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• UW-River Falls to receive re-accreditation recommendation
• Xcel gets OK for surcharge to start this week

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will be recommended for the 10-year maximum re-accreditation to the Higher Learning Commission, university officials learned this week.

A seven-member site visit team told Chancellor Don Betz on Wednesday, April 23, of its conclusion following a three-day visit. The full commission is expected to act on extending accreditation within several months.

Betz said that an exit meeting with the team was brief but highly complimentary of UW-River Falls.

"The team cited eight strengths: The high quality of an institutional self-study and the process that created it; that UW-River Falls is truly a student-centered institution; Living the Promise, UW-River Falls' strategic plan, is widely accepted and effective; the 'motivated, dedicated and highly competent faculty, staff and administration;' the clear dedication of UW-River Falls to serving the St. Croix Valley; the institution's focus on sustainability; and the university's commitment to shared governance.

"They especially cited the outstanding enthusiasm in the turnouts of individual meetings with students, faculty, staff and community members," Betz said.

Betz, who has served as a consultant-evaluator on review teams and has experienced five reviews at higher education institutions, added, "This is a superior outcome. The team clearly recognized the quality, talent, commitment and passion for teaching and learning here. Our faculty and staff impressed them with what they do and why they do it."

The site team recognized four areas of concern outside of the university's control: An increasing backlog of deferred building maintenance; non-competitive salaries for faculty and staff recruitment and retention; inadequate instructional space to keep pace with the region's growth; and "economic challenges into the foreseeable future" based on the state's weak economy.

UW-River Falls has been continuously accredited since 1935. Accreditation is key to the perceived quality of degrees that are awarded, and it is a requirement to receive federal funding for student aid and grants for research.

On Friday, Xcel Energy was given approval by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission on Friday for a 3 percent rate surcharge.

According to PSC spokesman Tim Le Monds, the increase will start this week.

"It comes out to about $1.75 per month for the average homeowner," said Le Monds.

Xcel made the request for the surcharge in April citing that increased fuel costs are resulting in increased costs to generate electricity.

"Every power company in the state has come to us asking for a surcharge because of fuel costs," Le Monds said.

The surcharge will be in effect for the remainder of the calendar year, but is subject to a refund if Xcel finds that their fuel costs are lower than projected, according to Le Monds.