LAS VEGAS N.M.
New Mexico Highlands University is asking a national organization not to yank the specialty accreditation for its school of education.
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education notified Highlands in October that the school’s accreditation was being revoked, though the university was given the opportunity to appeal the decision.
Highlands remains on conditional accreditation until a decision is made.
Kathy Jenkins, interim dean of Highlands’ school of education, said the school should hear back from the council within 90 days.
While the accreditation isn’t required of schools of education, it is held by Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico State University, the University of New Mexico and Western New Mexico University.
An evaluation team from the council put Highlands on notice in 2004 that it failed to meet one of six standards, determining that Highlands’ assessment system was substandard.
