Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) announces six new board members

HARTFORD, CONN., July 10, 2007 -- Connecticut State University System Chancellor David G. Carter is one of six new members joining the board of directors of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the largest institutional higher education membership organization in the United States, and a well-respected national leader in higher education accreditation.

In addition to the new members, two board members are returning.  Of these eight members, seven will serve a three-year term, and one will complete two years of an unexpired term. These changes take effect this month.

The new board members are:
-    Caesar Andrews, executive editor of the Detroit Free Press
-    David G. Carter, chancellor of the Connecticut State University System
-    Scott Cowen, president of Tulane University
-    Loren Crabtree, chancellor of the University of Tennessee
-    Madlyn L. Hanes, chancellor of Penn State Harrisburg
-    Karen Morse, president of Western Washington University

The returning board members are:
-    Paula Peinovich, president of Walden University
-    John D. Wiley, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin

      ( Wiley is also the chair of CHEA’s board )

“We feel very fortunate to have these distinguished higher education and business leaders as part of CHEA,” said Judith Eaton, president of CHEA. Eaton went on to say, “ . . . these new members join the CHEA board at a challenging time for accreditation. CHEA will benefit from their wise counsel and dedication to the highest standards of academic quality.”

Carter was selected by the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System in February 2006 to serve as Chancellor of Connecticut’s largest university system, with approximately 36,000 students.  The system includes Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut state universities. 

Previously, Carter was President of Eastern Connecticut State University for nearly 18 years.  He was the first African American president of a four-year institution of higher education in Connecticut. Prior to assuming the presidency he served as associate vice president for academic affairs, associate dean in the School of Education and professor of educational administration at the University of Connecticut during an 11-year period.

“David Carter will be a tremendous asset to CHEA, and his selection speaks volumes for how fortunate we are here in Connecticut.  Chancellor Carter is a man of principle and integrity, whose career has been characterized by inspiring leadership and remarkable accomplishment.  He has always placed the best interest of students first and foremost, and brings unparalleled insight, dedication and determination to the critically important work of the Council,” said Lawrence D. McHugh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System.

There will be 20 board members in total after these changes take effect, with the membership composed of chief executive officers from degree-granting institutions, joined by other institutional representatives and public members. The board meets three times per year.

A national advocate and institutional voice for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation, CHEA is an association of 3,000 degree-granting colleges and universities and recognizes 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations.

For more information on CHEA, visit www.chea.org.  To learn more about the Connecticut State University System, visit www.ctstateu.edu.