Monmouth College went through a rigorous reaccreditation process as the Higher Learning Commission (HCL) visited campus March 3-5. After the three day visit, Mauri Ditzler was offered a preliminary “ok” from the HCL committee.

Part of the HCL visit was a discussion between Monmouth College students and the members of the HCL committee. At first there was some controversy over this meeting, as several students, including senior Benjamin Sauer, protested that the meeting was not open to all MC students.

Despite the closed student meetings, a fairly diverse group of students was present to comment on the condition of Monmouth College and specifically the integrated studies program, which was being meticulously reviewed.

Students had a wide range of reactions to what they referred to as an “improving” and “growing” program. It seemed only a few students felt strongly against the integrated studies program.

After the meeting, several students stayed behind to continue talking to the committee members. At this time, several of the committee members, who hailed from colleges and universities from around the nation, seemed both pleased and surprised with the way the students were discussing Monmouth’s academic and non-academic programs.

In a later meeting with Ditzler, after the accreditation team left, he said the committee left a very good preliminary report. He later stated that Monmouth had received a great report, and that it looked like another accreditation review would happen at the maximum allowed ten year mark.

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