In this issue I discuss our upcoming Higher Learning Commission review.

University prepares for October accreditation visit

Missouri State University received initial accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in 1915 and has successfully earned reaffirmation of this accreditation in every cycle since that time. By law, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) relies in part on regional accrediting agencies such as HLC to determine eligibility for U.S. government assistance under certain legislation. Our reaffirmation in 2015-16 is important.

The Missouri State University HLC Steering Committee began meeting in October of 2012 to prepare for the October 2015 visit. All agendas, minutes and draft reports are posted on the committee’s website. This is the first time we did not write a self-study. Instead we are preparing an assurance argument with attached evidence files to show that we meet all criteria and core components required of the HLC.

Assurance arguments now available online; feedback requested by June 15

The latest draft of each criterion report was posted this week. Please read and provide your feedback. There is a link just below the drafts to provide input. Submission of the final draft will occur in August but with summer fast approaching the HLC Steering Committee would like your feedback now (deadline for feedback is June 15).

Open forums scheduled Oct. 5-6

Block your calendars for Oct. 5-6. There will be at least three open forums during the visit related to the five criteria and all students, faculty and staff will be invited to participate.

Missouri State University students will be responding later this month to a short survey designed by the HLC. The results will be reviewed by the peer review team who will be on our campus Oct. 5-6.

All members of the Missouri State University HLC Steering Committee have worked diligently over the past two years to write the assurance argument and collect the required evidence. By Aug. 15 we will complete our work and submit the assurance argument for review. The site team will then have access to the report and create a meeting schedule. We will post the final schedule for all open forums by Sept. 28.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!