CSB and SJU receive reaccreditation

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University have been reaccredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The accreditation will run for 10 years, through the 2018-19 academic year.

There are five criteria for accreditation – mission and integrity; planning for the future; student learning and effective teaching; acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge; and engagement and service. CSB and SJU presented a completed self-study in the fall of 2008, and was judged to have met all five criteria completely, with no follow-up required.

“I am delighted that CSB and SJU received such an outstanding affirmation from the Higher Learning Commission,” said Rita Knuesel, provost of CSB and SJU. “I extend a heartfelt thanks to Carie Braun, coordinator of the self-study, and the entire CSB/SJU community at large for their exemplary work!”

Accreditation serves two primary purposes:

• It is a way of demonstrating to an external audience – prospective students, employers, graduates and benefactors, to name just a few – that CSB and SJU are self-critical;

• And, that the two schools can identify strengths and weaknesses and respond to evidence with continuous improvement in mind.