The Committee on Accreditation (COA) of the American Library Association (ALA) has granted continued accreditation status through 2025 to the iSchool's Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MS/LIS) program. The decision was based on the "totality of the accomplishment and the environment for learning" of the program.
"Our School's MS degree in library and information science has been at the forefront of innovation for many years. We look forward to continued success, expanding our course offerings and curriculum to provide the best possible education for students in a rapidly evolving field—the world has never needed expert library and information professionals more than it does today," said Allen Renear, professor and dean of the iSchool.
Continued accreditation is based on a comprehensive program evaluation that includes a Self-Study, External Review Panel Report, response to the External Review Panel Report, and a meeting with the COA. The COA meeting occurred on January 26, 2019, and continued status was granted on January 27, 2019. This outcome confirms that the iSchool's program meets the rigorous standards set forth by ALA, which evaluate the excellence of a program's systematic planning, curriculum, faculty, students, and administration, finances, and resources.
The MS/LIS at Illinois has been ranked #1 in library and information studies by U.S. News & World Report since 1996. In addition to retaining the top position, the following iSchool specialties currently rank highly: #1 in Digital Librarianship, #1 in Services for Children and Youth, #3 in School Library Media, #6 in Health Librarianship, #6 in Information Systems, and #8 in Archives and Preservation.
The iSchool would like to extend a special thanks to the following faculty and staff whose expertise contributed to the School's successful continued accreditation.
For compiling data and authoring sections of the Self-Study:
- Linda C. Smith, Professor and Executive Associate Dean
- Kate McDowell, Associate Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- Nicole A. Cooke, Associate Professor and MS/LIS Program Director
- Emily Knox, Associate Professor
- Meg Edwards, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
For support of the Self-Study preparation:
- Kirstin C. Phelps, Doctoral Candidate
For leadership of the core accreditation team that prepared the Self-Study:
- Nicole A. Cooke
For representing our School at the COA meeting:
- Kate McDowell, Allen Renear, and Nicole A. Cooke