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Date 4-3-06
Contact Chinika Hood 601.266.4491
Hattiesburg—Despite
setbacks from Hurricane Katrina, University of Southern Mississippi
President Shelby Thames has worked hard to earn a positive review
of the school’s academic programs when officials with the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) visit the university’s
Gulf Coast and Hattiesburg campuses April 4.
“I am very
confident that we have done the work that will merit reaccreditation,”
said Dr. Thames. “In spite of being in the epicenter of the worst
natural disaster to hit the United States, the university’s faculty
and staff have managed to continue working to ensure that our students
receive a high quality, excellent education in a student-centered
environment.”
While Tuesday’s trip is to determine if Southern Miss is in compliance
with SACS guidelines, school officials expect representatives to
put a strong focus on the institution’s Quality Enhancement Plan
(QEP).
Titled Finding
a Voice: Improving Oral and Written Competencies, the QEP’s
goal is to improve the writing and speaking skills of Southern Miss
graduates. To ensure success, the university has devised a QEP leadership
team to train faculty in these areas and has created writing and
speech labs for student instruction.
“It is encouraging to see faculty from both campuses working tirelessly
to enhance our students’ education in spite of the problems caused
by Katrina,” said Dr. Elaine White, Southern Miss associate professor
of English on the Gulf Coast.
White, like
many instructors at the university’s interim teaching site in Gulfport,
has to share a small office space with up to three to four people.
“Amidst all the chaos, it’s amazing that we've been able to make
such outstanding progress toward our goal of bettering our QEP.”
Labs to enhance
writing and speaking skills for students have been open for a number
of months on both campuses in Hattiesburg and Gulfport.
The SACS committee
will first tour Southern Miss facilities on the Mississippi Gulf
Coast ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, including temporary campus facilities,
before coming to Hattiesburg for meetings, which are expected to
conclude Wednesday.
The SACS visit to Southern Miss is part of a 10-year reaccreditation
cycle and comes just four months after the university’s removal
from a one-year probation, based on a need for improved processes
and procedures, specifically in distance education. The probation,
however, cited no shortcomings in the institution's delivery of
academic services.
Joan Exline, assistant to the president for accreditation, planning
and articulation, also feels positive regarding the upcoming SACS
review.
“In addition
to educational programs, Southern Miss has established policies,
procedures and processes to ensure ongoing accreditation,” said
Exline. “We worked with a team of faculty and staff to conduct a
compliance audit last year. Everyone worked diligently to provide
documentation to support what we do and respond to the requirements
of SACS accreditation.”
For more information,
contact Southern Miss Public Relations at 601.266.4491.
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