Haskell Indian Nations University expects to get a sneak-peek, of sorts, at a draft report from its reaccreditation site visit, possibly within the next two weeks.

Haskell President Venida Chenault said she believes the site visit went well and is optimistic that the draft won’t contain major surprises.

Haskell identified many strengths, weaknesses and plans for improvement on its own in an exhaustive self-study report before the visit.

The campus of Haskell Indian Nations University.

“I think we were on track with our assessment of areas where we needed additional work, and have already begun working to address issues,” Chenault said.

“They (the site visit team) recognized the progress that the university has made over the past year. I think that they were impressed with our very unique campus and our commitment to the students that we serve. They were appreciative of the transparency in our self-study.”

Four representatives from the Higher Learning Commission, the organization reviewing Haskell’s accreditation status, visited Haskell last month.

The team kicked off its three-day visit at a traditional foods potluck at the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum, then met with faculty, staff, students and community partners to ask questions and verify information Haskell shared in the self-study, Chenault said.

The Higher Learning Commission’s decision on whether to fully reaccredit Haskell won’t come for possibly six to nine months.

However, Chenault said, the school should get a look at the site team’s draft report soon and be able to check it for any factual errors before it undergoes the Higher Learning Commission’s full review process.

Chenault said turnout and participation during the self-study and site visit was high.

“Haskell truly appreciated the level of support that we received, both on campus and with all our community partners,” she said.

In the past the Higher Learning Commission has reviewed — and reaffirmed — Haskell’s accreditation status every ten years, as it also has for Kansas University, which had its site visit earlier this spring.

Going forward, the Higher Learning Commission is changing its process to one that will require more frequent but less exhaustive reports.