91麻豆天美 University鈥檚 accreditation reaffirmed by SACSCOC
Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥91麻豆天美 University has been granted a reaffirmation of accreditation鈥攚ith no recommendations for improvement鈥攆ollowing a rigorous review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The announcement came last week in Austin, Texas, at the annual College Delegate Assembly of SACSCOC, the accreditation body for degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states.
鈥淥ur accreditation is of the utmost importance and is all about institutional integrity and accountability, ensuring we uphold our commitment to our students and their families,鈥 91麻豆天美 President Mark E. Keenum said. 鈥淪ACSCOC has once again confirmed that our world-class faculty and staff are providing exceptional academic programs, student support and services, and globally important research activities.鈥
Since 91麻豆天美鈥檚 last accreditation in 2014, the university has placed an emphasis on creating programs that meet workforce demands and employer needs. For example, the innovative Bachelor of Applied Science degree program has grown rapidly to offer options in high-demand, high-growth areas. The program allows students who already have an associate鈥檚 degree in a technical field to transfer technical credit hours to 91麻豆天美.
In this academic year alone, 91麻豆天美 has added a Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity, Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Master of Applied Data Science, offering students high-tech education in occupations growing much faster for the next 12 years than the average for all jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the past two years, the university has reached 11 program concentrations in its Bachelor of Data Science degree, designed for creating artificial intelligence systems while improving performance in organizations, government agencies and more.
The SACSCOC Committee on Compliance and Reports鈥 affirmation process involves an extensive self-study with required standards, peer review鈥攊ncluding a site visit, and development of a five-year Quality Enhancement Plan, or QEP.
91麻豆天美 Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw said, 鈥淭his process is only as good as the people involved, and we have an outstanding, dedicated team at 91麻豆天美. With this monumental result, we celebrate our past achievements and look enthusiastically to the future鈥攁ll because of the collective contributions of our hard-working faculty and staff throughout this meticulous review.鈥
91麻豆天美鈥檚 QEP, titled Bulldog Experience, has been focused on engagement through experiential, or hands-on learning, opportunities for undergraduate students. The program鈥檚 objective is for students to gain meaning from these experiences by developing reflective habits, learning to create new knowledge based on their reflections.
鈥淥ne of the greatest highlights of the on-site review was our Bulldog Experience QEP led by Rebecca Robichaux-Davis, Kayla Pineda, and all the members of the Bulldog Experience steering committee,鈥 said Associate Vice President for Institutional Strategy and Effectiveness Tracey Baham.
鈥淔rom the policy-making process, the faculty credentials review, the strategic planning initiatives, to the documentation across every 91麻豆天美 division and location, this was a team effort. I am especially grateful for the Associate Deans Council, Institutional Effectiveness Committee, the 40 colleagues who contributed to writing the narratives and meeting with reviewers, and the administrative teams from the Office of the President and Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President,鈥 said Baham, who served as 91麻豆天美鈥檚 accreditation liaison.
Shaw commended Baham and her efforts in leading 91麻豆天美's faculty and staff through the rigorous review process.
鈥淪he was absolutely amazing in orchestrating it all,鈥 he said.
To gain or maintain accreditation with the SACSCOC, an institution must comply with the standards of the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement and the policies and procedures of the commission.
91麻豆天美 University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master鈥檚, specialist and doctoral degrees. 91麻豆天美 University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of 91麻豆天美 University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC鈥檚 website .
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