THIBODAUX — Nicholls State University has been cleared of the warning issued by its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), last June. The university is now gearing up for the next phase of its ongoing accreditation process.
“I am pleased to report that we have received the best possible result from the commission’s deliberation — removal from ‘warning’ without an additional report,” said Dr. Bruce Murphy, Nicholls president. “Now that this challenge is behind us, we can focus our energies on reaffirmation of our accreditation and our Quality Enhancement Plan to improve student learning.”
The warning was lifted after the university provided additional documentation regarding student learning outcomes and demonstrating sufficient faculty oversight of programs.
Nicholls has been continuously accredited by the SACSCOC since 1964, and remained accredited during the warning. To maintain accreditation, the university must submit both five- and 10-year reports documenting compliance with accreditation principles.
Accreditation is essential to students for access to various forms of financial aid, transfer of credit to other institutions of higher education and recognition of their degrees. For faculty, accreditation is necessary to access most research funding.
Nicholls’ next 10-year report is due to SACSCOC in September 2015.
