Winter 2011 Newsletter Extended: Accreditation
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"...BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE CAL POLY!"
By Kalli Sandberg (RPTA '13), Staff Writer
“There are 87 accredited programs, but there is only one Cal Poly!“ That glowing quote from Dr. Jeff Witman (York College of Pennsylvania), lead representative of the external review accreditation team, wrapped up a busy and stressful week for the RPTA department in mid-February. The visit and review by an external team is one more step in the accreditation process that is required every five years. The process will end with a hearing at the National Recreation and Park Association Annual Congress in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2011. At that time, the department will know whether our national accreditation has been renewed, but the words from Witman bode well. Witman was joined on the accredidation review committee by Dr. Candace Goode Vick (North Carolina State University) and Dr. Camille O’Bryant as an internal reviewer. O'Bryant is the department head for the Kinesiology Department at Cal Poly. During the review in mid-February, committee members visited classes, spoke with students, and interviewed faculty to find out more about the curricular and co-curricular efforts in order to assess the department's adherence to established accreditation standards.
Overall, the department review revealed many strengths such as our mission vision/values, our advisory council and connections with the industry, curricular development, relationship with the Career Center and Library, as well as student involvement with faculty research. We were also praised for our internship program, senior project and the sense of community among students and faculty. The Cal Poly RPTA program is one to be admired within the field. Boasting award-winning and respected faculty, hardworking and involved students, and a great curriculum, its obvious to many how great the RPTA major is.
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