Jordan’s Legacy: Accreditation Jeopardized
Accreditation Concerns Remain for Gallaudet
…..the school is under scrutiny from several agencies at once.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education team told school officials that the school is moving forward, with improved relations on campus and better communications, but that “Gallaudet has not produced compelling evidence that the university is in full compliance with commission standards” for accreditation, Davila told the campus community yesterday.
In recent days, officials from the Department of Education were on campus, too, following up on an Office of Management and Budget report last year that rated the program “ineffective.” This year, that assessment was improved some, but Davila said they are not yet satisfied.
The NCAA is investigating a complaint about a grade change for a student athlete, Davila said. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/02/AR2007050202453.html
Gallaudet Accreditation Still In Jeopardy
Months after protests shut down campus for several days, Gallaudet University’s accreditation is still at risk. The school for the deaf and hearing impaired … http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0507/419867.html
Commentary: This remains worrisome. Under Davila, the school had addressed these concerns, providing many meetings and workshops on improving communication and campus relations. This progress observed by MSCHE team, which I think, is rather impressive, considering that Davila has been in office barely over four months. The concept of Bob’s vlogs is downright brilliant, being accessible to stakeholders both on campus and off campus. However, MSCHE still hasn’t seen any strong evidence that the commission standards for accreditation are complied fully. The deadline for full compliance is Nov, 2008. As of now, Gallaudet is still accredited.
Dept of Education remains unsatisfied with the PART review of Gallaudet, though the rating has improved slightly. The fixing grade of a student as to ensure the eligibility of the student in a varisity sport doesn’t help with the image of this school’s integrity.
Davila still has his hands full cleaning up the mess left by Jordan-Fernandes Administration. Let this be no doubt that the protesters did save Gallaudet from sinking completely as many of the issues raised by MSCHE team in 2001 went unaddressed, which MSCHE commented several months ago. The poor review of PART by Dept of Education and the tinkering of the student’ grade both also occurred during the Jordan-Fernandes Administration. Sufficent said. MZ
PS: View the comments at Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/comments/display?contentID=AR2007050202453
e-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Copyright TMÂ MishkaZena 2007
Accreditation Concerns Remain for Gallaudet
…..the school is under scrutiny from several agencies at once.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education team told school officials that the school is moving forward, with improved relations on campus and better communications, but that “Gallaudet has not produced compelling evidence that the university is in full compliance with commission standards” for accreditation, Davila told the campus community yesterday.
In recent days, officials from the Department of Education were on campus, too, following up on an Office of Management and Budget report last year that rated the program “ineffective.” This year, that assessment was improved some, but Davila said they are not yet satisfied.
The NCAA is investigating a complaint about a grade change for a student athlete, Davila said. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/02/AR2007050202453.html
Gallaudet Accreditation Still In Jeopardy
Months after protests shut down campus for several days, Gallaudet University’s accreditation is still at risk. The school for the deaf and hearing impaired … http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0507/419867.html
Commentary: This remains worrisome. Under Davila, the school had addressed these concerns, providing many meetings and workshops on improving communication and campus relations. This progress observed by MSCHE team, which I think, is rather impressive, considering that Davila has been in office barely over four months. The concept of Bob’s vlogs is downright brilliant, being accessible to stakeholders both on campus and off campus. However, MSCHE still hasn’t seen any strong evidence that the commission standards for accreditation are complied fully. The deadline for full compliance is Nov, 2008. As of now, Gallaudet is still accredited.
Dept of Education remains unsatisfied with the PART review of Gallaudet, though the rating has improved slightly. The fixing grade of a student as to ensure the eligibility of the student in a varisity sport doesn’t help with the image of this school’s integrity.
Davila still has his hands full cleaning up the mess left by Jordan-Fernandes Administration. Let this be no doubt that the protesters did save Gallaudet from sinking completely as many of the issues raised by MSCHE team in 2001 went unaddressed, which MSCHE commented several months ago. The poor review of PART by Dept of Education and the tinkering of the student’ grade both also occurred during the Jordan-Fernandes Administration. Sufficent said. MZ
PS: View the comments at Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/comments/display?contentID=AR2007050202453
e-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Copyright TMÂ MishkaZena 2007
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:30 am
The MSCHE team (affiliated with the MSA) is doing us a HUGE favor by holding people’s feet to the fire to make improvements.
This will be the method for improving deaf education once and for all which will put pressure on those particular educational imposters who have imposed their bankrupt educational theories on deaf students for decades–stretching back to 1880.
The only way to improve deaf education and do it right is to promote ASL. The single most important thing that can be done is to advocate for the acquisition of ASL by deaf babies. Later, ASL should be used in bicultural-bilingual education programs.
The “Era of Nonsensical Educational Theories” is coming to a close and all the bad methods and theories will join Jordan on the metaphorical “ash heap of history.”
Good riddance–and thank you, MSCHE/MSA.
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:47 am
Can you name the several agencies that scrutinizing the school?
I am curious about the agenices.
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:59 am
The correlation between ASL/deaf education and the accreditation status of Gallaudet has not been established by MSCHE. Historically, the majority of Gallaudet’s students came from deaf schools and accreditation was never an issue until this decade. NTID and CSUN programs also carry significant population of deaf students and their accreditation statuses aren’t in jeopardy.
May 3rd, 2007 at 10:38 am
Peachlady
Middle State Commission on Higher Education is responsible for the accreditation of the university.
The PART of Department of Education reviews the federal funding of Gallaudet
National Collegiate Athletic Association oversees the variety sport teams.
May 3rd, 2007 at 10:45 am
I got friendly folks in the U.S. Treasury Dept. telling me they got Gallaudet under their microscope.
Richard
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:34 am
Please don’t forget, one of the reasons for the accreditation being in jepoardy is becuase of the unrest and Gallaudet being closed down by the protesters. It says it directly in thier report.
Gallaudet would make great office buildin gs for the government.
Great job. You should all be proud of yourselves.
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:48 am
Imagine what would have happened if there was no protest? Bye Bye Gallaudet.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:02 pm
nowhere does it says that the reasons Gallaudet is in trouble becuase of the protets. Yes-the closing of the school was one of many reasons that we have problems now-BUT- if you really take a honest look at the entire report(s), it shows that the IKJ and his cronies are the guilty party in this-not the protesters.
Most of the problems listed in these reports came about during the many years of neglects and abusivness of the IKJ adm. I have seen with my own eyes- I worked in the IKJ administration- how ignorant IKJ was and how his attitude of ignoring the MSA people fillered down to the rest of the us regarding the Commission and OMB.
If anyone is at fault here- it’s iKJ and JKF-and thier staff of highhly paid cronies.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Mia,
There will always be a percentage of students who can succeed *in spite of* the system. What Jordan failed to do is realize the validity and desirability of bilingual-bicultural education.
Gallaudet was thriving in the 1800’s by using bilingual-bicultural methods. That’s the key. Most of the success that Gallaudet U. has experienced over the years have been tied to ASL. Students come to Gallaudet and learn ASL and have been learning in spite of the bad educational methods that suppressed ASL.
It couldn’t be surpressed. Students used it amongst themselves and sometimes with sympathetic teachers. It is the foundation of success in deaf ed that cannot be extinguished.
Now it’s time we realize that we need to make it official and make ASL the centerpiece of deaf education. Then Gallaudet’s success will skyrocket. Some deaf students over the years managed to get by without ASL. They are the exception to the rule, not the example we should follow.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:34 pm
#8 the blues, you should read the report again. It specifically states this.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Brian, I agree with Mia. The accreditation status of Gallaudet was solid until very recently. Even back in ’70s while Gallaudet was in good hands under Merrill, the main communication modes were SimCom and PSE, not ASL. There was no proof that Gallaudet used ASL in 1880’s. We knew sign language was used at Gallaudet, but was it ASL or PSE? We can only speculate.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
it says that commission does’nt approve of the closing of Gallaudet- it does not say anything about the fault.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I’m saying that all that success shows the resiliance of how a percentage of deaf students can find ways to succeed in spite of bad methods.
Jordan set a bad trend in deaf education of encouraging more and more mainstreaming, where students do not receive proper services, with underqualified interpreters and lack of interaction with other deaf people. It’s a scandal.
That’s why there are more and more remedial students at Gallaudet. This trend is putting Gallaudet’s accreditation in jeopardy.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I agree with Mia in #3.
Sad, sad.
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I bet demolishing the preparatory program was the defining factor. NWC, the preparatory school, was closed in 1995 by Jordan’s order. Accreditation problems were noted in 2001. A coincidence? I think not.
Perhaps Gallaudet should seriously consider reopening the prep program to provide services for the students who are not ready academically for college. What do you think?
May 3rd, 2007 at 2:17 pm
This may be sound like off the point and if you know Gallaudet history very well.
Just my curious and I’ve tried to find out the answer. I was wondering if it was true that Gallaudet was first established as a bible college (Christian College) then become deaf college?
If you have a link that it would be not a fact, would you like let me know so I can show it to a person.
I got tihs from someone who is pastor at local church.
Sorry if this sound like a off the point.
May 3rd, 2007 at 2:56 pm
[...] PS more details on Gallaudet’s accreditation–MishaZena blog has it all. [...]
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I strongly believe that Gallaudet will not lose its accrediation. That is only if CHANGES are actually made– so far, it seems like Gallaudet is on the right track. I know that the shutting down of campus caught MSA’s attention- and it was one of the reasons why they decided to “investigate”-This was a necessary evil, because look at how many problems they found. Truthfully, Gallaudet WOULD have lost its accreditation if it had continued under Jordan/Fernandes’ rule– Look at the dismal reports from MSA and PART. The protest forced those organizations to take a closer look at Gallaudet because the issues were suddenly thrown into the public’s eye. Change cannot happen overnight, and I only hope that Davila and his team can do everything possible to meet MSA’s expectations by Novemeber. The protest was NOT about Fernandes’ personality or her background– the heart of it was the fact that Gallaudet was sinking– and we all knew it. I only hope that it IS salvageable– I have to believe it is. As stakeholders, we must ensure that Gallaudet is doing everything it can from now to November.
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:51 pm
two minnesotan students are changing their plans from Gally to NTID. Hope Bob is working hard to change the path. Also BOT must help Bob. Jordan must stay out of way. Quit whining. I am sure everyone is working toward that goal.
May 3rd, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I think that we all should hold our speculations until MSCHE gives its exit report to Dr. Davila or Gallaudet University and we see the exit report. It is the exit report that will tell us what are the concerns that remain to be addressed. We can only hope that the exit report will be made available to us, rather than being hidden from us for a long time like the MSCHE’s last report.
I have my own few speculations but it is not worth to mention them.
Joseph Pietro Riolo
josephpietrojeungriolo@gmail.com
Public domain notice: I put all of my expressions in this post in the public domain.
May 4th, 2007 at 12:30 am
#11,
Actually, we do know that ASL was being used by professors, even though they didn’t call it ASL. They called it the “natural method of signs.”
We know for a fact that professors were using it, because EM Gallaudet cautioned people from using too much of it. He thought there were limits on how much ASL should be used, compared to what he called the “combined method.”
One thing we don’t know is exactly what he meant by “combined method.” He probably did not mean Sim Com, but he was probably referring to some kind of signing that incorporated English terms in some way, by fingerspelling, or in other ways, similar to the way that many ASL people still do today when they code switch and borrow English terms.
May 4th, 2007 at 12:31 am
Ooops, I meant: “The natural language of signs”—That’s what they called ASL in the 1800’s.
May 4th, 2007 at 1:19 am
Brian in #22,
Perhaps you would like to read
“Gallaudet Today” (Spring 1992, page 6) wherein Edward Miner Gallaudet emphasized the importance of Combined Method in the Department of
Articulation (currently known as the Department of Education) in 1891. The name
pf the Department of Articulation was changed to the Department of Articulation and Normal Instructions 1913, 1916-1952.
It was renamed as the Department of Articulation and Normal Training 1915.
The name was changed again to
the Graduate Department of
Education (1952-1964). Now
it has been known as the Department of Education since
1964. All graduate students
were required to study phonetics, speech reading, Development of Primary Language, Rhythm and Auricular Work, and Dactylology. They were also
required to study sign language grammar, according to the Normal Students’ Daily Program in 1931. They earned
MS degrees, but a deaf student Donald Petersion was called “a postgraduate student” — not a normal student like hearing students.
Peterson, not like others, recieved an MA degree because he was NOT allowed to take the speech and audiology courses. Believe it or not,
it was in 1951 when the
school finally allowed for deaf persons to enter in this program which prepared them to become teachers of deaf children.
May 4th, 2007 at 7:44 am
It is all speculation. One needs to remember that ASL was not recognized as a bona fide language and many deaf people back then were postlingually deaf due to illnesses and injuries, unlike the last several decades where the majority are prelingually deaf due to better medical treatment.
I request that the discussion on ASL be taken elsewhere. We want to focus on MSCHE report. Thank you.
May 4th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Well, the protest shook MSA so hard that MSA got up and examined Gallaudet deeply without any sympathy (no understanding that most Deaf students’ grammar are not as good as the hearing students at universities) MSA may be forced to remove the accredition from Gallaudet in Nov 2008.
“It is not always wise to wake the sleeping dogs.”
Yes some are IKJ’s fault and also the fault of the protest.
May 5th, 2007 at 8:17 am
bluefox, that may be your opinion, but I disagree. The protest brought out to the public the issues kept secret for years. In my opinion, the protest saved Gallaudet from sinking completely. We will see how successful Davila is in bailing out the water from the ship.