How We Keep Our Accreditation Continued
The AQIP model requires a college or university to renew its accreditation every seven years. And it is no rubber stamp.
Dr. Lada Gibson-Shreve, Liberal Arts Dean, serves as Stark State’s Accreditation Liaison Officer. Over the last six years, Dr. GibsonShreve developed a process to ensure that we can prove Stark State meets the criteria for accreditation. Dr. Gibson-Shreve led the process to gather the evidence, identify possible gaps in the evidence, and take steps to close those gaps. Recently, an AQIP evaluation team paid a 2 ½-day visit to Stark State campus to perform a thorough review of the college. The
evaluation team checked the college’s compliance with the accreditation criteria, confirmed the accuracy of its records, and verified the college’s commitment to continuous quality improvement. The AQIP team not only examined the college’s programs and pro-
cesses, it also interviewed students, faculty, staff, administrators, the Board of Trustees, and employers in the community. According to Dean GibsonShreve, the AQIP review went very well. The AQIP team found that Stark State
uses “numerous best practices” in its programs and processes. Businesses that employ Stark State graduates report that the college’s graduates are “strong,” and that the college’s curriculum is “proactive to community needs.” Dean Gibson-Shreve is confident that Stark State’s accreditation will be formally reaffirmed by the end of 2012. We can all breathe a sigh of relief for that. For more information about accreditation criteria, refer to the following link: www.ncahlc.org/Information-for-Institutions/criteria-for-accreditation.html. For more information about AQIP, check out the following link: www.ncahlc. org/AQIP/AQIP-Home/.
Student Submission!
Mega Street Bridge to be Completed by: Arin Riemenschneider
The Stark State College pedestrian walkway connecting the north student parking lot to the North Academic building of the campus is to be completed in November 2012.
660 space parking lot at the corner of Mega and Frank Avenue to the second floor of the North Academic building, also known as the K building.
With approximately 19,000 students Stark State conducted a study and estimated 2,000 crossings a day. The Mega Street Bridge connects the
Students say the addition of the bridge to the campus will safely allow students to cross the Mega Street NW, and avoid heavy traffic to enter the campus. Students will be able to access the walkway by stairs or elevator in the tower. Construction of the bridge began in March of 2012 and is the latest project at Stark State costing an estimated $1.6 million. Constructors said the 80
ton bridge was constructed on site and hoisted into place on July 2nd and 3rd. Measuring 160 feet long, and 3,500 square feet, it leads to the climate-controlled bridge containing a stairwell, elevator, and mechanical room. The bridge was designed by FMD Architects, who also designed the North Academic building completed in 2011. Constructing the bridge is contractor Jeff Carr Construction. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing are overseen by Hilscher-Clarke, Roth Brothers, and Feinman respectively. With the Stark State community ever evolving—with expansions of academic buildings and parking—it is no wonder Stark State College has growns more by way of this bridge. 2