SCELC News

Panel to speak on Libraries and Accreditation at 2025 SCELC Deans and Directors Symposium

University libraries have long been integral to academic excellence, but new approaches to accreditation often diminish their visibility and role within institutional evaluations.

At the 2025 SCELC Symposium, we welcome a panel of three expert speakers who have served as visiting committee members and Accreditation Liaison Officers, offering unique perspectives on accreditation processes across agencies such as SACSCOC, WSCUC, and NWCCU. Attendees will gain insights into the evolving accreditation landscape and strategies for ensuring that libraries remain a visible and valued part of institutional assessments. Through real-world examples and practical advice, participants will learn how to advocate for the library's essential contributions to student success, research, and institutional quality within accreditation frameworks.

The Panel

Kelly Peterson-Fairchild is Director of Library Services, University of Massachusetts Global Kelly Peterson-Fairchild has served as the Director of Library Services at the University of Massachusetts Global since 2024, overseeing the online library and tutoring services. She is also an evaluator with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Previously, she was the Accreditation Liaison Officer and Dean of Library & Open Learning Services at Utah Tech University.

James A. Wiser is Dean of Library Services and Educational Technology, Abilene Christian University. Dr. Wiser has served as Dean of Library Services and Educational Technology for Abilene Christian University (ACU), a private R2 university located in Abilene, TX, since 2020. He serves as an off-site and on-site reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the regional agency that accredits colleges and universities stretching from Virginia to Texas. He earned a BA from Harding University, an MLS from Indiana University Bloomington, an MBA from Pepperdine University, and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from The University of Texas at Austin.

Megan D. Lawrence is Director of Accreditation and Compliance, Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences. Megan Lawrence leads the accreditation and compliance function at the Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences, where she has served as the Accreditation Liaison Officer with the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) since 2015. She volunteers as the WSCUC Substantive Change Committee co-chair and has participated in 15 WSCUC site visits, including visits for reaffirmation, eligibility, and structural change. She has worked in higher education since 1995 in multiple roles, including teaching, institutional research, student services, library services, assessment, student records, transfer and articulation, and accreditation. Megan holds an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Arizona and a BA in English Literature from the University of Notre Dame.