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HLC Affirms USM Meets the Rigorous Criteria for Reaccreditation

 

(Leavenworth, Kan.)—The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of the nation's six regional accreditors for institutions of higher education, has announced that the »¨½·Ö±²¥ will be reaccredited for a 10-year period – the maximum number of years awarded.

The HLC's announcement caps the completion of USM's far-reaching internal review of institutional effectiveness and outcomes, and affirms that the university meets the HLC's rigorous criteria for reaccreditation. The efforts of that internal review were led by a committee composed of USM academic and staff leadership and administrators.

"This is a great accomplishment for USM and a strong vote of confidence in the education offered by this institution," said »¨½·Ö±²¥ President Sister Diane Steele. "My great thanks to all of those involved in this effort."

As part of the reaccreditation review process, an HLC evaluation team visited USM in September to meet with students, faculty, staff, and other key university stakeholders—as well as to further review university data and records. That team reported its findings back to the HLC. The commission's Institutional Actions Committee made the decision on USM's reaccreditation on Jan. 14.

USM was first accredited by HLC in 1928. The university is accredited is to offer degrees at the associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.

The HLC is one of six accrediting agencies in the U.S. that provides institutional accreditation on a regional basis. Institutional accreditation, like that offered by the HLC, accredits an institution as a whole. Other organizations provide accreditation and assessment for specific programs.

The HLC accredits about 1,300 institutions of higher education in its 19-state region. The commission is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

 

The »¨½·Ö±²¥ is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of »¨½·Ö±²¥ main campus is located at 4100 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan. USM's Overland Park Campus at 4500 College Boulevard offers evening accelerated graduate and undergraduate degree-completion programs. The university also offers online programs. Visit stmary.edu for more information.