff and students