The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has granted Missouri State University full accreditation for another 10 years. The official notification of accreditation followed a comprehensive self-study and evaluation visit to Missouri State by an HLC team.
The commission’s report indicates that Missouri State met all criteria and core components for reaffirmation of accreditation with no interim monitoring required. In particular the report states, “Missouri State University operates with integrity, lives its public affairs mission, and acts in an ethical and responsible manner.”
An HLC review team visited campus Oct. 5-6, 2015, and met with students, faculty and staff. Prior to arriving on campus, the team reviewed the assurance argument and evidence file that had been prepared by Missouri State University over the past four years.
The HLC final report noted accomplishments related to diversity and inclusion, program review, assessment, and budget and planning. The final report also noted several recommendations for improvement.
“There is no question that accreditation is important,” said Missouri State President Clifton M. Smart III, “but the self-study process has helped to keep us on track and has helped us identify areas for improvement – which we’ve addressed continually since our last accreditation visit.”
HLC Accreditation Committee
An HLC Accreditation Committee has been appointed by Provost Frank Einhellig to consider the HLC recommendations and prepare for a review in four years as part of the Open Pathway Accreditation process. Members of the committee include:
- Keri Franklin, chair, director of assessment
- Tom Dicke, professor of history
- Gilbert Brown, associate provost for diversity and associate professor and director student affairs in higher education
- Donna Christian, director, internal audit and compliance
- Rob Hornberger, assistant vice president enrollment management and services and registrar
- Julie Masterson, associate provost and dean of the Graduate College
The review team separately reviewed Missouri State’s recently approved Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program and found that no interim monitoring is required.
“I’d like to commend Dr. Tamera Jahnke and everyone who’s worked on the accreditation teams for their commitment to this process,” said Einhellig. “They did a fantastic job preparing the university for a successful evaluation.”
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region. Missouri State has been accredited by the HLC (formerly known as the North Central Association) since 1916.
The entire HLC report, points of pride and recommendations are available on the university’s Higher Learning Commission website.