Por María de Lourdes Martínez Cordero
A su llegada
al Jardín Botánico, el presidente de la UPR, José Ramón De la Torre indicó que le preocupa mucho el tema de la acreditación de la Universidad
tanto a nivel local como federal.
De hecho, De la Torre declaró en exclusiva a DESDE ADENTRO que ayer sostuvo una reunión con el
director de Puerto Rico para la acreditadora Middle States Association of Colleges
and Schools. El presidente le comunicó el estatus de la huelga y las conversaciones. No obstante, sobre el proceso de acreditación y las
gestiones que faltan por realizar al respecto, De la Torre sostuvo que “nosotros
tenemos una Universidad cerrada, no se puede acreditar una Universidad que no
existe”.
El Presidente se mostraba relajado y dijo a DESDE ADENTRO, que tenía entendido que la agenda de la reunión de hoy con el Comité Negociador Nacional (CNN), sería el tema de la amnistías a estudiantes en huelga.
Además de esta reunión, el Presidente participará
simultáneamente de otra reunión vía telefónica.
Copiando de una nota publicado por un profesor en Facebook. Demuestra por lo menos que el proceso de perder la acreditación es largo y complicado, y no tan fácil como el presidente quizás nos quiere hacer creer.
ResponderEliminarWhat does the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the agency responsible for UPR's accreditation, say about the role of financial issues and groups such as the Junta de Sindicos (UPR's Board of Trustees)?
"In financial affairs, the members of the governing body should confine
themselves, as they do in academic matters, to a basic policy-making role, ensuring strong financial management by holding the chief executive officer responsible and accountable for internal operation. The governing body is responsible for the financial integrity of the accredited entity. The governing body, through the chief executive officer, receives periodic reports of institutional committees and campus constituencies and, when not a system matter, receives reports from auditors. The chief executive officer and the governing body should seek opportunities to stabilize and control costs, as well
as opportunities to advocate actively for external support. The members of the governing body also should assist in generating resources needed to sustain and improve the institution, as appropriate.
Governing body members, regardless of how appointed, have primary
responsibility to the accredited institution and should not allow political or other influences to interfere with governing body duties. Consistent with institutional mission and sponsorship, members should represent different points of view, interests, and experiences as well as diversity in characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, and gender. Governing body composition should attempt to reflect student body profiles."
Page 13, Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education
http://www.msche.org/publications/CHX06_Aug08REVMarch09.pdf
Also, to share a few observations:
(a) There is no "fast track" to losing accreditation, there are stages: warning, probation, loss of accreditation.
(b) The most pressing and immediate risk concerning loss of accreditation has to do with the fact that the minimum number of hours required to officially complete the semester has not been met. However, the administration's refusal to open its books could also lead to questions about its accreditation.
(c) Traditionally Middle States has not wanted to involve itself it events such as strikes (this is reflected on its webpage), but that has started to change in the last few years and various representatives are interested in mediation.
(d) The administration is obligated to inform Middle States of closings, major strikes, and controversies.
(e) Middle States recommends that it has access to newspaper articles about events such as strikes and major disputes/disruptions/closings, especially articles from well-known publications.
(f) MSCHE's publications are useful, especially its "Bible" (Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education): http://www.msche.org/publications/CHX06_Aug08REVMarch09.pdf
(g) MSCHE is aware of the situation at UPR. Abuses of students' basic rights are among the topics in which it is interested.
(h) The person who deals w/ UPR most directly is Dr. Luis Pedraja.