Southwestern Oklahoma State University is getting ready to go through the process of accreditation for the university.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accredits colleges and universities every 10 years.
“We belong to the Higher Learning Commission. All the Oklahoma institutions which are accredited are accredited by the HLC. What they do is they have 50 points. If we meet those points, we’re accredited.”
HLC looks at five criteria, including a school’s mission statement, ethical and responsible content, teaching and learning regarding quality, resources and support, teaching and learning regarding evaluation and improvement, and institutional effectiveness, resources and planning.
“The institution gets its own license to operate. So, if you’re accredited, the department of education says if you’re accredited, your degrees ‘count,’” Joel Kendall, associate provost for SWOSU, said. “If somebody comes to Southwestern and they want to transfer somewhere else, because we’re accredited, their hours count. If they’re going to graduate school, they can apply because they count.”
The process happens in stages. Kendall provided a timeline for that process.
September 7, SWOSU will submit its argument. Then October 5-6, the university will go through a peer review, with six reviews. Kendall said five of those six will be virtual, with one being on campus.
October 19, SWOSU will receive a draft repo and have an opportunity to respond before the university receives the final report from HLC and the peer reviewers November 16.
“In about a month, they’re going to be on campus October 5-6. Our aim is for a clean report. In 2010 we got a clean report, in 2000 we got a clean report, Kendall said. “We’re pretty confident we will now, but of course we’re nervous.”