Overview

Missouri Southern State University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) since 1949. The Higher Learning Commission accredits institutions, not individual programs.

Recognizing that the University is scheduled for a comprehensive continued-accreditation evaluation during the 2007-08 academic year, President Julio Leon appointed Dr. Betsy Griffin and Dr. Jack Oakes as Coordinators for the institutional self-study. In April of 2005, the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Richard McCallum, invited the Coordinators, the four Academic Deans, and the Assistant Vice-President for Assessment and Institutional Research to accompany him to the HLC Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Also, in the spring of 2005 and in order to advance an institutional commitment to emphasize student success, President Leon directed the Vice-President for Academic Affairs to submit an application to the Policy Center on the First College Year (PC) for participation in the Foundations of Excellence Inaugural National Select Cohort during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 academic years. The Policy Center will provide MSSU with access to consultants, data-collection instruments, and procedures for conducting an institutional self-study to evaluate and develop action plans for improving the freshman year. A team of MSSU administrators and faculty attended the Foundations of Excellence Institute in Asheville, NC on August 3-4, 2005.

After consultations with the Higher Learning Commission and the Policy Center, MSSU decided to seek approval to integrate the two self-studies into a single process. In August 2005, with recommendations from the Coordinators, President Leon appointed a Steering Committee for the project.

Conducting the self-study will require gathering information and evidence relevant to HLC Accreditation Criteria, along with the PC Foundations of Excellence Dimensions. To be effective, the process must be characterized by broad participation on the part of all MSSU constituencies, an objective analysis of the institution’s strengths and opportunities for improvement, and the development and implementation of action plans to enhance strengths and address challenges.

One important result will be a report that is sent to a group of HLC peer reviewers to help them prepare for an on-site visit in the spring of 2008. However, just as important, Missouri Southern State University views this special-emphasis continued-accreditation self-study as an opportunity to advance a culture that emphasizes and fosters the success of all students, both during and after college.