News Highlights

North Central Association Higher Learning Commission fully accredits Minnesota State Mankato

For next 10 years

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools has fully accredited Minnesota State Mankato for the maximum 10-year period through July of 2016.

2006-08-07

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools has fully accredited Minnesota State University, Mankato for the maximum 10-year period through July of 2016.

The commission's action was announced recently by Steven D. Crow, HLC executive director. In June the commission's Institutional Actions Council voted to continue the University's accreditation, and in July the council's action was validated by the Higher Learning Commission's Board of Trustees.

"Accreditation by the North Central Association is the most important seal of approval that exists for an American higher education institution," said President Richard Davenport. "It is validation that all of our programs - on-campus, off-campus and online - provide an outstanding education value for our students."

"The Higher Learning Commission can recommend anything from revocation to full accreditation," Davenport continued. "They recommended full accreditation with one progress report in 2009. This is very, very good, and the entire campus community can be proud for making it happen."

The announcement represents great progress since 1996, when the Higher Learning Commission conditionally reaccredited the University, raising eight major concerns about its programs. The latest reaccreditation requires the University to submit one progress report in 2009 about the alignment of its assessment, planning and budgeting processes.

Early this year a 10-member Higher Learning Commission evaluation team visited campus, meeting with students, faculty members, administrators and staff. The visit followed more than two years of self-study by University staff and faculty.

In their interviews with faculty, staff and students, team members focused on five core criteria:

• Mission and integrity - insuring that the university uses structures and processes that involve the board, administration, faculty, staff and students to fulfill its mission;
• Preparing for the future by carefully allocating resources and planning to improve the quality of education;
• Evidence of effective student learning and teaching that demonstrates the university is fulfilling its educational mission;
• Promoting a life of learning for students, faculty, administration and staff, by fostering and supporting inquiry, creativity, practice and social responsibility;
• Engaging and serving constituencies in ways that both the university and the stakeholders value.

The University's self-study effort was led by English Professor Donald F. Larsson and Dean of Library Services Joan Roca.

Email this article | Permanent link | Topstories news | Topstories news archives