Friday, June 26 was a day of affirmation for UMES’ Department of Human Ecology. It was recognized at the 2020 conference of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences for achieving accreditation for the first time in the department’s history.
The Council on Accreditation of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences voted in April to grant an initial 10-year accreditation based on their assessment that UMES’ program adheres to accreditation standards that “reflect the highest quality expectations defined by the profession.”
The AAFCS Accreditation Program assures the public that “accredited undergraduate family and consumer sciences programs provide the highest quality educational experiences and prepare students for professional roles to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities.” Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review process.
“Getting accreditation was a team effort that took over two years of hard work,” said Dr. Grace Namwamba, professor and chair of UMES’ Department of Human Ecology. Kudos, she said, go to the department’s faculty and staff that played important roles in the process, especially Dr. Lombuso Khoza for chairing the accreditation committee and to Drs. Kieu Anh Do, Bridget Clinton-Scott and Li Zhou for chairing self-study standards.
Not only did the program receive accreditation, it did so with flying colors. According to Namwamba, the AAFCS commended the department for having excellent programs, dedicated faculty, students who were able to articulate the family and consumer sciences Body of Knowledge and satisfied employers of Human Ecology graduates.
One of the commendations read, “The unit faculty members are commended for preparing students who are very satisfied with their degree, who succeed in getting jobs they desire and who are successful in their pursuits of advanced degrees and certifications.” The Human Ecology Department was also lauded for using state-of-the-art technology for student learning including its Computer Aided Design laboratory, textile printing laboratory, a 3-D body scanner, and other renovations in its home—the Richard A. Henson Center. Namwamba, the department’s chair, was cited as “a highly skilled and effective leader who is empowered to make decisions for the unit and has the respect of the university administrators, faculty members, students, alumni, employers of graduates…”.
Accreditation by the council has three purposes: to advance academic (teaching, learning, research, service and outreach) quality, to demonstrate accountability and to encourage planning and implementation for needed improvement.
