The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) will visit OHSU in April 2005. We have begun the extensive self-study process for renewing this important regional institutional accreditation. We are strongly committed to using this opportunity to reflect on our mission and goals, and how to sustain and enhance OHSU's performance.

      There are nine quality standards required by the NWCCU. Committees are now focusing on how to tell the OHSU story using existing documents, anecdotes and data. The recently completed specialized accreditation reviews for our professional schools provide a basis for an integrated look at attributes of quality across the university.

      I am pleased to announce that Robert Vieira, Ed.D., vice provost of Academic and Student Affairs, and Phyllis Beemsterboer, Ed.D., associate dean for the School of Dentistry, have agreed to cochair this process. Nancy Goldschmidt, Ph.D., associate vice provost for Academic and Student Affairs, will assist in this effort. They will provide the necessary overall planning and management of the review and self-study.

      The Self-Study will be conducted with broad consultation and input from faculty and staff. If you are asked to contribute, please make the Self-Study a priority. You can track the progress of the self-study by checking in on this web site or contacting the co-chairs or other members of the Steering Committee.

      Thank you in advance for your participation and support of this process. Together we will ready for the NWCCU team that will visit us in 2005.

Peter Kohler, M.D. OHSU President