SOUTHEAST RECEIVES 10-YEAR ACCREDITATION

Southeast Missouri State University has received a 10-year re-accreditation from the Commission on Institutes of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, university president, said the association's accreditation provides assurance to prospective students that the institution meets its stated objectives.

"We came out with flying colors," he said Wednesday.

A peer review team visited the campus in October, following a university self-study.

The team recommended that Southeast's North Central Association affiliation status be changed so that Southeast can offer degrees anywhere in its service region without prior approval from the accrediting organization.

The review team also said Southeast needs to work on several areas, including issues on technology and data gathering, classroom scheduling and faculty allocation, faculty diversity, and the role of the Faculty Senate.

"During the 1990 review, the NCA review team identified 11 institutional challenges so we feel very pleased that the team only brought forward four recommendations," Dobbins said.

Southeast's next review will be in 2010-2011. A progress report is due in January 2004.