The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library and Information Science (LIS) program has earned full continued accreditation from the American Library Association (ALA) for the maximum seven years. As the only accredited professional school for librarians and archivists in the state, this marks the program’s first accreditation since merging into the School of Communication and Information in 2022.
“Full accreditation is a reflection of the quality of the program and the dedication of the faculty to our students and our community,” said UH Manoa Provost Michael Bruno.
As one of the smallest accredited programs, the UH Mānoa LIS program emphasizes the importance of relationships (pilina) among students, staff, faculty and the professional community. There are currently 54 graduate students enrolled in the program.
The ALA accreditation, which was first obtained in 1967 and most recently in 2016, holds significance as most libraries and archives prefer hiring graduates from accredited programs. UH Mānoa is among 64 accredited LIS programs in North America.
Unanimous praise from students and alumni
The re-accreditation process involved:
- LIS faculty submitted a comprehensive 178-page self study to the ALA Committee on Accreditation in August 2023 addressing systemic planning, curriculum, faculty, students, and administration, finances and resources.
- An External Review Panel (ERP) composed of library professionals from the U.S. and Canada visited the LIS program in October 2023.
- The team assessed internal documents, observed classes and interviewed various stakeholders, including faculty, staff, alumni, current students, community librarians and UH Mānoa administration.
The ERP reported unanimous praise from students and alumni for the program’s administrative policies and consistent support.
“We are very grateful that our community helped us tell our story, and demonstrated to the review team how we address the accreditation standards in our own unique ways,” said LIS Program Director Rich Gazan.
An inaugural open house for the School of Communication and Information is scheduled for April 5, 2024.
