HLC Accreditation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2008

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JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - An evaluation team representing The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools announced its preliminary recommendation that Missouri Southern State University be accredited for a 10-year period, the longest possible term, during an exit report Wednesday.

 

Members of the seven-member team will return to their respective institutions and begin preparing a formal report from their comprehensive evaluation visit that took place March 31 -April 2.

 

“We were very impressed with the cooperation of the University and we were impressed with the program displays that we had not seen at other evaluations,” said Dr. Reneé Neely, of Eastern New Mexico University and Chair of the HLC Consultant-Evaluator Team. “The University’s mission is clearly articulated, has broad support, and resources are directed to appropriately support it. The University has a strong international mission, is ahead of the curve in Distance Learning, and many would give their eye teeth to have such library resources.”

 

For Missouri Southern, the process represents the end of a three-year effort to gain continued accreditation. The process began in 2004 with an extensive Self-Study report headed by Dr. Jack Oakes, professor and head of the Computer Information Science Department; and Dr. Betsy Griffin, professor of Psychology and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. A complete narrative of the Self-Study process is available at http://www.mssu.edu/selfstudy/.

 

“We were very pleased with the preliminary report that gives us accredition through 2017-18 and that speaks highly of the efforts of Dr. Oakes, Dr. Griffin and the entire University faculty and staff,” commented Dr. Bruce Speck, President.

 

Missouri Southern State University has been accredited by the Commission since 1949, when it was Joplin Junior College. Its accreditation is at the bachelor’s degree level and includes selected master’s degrees and an international site.

 

The Higher Learning Commission is one of six accrediting agencies in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Institutional accreditation evaluates an entire institution and accredits it as a whole. Other agencies provide accreditation for specific programs. Accreditation is voluntary. The Commission accredits approximately 1,100 institutions of higher education in a 19-state region. The Commission is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The accreditation has implications related to Federal Financial Aid and degree recognition by other instititions.

 

For the past three years, Missouri Southern State University has been engaged in a process of self-study, addressing the Commission's requirements and criteria for accreditation and aspiration goals for the first year of college. The purpose of the evaluation team‘s visit to the University was to gather evidence that the self-study was thorough and accurate.

 

The team will submit a formal recommendation to the Commission for continuing status for the university; followed by a review process, at which time the Commission itself will take the final action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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