While the University won’t receive the official re-accreditation report from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities until this summer, the evaluation team site visit April 7-10, 2026 in Bend and Corvallis and resulting draft commendations and recommendations point to a very successful outcome. The dedicated work of many, many people got us to this point. From the development and launch of Core Education with its accompanying plan for assessing university learning outcomes, to the ongoing attention to course and program assessment and to student learning and achievement, we are delivering on our mission and staying true to our values. I am especially pleased to receive a commendation for our effective support of master’s and doctoral programs and students.
As the University embarks on the next seven-year accreditation cycle (continuous improvement being what it is), there is much to be proud of and much to continue to strive toward. So many of us truly believe in the value of higher education: the opportunities it creates, the knowledge it furthers, the information sharing and community enriching it enables. To me, that’s the potential and the promise of Prosperity Widely Shared. Our successful university re-accreditation is an affirmation of the good work we are doing across the board to support learning, deepen knowledge, and expand opportunity. Thank you all!
I’m signing off at the end of June after a 27-year career at OSU. I tip my hat to my colleagues in Statistics, where I spent 19 years. In addition to my own research and teaching, I served in a consulting capacity for scientists, researchers, and students in the College of Agricultural Sciences. That work provided me the opportunity to appreciate and contribute to a wide swath of scientific inquiry at OSU—from estimating estuarine survival of anadromous salmon smolts, to understanding the temporal effects of bitterness compounds in beer, to predicting the timing of downy brome seed production, to name but a few. Some of my happiest achievements are seeing the continued successes of my master’s and doctoral students.
I will have a lasting appreciation for my colleagues in Academic Affairs and the Provost’s Office. These dedicated leaders and staff are all pulling in same direction—advancing learning, supporting faculty, strengthening academic programs—please use them as partners to support your efforts, big and small. I will watch from the sidelines as OSU continues its upward trajectory. Go Beavs!
Written by Alix Gitelman, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Division of Academic Affairs