Accrediting Associations

Collection

Identifier: RHC-UA-01-##vre

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection is divided into six record series: (1) North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (1922-1977); (2) American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (1929-1966); (3) National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (1959-1990); (4) State Teacher Certification Board (1951-1970); (5) American Association for University Women (1932-1949); (6) Institutional self-studies with the North Central Association (1960-1994). The first three series contain visitation reports and surveys required to grant Northern accreditation. Researchers should note the faculty record reports in the first series contain vitae or transcripts on university personnel from 1931 to 1955. Bulletins, circulars, minutes, and newsletters of the accrediting institutions reveal policies and procedures. Correspondence files include letters granting or denying accreditation. The final series includes self-studies designed to identify areas of the university requiring improvement. The entire collection provides an opportunity to study Northern’s struggle towards becoming a respected educational institution.

Dates

created: 1922-2002
Other: Majority of material found in 1930-1994
Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1960

Biographical or Historical Information

Presidents J. Stanley Brown and J. Clifton Brown worked to secure accreditation for Northern from universities such as Chicago, Illinois, and Columbia, and from the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities during the 1920's. J. Stanley Brown secured such recognition when, in 1925, Columbia University accepted Northern’s four-year graduates as possible candidates for the masters degree. In December, 1927, J. Clifton Brown announced that the American Association of Teachers Colleges investigators would arrive in January to rate the college. Northern received an “A” rating. Efforts to secure accreditation from the North Central Association did not proceed quite so smoothly. At the 1928 annual meeting in Chicago, the Association pointed out Northern’s inadequacies in physical facilities, its library, and in the training of its faculty. Northern did not receive a temporary rating until 1933. Karl L. Adams’ presidency began with a goal toward improving the quality of teacher education and receiving full accreditation. The main barriers to full qualification included the various subcollegiate courses offered and the large proportion of faculty personnel without graduate degrees. Soon after Adams arrived, he requested a committee from the University of Illinois be sent to assess the quality of Northern’s students. The committee recommended that Northern increase the laboratory and library facilities, raise the level of academic training of the staff, and reorganize curriculum offerings in several departments. Two years later, Northern received a favorable rating from the University of Illinois. In 1931, the NCA sent a team from the University of Michigan to visit Northern. This visit established limited status as an accredited teacher-training institution, but noted shortcomings which would need to be resolved before full accreditation. A reinspection in 1935 yielded a full unqualified approval by the North Central Association. During this same period, the local chapter of the American Association of University Women petitioned the national office for approval. President Adams finally received the AAUW’s imprimatur in 1939.

Note written by

Extent

11.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

The University Archives acquired the accreditation records in several installments beginning in the mid-1960's, and continues to add to the collection as reaccreditation records become available. There are no restrictions on access to the records.