BOOK REVIEW
03 May, 2010
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Salient features of the book.
i. The first part of the text deals with the challenges of accreditation. It sets the context for the many challenges currently faced by libraries and information technologies within the process of accreditation. It focuses its attention on the rapidly changing environment, the expectations in the age of new technology and challenges of accreditation from the new academic library environment.
ii. The second part of the text, the author gives his experiences in self- study and accreditation. This information is useful to campus information professionals getting started in self-study. In this part, the editor talks about the important of reflective self study in accreditation, the purpose and nature of the site visit, and the practical librarian’s view of accreditation.
iii. In part three, the text discusses the challenging issues facing libraries and information technologies and accreditation process. These issues are; off-campus library services, distance education and their relationship to accreditation; the prevailing concern with information literacy within accreditation. It also talks about the new American student and the workforce competence
iv. In part four, the text presents the current criteria and standards for academic libraries, information technologies, learning resources and academic computing as found in the accreditation handbooks of the six regional associations. It also discusses the disciplinary and professional Association standards and guidelines.
V. Part five of the book, we find an extensive bibliographic essay on libraries and accreditation. This part of the book discusses the relationship between the academic libraries and the literature of accreditation.
vi. The other feature of this text is that we have references that come after each chapter.
vii. Also the book has twenty one tables which are used for illustrations and it also has index.
viii. Lastly, the book is concluded with a short glossary of commonly used accreditation terms that may be of value to readers.
Analysis of the book’s contribution to the field of accreditation in distance education
The challenge and practice of Academic Accreditation is a book which deals with the challenges the practicing librarians are facing. The book was developed to give librarians and other campus information professionals with the insight into some of the contemporary challenges being posed to and by regional and professional accreditation as a result of the rapid changes that are now occurring in academic libraries, academic computing services, and other academic support.
Academic accreditation is a subject that has not attracted many to write about it. Edward D. Garten has done a big job for his book has contributed a lot in the development of Academic Accreditation. Because of lack of interest in this field, you get that a book like “The challenge and practice of academic Accreditation” is in very high demand for it is the one to which many turn to for reference. The book has helped faculties, librarians and students to get their bearings. The book deals comprehensively with the challenges facing academic accreditation. The authors who are professionals in field of academic accreditation also have given possible solutions to the challenge a according to their own experiences. This has helped the library administrators to examine into detail these challenges as they are executing their duties. This book stands as a major contribution to an understanding the challenges facing the academic accreditation.
Therefore, “The Challenge and practice of academic accreditation” has succeeded working as a source of information for library administrators, students and accrediting agencies. Hence the book has contributed a lot to the field of Academic accreditation.
Evaluation of the concepts which the book introduces
Academic accreditation today is plagued with uncertainties and pressures. The challenge and practice of Academic Accreditation by Edward D. Garten has highlighted many of these uncertainties and pressures one can learn from. Some of these are;
I. the increased emphasis on institutional accountability and integrity
ii. Demands for the improvement of teaching and learning
iii. The emerging technologies that are transforming classrooms and academic libraries
iv. Heightened state and national expectations for assessment and documentation of the achievement of students
V. demographic shifts that are affecting the numbers, ages, and ethnic makeup of students who come to our institution
vi. The many threats to institutional autonomy, peer review, and self-regulation that come from increased federal and state oversight.
In his book Edward has tried by using is expertise and that of the other contributors to give us suggestitions on how the pressures can be dealt with. These are: In this age of accountability, accreditors must provide the public with more relevant information about institutions and programs they accredit; In the rapidly changing environment, the accreditation community should involve an increased number of public and it conducts its business in the open; critically assess the relevance of their standards; Both the institutions and the accreditors should cooperate at all levels to ease the economic burden that multiple accrediting visits and processes may place on a campus; To be successful, accrediting agencies must come to understand the new models being developed for various services offered by colleges and Universities that utilize the increasing sophisticated tools becoming available to educators and also the complexity that these tools are introducing into academic life. Edward is right when he says that accreditation may not have the answers, but it can provide a useful process for asking and answering a wide range of questions.
Conclusion
The Challenge and practice of Academic Accreditation is one of the books which have been written to be used as a sourcebook for library administrators. This book deals with many areas of accreditation of distance education. It clearly highlights the many challenges facing academic accreditation. In this book, Edward D. Garten has provided librarians and other campus information professionals with insight into some of the contemporary challenges being posed to and by regional and professional accreditation as a result of the rapid changes that are now occurring in academic libraries, academic computing services, and other academic support units. The author of this book has first hand experience on both sides of accreditation.
This book stands as a major contribution to understanding of the contemporary problems facing academic accreditation. It has identified the challenges, at the same time given the possible solutions to the challenges. In its eighteen chapters, the book has contributed a lot of information for practicing library administrators to use. The book is easy to use for both students and professionals. The book is also used as course reading material for undergraduate, graduate and Doctoral courses. Therefore it is contributing a lot to the field of academic accreditation. Therefore I do recommend the book to the reader.
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Title of the book:
The Challenge and Practice of Academic Accreditation: A source book for Library Administrators
The author: Edward D. Garten (editor) Publisher: Greenwood Press
Year of Publication: 1994 ISBN Number: 0-313-28897-6
Number of pages: 285 Price: $65
Introduction
As the title “The challenge and practice of Academic accreditation: A source book for Library Administrators” indicates, it offers an overview of the accreditation process focused specifically on contemporary expectations for and challenges to libraries, information technologies and academic computing, and offers practical advice to librarians involved with accreditation
Salient features of the book.
i. The first part of the text deals with the challenges of accreditation. It sets the context for the many challenges currently faced by libraries and information technologies within the process of accreditation. It focuses its attention on the rapidly changing environment, the expectations in the age of new technology and challenges of accreditation from the new academic library environment.
ii. The second part of the text, the author gives his experiences in self- study and accreditation. This information is useful to campus information professionals getting started in self-study. In this part, the editor talks about the important of reflective self study in accreditation, the purpose and nature of the site visit, and the practical librarian’s view of accreditation.
iii. In part three, the text discusses the challenging issues facing libraries and information technologies and accreditation process. These issues are; off-campus library services, distance education and their relationship to accreditation; the prevailing concern with information literacy within accreditation. It also talks about the new American student and the workforce competence
iv. In part four, the text presents the current criteria and standards for academic libraries, information technologies, learning resources and academic computing as found in the accreditation handbooks of the six regional associations. It also discusses the disciplinary and professional Association standards and guidelines.
V. Part five of the book, we find an extensive bibliographic essay on libraries and accreditation. This part of the book discusses the relationship between the academic libraries and the literature of accreditation.
vi. The other feature of this text is that we have references that come after each chapter.
vii. Also the book has twenty one tables which are used for illustrations and it also has index.
viii. Lastly, the book is concluded with a short glossary of commonly used accreditation terms that may be of value to readers.
Analysis of the book’s contribution to the field of accreditation in distance education
The challenge and practice of Academic Accreditation is a book which deals with the challenges the practicing librarians are facing. The book was developed to give librarians and other campus information professionals with the insight into some of the contemporary challenges being posed to and by regional and professional accreditation as a result of the rapid changes that are now occurring in academic libraries, academic computing services, and other academic support.
Academic accreditation is a subject that has not attracted many to write about it. Edward D. Garten has done a big job for his book has contributed a lot in the development of Academic Accreditation. Because of lack of interest in this field, you get that a book like “The challenge and practice of academic Accreditation” is in very high demand for it is the one to which many turn to for reference. The book has helped faculties, librarians and students to get their bearings. The book deals comprehensively with the challenges facing academic accreditation. The authors who are professionals in field of academic accreditation also have given possible solutions to the challenge a according to their own experiences. This has helped the library administrators to examine into detail these challenges as they are executing their duties. This book stands as a major contribution to an understanding the challenges facing the academic accreditation.
Therefore, “The Challenge and practice of academic accreditation” has succeeded working as a source of information for library administrators, students and accrediting agencies. Hence the book has contributed a lot to the field of Academic accreditation.
Evaluation of the concepts which the book introduces
Academic accreditation today is plagued with uncertainties and pressures. The challenge and practice of Academic Accreditation by Edward D. Garten has highlighted many of these uncertainties and pressures one can learn from. Some of these are;
I. the increased emphasis on institutional accountability and integrity
ii. Demands for the improvement of teaching and learning
iii. The emerging technologies that are transforming classrooms and academic libraries
iv. Heightened state and national expectations for assessment and documentation of the achievement of students
V. demographic shifts that are affecting the numbers, ages, and ethnic makeup of students who come to our institution
vi. The many threats to institutional autonomy, peer review, and self-regulation that come from increased federal and state oversight.
In his book Edward has tried by using is expertise and that of the other contributors to give us suggestitions on how the pressures can be dealt with. These are: In this age of accountability, accreditors must provide the public with more relevant information about institutions and programs they accredit; In the rapidly changing environment, the accreditation community should involve an increased number of public and it conducts its business in the open; critically assess the relevance of their standards; Both the institutions and the accreditors should cooperate at all levels to ease the economic burden that multiple accrediting visits and processes may place on a campus; To be successful, accrediting agencies must come to understand the new models being developed for various services offered by colleges and Universities that utilize the increasing sophisticated tools becoming available to educators and also the complexity that these tools are introducing into academic life. Edward is right when he says that accreditation may not have the answers, but it can provide a useful process for asking and answering a wide range of questions.
Conclusion
The Challenge and practice of Academic Accreditation is one of the books which have been written to be used as a sourcebook for library administrators. This book deals with many areas of accreditation of distance education. It clearly highlights the many challenges facing academic accreditation. In this book, Edward D. Garten has provided librarians and other campus information professionals with insight into some of the contemporary challenges being posed to and by regional and professional accreditation as a result of the rapid changes that are now occurring in academic libraries, academic computing services, and other academic support units. The author of this book has first hand experience on both sides of accreditation.
This book stands as a major contribution to understanding of the contemporary problems facing academic accreditation. It has identified the challenges, at the same time given the possible solutions to the challenges. In its eighteen chapters, the book has contributed a lot of information for practicing library administrators to use. The book is easy to use for both students and professionals. The book is also used as course reading material for undergraduate, graduate and Doctoral courses. Therefore it is contributing a lot to the field of academic accreditation. Therefore I do recommend the book to the reader.
© All Rights Reserved