Higher Learning Commission gives OSU continued accreditation
Friday, April 21, 2006
Stillwater, Ok. --Thanks to improvements in a variety of areas and a thorough self
study, Oklahoma State University has received notification from The Higher Learning
Commission that its accreditation has been continued for an additional 10 years following
the vote of the commission.
The next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled for 2015-16.
The Higher Learning Commission, formerly referred to as the North Central Association,
is one of six U.S. regional institutional accrediting associations. It offers the
highest form of accreditation that is available to universities.
“We are pleased that the efforts of so many faculty, staff and students have resulted
in a positive visit and the university has received continued full accreditation,”
said OSU System CEO and President David J. Schmidly. “Going forward, we will work
hard to improve every aspect of an OSU education.”
Marlene Strathe, OSU Provost and Senior Vice President, said, “A 10-year re-accreditation
approval is the most positive outcome from this process. The campus visit by the
evaluator team is the culmination of a several-year process of institutional self
analysis resulting in the self-study report. It is important to note that the OSU
self study and web components have been cited by the Higher Learning Commission as
a model for other institutions.”
The Higher Learning Commission’s response to the university’s self-study report should
be received soon, according to Dr. Brenda Masters, associate professor of statistics
and director of the self-study. At that time, it will be posted on the OSU accreditation
website.
Significant achievements cited at OSU between 1995 and 2005 included increased graduation
and retention rates; national recognition as a high-quality, but affordable, university;
national rankings for numerous academic and research programs; development of a nationally
recognized scholars’ program; improved evaluation and assessment processes; and development
of the university’s system-wide strategic plans.
To prepare for the 10-year accreditation review, the university, led by committees,
conducted a thorough institutional analysis, called a self-study, and prepared a self-study
report that demonstrated how OSU satisfied the accreditation criteria and formally
requested continued accreditation from the commission. A team representing the Higher
Learning Commission visited the campus last September. The team reviewed the university’s
ability to meet the institutional requirements and all criteria for continued accreditation.
During the visit, the evaluation team met with constituent groups to discuss the
criterion on which the self-study was written, which included mission and integrity;
preparing for the future; student learning and effective teaching; acquisition, discovery
and application of knowledge; and engagement and service.
“Institutional improvement is a major goal of our accreditation self-study, which
we were involved in for three years,” said Masters. “This self-study involved not
only faculty and administrators, but students and staff members.
Accreditation is important for OSU in maintaining the eligibility of its students
for federal grants and loans and for the university’s continued recognition by employers,
governmental agencies, professional licensing boards, and other institutions of higher
learning as an outstanding university that provides excellent educational opportunities.
The commission has requested that OSU submit two progress reports, one in January
2007 addressing the responsibility and authority of the Office of Affirmative Action,
and the other in January 2011, addressing institutional diversity.