Institutional Accreditation

What is Accreditation? 
In the United States, schools and colleges voluntarily seek accreditation from non-governmental bodies. There are two types of educational accreditation: institutional and specialized.
 
Why is Accreditation Important?
Accreditation by a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education serves several purposes. Accreditation provides assurance to stakeholders (e.g. citizens, students, parents, legislators) that the institution meets clear quality standards for educational and financial performance, and that it is reasonable to assume the institution will continue to do so. This quality assurance by a federally-recognized body also meets requirements necessary for the institution to receive and manage federal financial aid funds. The accreditation process also provides a periodic opportunity and incentive for the institution to review, assess, and advance the quality of its educational and financial operations.
 
Criteria for Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission will evaluate WVSU according to five criteria for accreditation:

1. Mission: The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.
2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct: The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support: The institution provides high quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement: The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.
5. Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness: The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities. The institution plans for the future.

 Each criterion includes core components, which identify areas of focus within the criterion. Sub-components further elaborate some core components. You can see each criterion’s components by visiting the HLC’s website.
 
Federal Compliance
As a federally recognized accreditor, the HLC is required to assure the federal government that WVSU meets its Title IV program responsibilities. HLC’s Federal Compliance Program
 
WVSU must provide evidence for its compliance with regulations:

• Credits, program length, and tuition
• Student complaints
• Transfer policies
• Verification of student identity
• Title IV program and related responsibilities
• Institutional disclosures and advertising recruitment materials
• Relationships with other accrediting agencies and with state regulatory bodies
• Public notification of the comprehensive evaluation visit and third party comment

 What is the Current Status of WVSU’s Accreditation?

West Virginia State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (http://www.ncahlc.org/). West Virginia State University has maintained continuous accreditation by the Higher Learning Committee (HLC) of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges since 1927. Of all West Virginia’s higher education institutions, West Virginia State University has the longest record of continuous accreditation.

HLC conducts comprehensive evaluations of member institutions to confirm that the institution continues to meet the Criteria for Accreditation, is pursuing institutional improvement and complies with requirements sets by the U.S. Department of Education. Evaluations are conducted by teams of peer reviewers.

For accredited institutions, comprehensive evaluations occur at different points along each pathway for reaffirmation of accreditation. The Standard Pathway: Year 4 and Year 10

The HLC conducted an in-depth review of WVSU’s academic programs in 2015 and reaffirmed the University's accreditation for another 10 years. The Standard Pathway Comprehensive Review Year 4 is scheduled for April 2020. 

Great resources for understanding accreditation in the United States are:
The Fundamentals of Accreditation: What Do You Need to Know? (PDF) by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation: An Overview (PDF) by the Higher Learning Commission.

For questions or comments regarding the University’s reaffirmation of accreditation process or the self-study report, please send all inquiries and information to reaffirmation@wvstateu.edu or call (304) 204-4300.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) provides three pathways or tracks through which its member institutions receive, reaffirm, and maintain accreditation: the Open Pathway, the Standard Pathway, and the AQIP Pathway. West Virginia State has been following the Standard Pathway.

What is Standard Pathway? The Standard Pathway is one of three options institutions have for maintaining accreditation with HLC. It follows a 10-year cycle and, is focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. These improvement topics are integrated into comprehensive evaluations conducted during the cycle, as well as through interim monitoring, as required.

Procedures: The Standard Pathway’s 10-year cycle includes the following institutional reviews:
Regular Monitoring: Institutions submit an annual Institutional Update, which is reviewed by HLC to monitor organizational health, comply with certain federal requirements and identify any changes that may require HLC follow up. HLC will also apply change processes as appropriate to planned institutional developments, and will monitor institutions through reports, visits and other means as it deems appropriate.

Year 4: Comprehensive Evaluation: Institutions undergo a comprehensive evaluation to ensure they are meeting the Criteria for Accreditation, pursuing institutional improvement and complying with certain requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. A Year 4 evaluation may include a determination that interim monitoring is necessary.

Year 10: Comprehensive Evaluation: The second comprehensive evaluation conducted in the Standard Pathway cycle follows the same process as the evaluation conducted in Year 4. The Year 10 evaluation leads to an action regarding the reaffirmation of the institution’s accreditation.

West Virginia State's accreditation was reaffirmed in April 2015. West Virginia State received its accreditation status in 1927 and has the longest record of continuous accreditation among West Virginia’s higher education institutions.

West Virginia State University is preparing for its Year 4: Comprehensive Evaluation, April 2020. 

Leadership
Special Acknowledgements
Dr. Scott Woodard,  Associate Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Accreditation Liaison Officer, and Accreditation Co-Chair
Dr. Thomas Kiddie, Associate Professor of English, Accreditation Co-Chair

Criterion 1 -- Mission
Co-Chairs Dr. Scott Woordard and Dr. Robert Wallace
Dr. Tom Guetzloff
Mr. Josh Martin
Dr. Aaron Settle
Ms. Karleen Slaughter
Dr. Ami Smith
Ms. Deborah Williams

Criterion 2 -- Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
Co-Chairs Dr. DeNeia Thomas and Dr. Ulises Toledo
Dr. Micheal Fultz
Dr. Naveed Zaman

Criterion 3 -- Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support
Co-Chairs Dr. J. Paige Carney, Dr. Tom Kiddie and Dr. Robert Wallace
Ms. LeighAnn Davidson
Ms. Sandy Maharaj
Dr. Jessica Barnes-Pietruszynski
Dr. Kerrie Steele
Dr. Yvette Underdue Murph
Ms. Deborah Williams
Dr. Naveed Zaman

Criterion 4 -- Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
Co-Chairs Dr. J. Paige Carney, Dr. Aaron Settle and Dr. Yvette Underdue Murph
Ms. Molly Erlandson
Dr. Kathy Harper
Dr. Barbara Ladner
Ms. Sandy Maharaj
Ms. Katie McDilda
Dr. Shannon McGhee
Dr. Linwei Niu
Mr. Joey Oden
Mr. James Taylor
Ms. Kellie Toledo
Ms. Emily Waugh
Ms. Traci West-McCombs

Criterion 5 -- Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Co-Chairs Ms. Deborah Williams and Ms. Kristi Williams
Dr. Mickey Blackwell
Mr. Justin Cherry
Ms. Brunetta Dilliard
Mr. Kerry Jones
Ms. Jameelah Means
Mr. Joey Oden
Mr. Peter Smith
Ms. Trina Sweeney
Ms. Julie Saldivar
Dr. DeNeia Thomas
Mr. Zaviae Walker
 

Dr. Scott Woodard, Associate Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is the Accreditation Liaison Officer for West Virginia State University. 

Each HLC-accredited and candidate institution is asked to identify an Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO). ALOs receive communications from HLC regarding policies, procedures and professional development opportunities, including the report of actions following each meeting of HLC’s Board of Trustees, communications about the Institutional Update and information about HLC’s annual conference.

While the chief executive officer continues to be the primary contact point between HLC and the institution regarding HLC policies, practices and other matters related to accreditation, HLC policy allows for the ALO to also be a contact point.

HLC has identified the following responsibilities for the ALO:

1. Serving as a recipient of HLC communications regarding the institution’s accreditation, in addition to the Chief Executive Officer.
2. Disseminating information and answering questions about HLC policies and procedures for all audiences within the institution.
3. Staying current with HLC policies and procedures.
4. Providing oversight and direction for the institution’s Data Update Coordinator to ensure the currency, accuracy and timeliness of information submitted to HLC as part of the Institutional Update.
5. Providing oversight and direction for the timely submission of substantive change requests and reports required by HLC policy.
6. Facilitating responses to HLC inquiries, including complaints referred by HLC staff to the Chief Executive Officer.
7. Maintaining the institution’s file of official documents and reports related to the institution’s relationship with HLC.
8. Providing comments to HLC as requested in its consideration of proposed policies, procedures and issues affecting the accreditation relationship.
9. Ensuring that any changes in basic institutional information are reported to HLC.
10. Ensuring that the institution meets its financial obligations to HLC through the timely payment of dues and fees.

WVSU prepared for institutional reaffirmation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in 2015. Starting in March 2012, WVSU’s Planning Team oversaw and coordinated the preparations for reaffirmation. WVSU was previously accredited in 2004 – 2005.

Steps in the Reaffirmation Process:

1. Self-study
WVSU began its self-study process in March 2012. The university evaluated its programs and operations to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement in relation to the Higher Learning Commission's criteria for accreditation. The purpose of the process was to evaluate WVSU’s ongoing improvement and to provide evidence to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) that WVSU meets the criteria for reaffirmation. The process culminated in a written report to the HLC.

2. Third-Party Comment Period
WVSU is to publish notifications and basic information about its reaffirmation and invites the public to provide written comments to the Commission. The Commission will integrate the third-party comment period in its regular accrediting process as part of its ongoing effort to make the accreditation process responsive to a broad range of constituents.

3. Peer review and site visit
A visiting team of peer reviewers is to read WVSU’s self-study report and conduct a comprehensive site visit. The site visit is to include a combination of formal meetings, forums, and informal conversations with faculty, staff, students, administration, and alumni.
Visiting teams:
-- are comprised of faculty members and administrators familiar with universities similar to WVSU
-- write a report of its findings to submit to the HLC and WVSU
WVSU is then required to submit to the HLC a formal written response to the visiting team’s final report.

4. Decision
The HLC’s Institutional Actions Council (IAC) reviews the findings and recommendations from the site visit and makes the final decision to affirm or deny WVSU’s continuing accreditation. This step in the process may take several months from the time WVSU submits its response to the visiting team’s final report.
 
The HLC evaluates WVSU a minimum of once every 10 years. It grants accreditation for a maximum of 10 years. The HLC is implementing new pathways for reaffirmation, which will require WVSU to submit reports to the HLC periodically during the 10-year cycle. WVSU will start a new pathway after the 2015 reaffirmation decision.

As West Virginia State University works toward reaffirmation of accreditation, be sure to check out our newsletter, The Road to State’s Reaffirmation 2015. Each Wednesday, we will share important information about the accreditation process as the State family prepares for the Higher Learning Commissions April 2015 site visit.

Please click on the links below to read this important publication.

The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Aug. 20, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Aug. 27, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Sept. 10, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Sept. 17, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Sept. 24, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Oct. 1, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Oct. 8, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Oct. 15, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Oct. 22, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Oct. 29, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Nov. 5, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Nov. 12, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Nov. 19, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Dec. 3, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Dec. 10, 2014
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Jan. 21, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Jan. 28, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Feb. 4, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Feb. 11, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Feb. 18, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - Feb. 25, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - March 4, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - March 11, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - March 18, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - March 25, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - April 1, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - April 8, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - April 13, 2015
The Road to State's Reaffirmation - April 15, 2015

The Self-Study Process at WVSU
 
In March 2012, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. R. Charles Byers appointed Dr. Barbara Ladner, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, to serve as the Chair and Coordinator of the Self-Study in preparation for the 2015 Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Reaffirmation of Accreditation. At the same time, Dr. Donna Simon, Vice President for University Relations and Operations, and Provost Byers were announced as Vice Co-Chairs. Provost Byers remained the HLC Liaison. Following attendance of HLC meetings and workshops, the Chairs began preparations to launch the self-study during the fall 2012 semester. As a first step, Dr. Barry Pelphrey, the Director of Institutional Research, was identified as the resource facilitator to assist the Criteria Committees with gathering evidence. Then, the Chairs drafted a plan for the composition of the Steering Committee, the Criteria Committees, and an Editorial Committee. They recommended to the President that the Steering Committee include the Chair and Vice Co-Chairs, a chair from each of the Criterion Core Component Committees, the deans of the four academic colleges, the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, and the Assistant Vice President of Business and Finance. The original composition of the Steering Committee can be found in table A.1.
 
Table A.1 - Original Steering Committee
 

Barbara Ladner	Self-Study Chair and Dean of College of Arts and Humanities
Donna Simon	Self-Study Vice Co-Chair and Vice President for University Relations and Operations
R. Charles Byers	Self-Study Vice Co-Chair and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Robert Harrison, Jr.	Dean of the College of Professional Studies
Katherine Harper	Dean of the College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Abainesh Mitiku	Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences
Joe Oden	Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Lori Elliott	Assistant Vice President of Business and Finance
Micheal Fultz	Chair of Core Components 1C & 1D and Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Thomas Kiddie	Chair of Core Components 2C & 2D and Associate Professor of English
Timothy Alderman	Chair of Core Component 3B and Associate Professor of English
Brenda Wamsley	Chair of Core Component 4B and Professor of Social Work
Steven Richards	Chair of Core Component 5D and Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance

 
In addition, the Chair and Vice Co-Chairs created a structure for the Criterion Committees that initially consisted of 16 committees organized at the Core Component level. They sent their recommendations for chairs and members of each of these committees to the President together with their recommendations for an editorial committee. In December 2012, President Hemphill sent a Steering Committee Appointment memo and a Criterion Committee Appointment memo, and the first organizational kick-off meetings were held at the start of the spring 2013 semester. Following the Self-Study kick-off meeting, Core Component Committees began meeting regularly, approximately every two weeks, to gather information and to produce a first draft of the report by the end of the spring semester. During this period, the Self-Study Chair attended most Core Component Committee meetings and provided general guidance to the committees while overseeing the entire Self-Study effort and serving as the University’s spokesperson for the Reaffirmation of Accreditation effort.
 
In the summer of 2013, the Editorial Committee, consisting of Dr. T. Ramon Stuart, newly appointed as Assistant Provost and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Robert Harrison; Ms. Katherine McCarthy, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs; and Dr. Ladner met to review the first draft. During that review, the team discovered that there was a wide range of quality and completeness in the committee reports. One particular problem noted was the lack of evaluative evidence in Criteria Three, Four, and Five, a problem that was exacerbated by the departure of Dr. Pelphrey in September 2012 and the lack of a replacement until the arrival of the new Director of Institutional Research in July 2013. The Editorial Committee made general recommendations for second drafts on the documents that they reviewed.
 
In July 2013, Dr. Simon left the University, and in August 2013, Dr. Ladner stepped down as Self-Study Chair for health reasons. Provost Byers then appointed Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kimberly Whitehead and Associate Professor of English Dr. Thomas Kiddie as Self-Study Co-Chairs. Shortly thereafter, the President added Dr. Cristi Carson, the newly appointed Director of Institutional Research, and Mr. Thomas Bennett, Assistant Vice President for University and Legislative Relations, to the project management team.
 
The new Chairs reconvened the Core Component Committees in September 2013 with an objective to produce a second draft of the Self-Study by the end of the fall semester. Since a few Core Component Committees had lost members, and the experience of writing the first draft demonstrated that some committees needed additional help, the Chairs recommended  new and replacement committee appointments to the Provost. They also separated Core Components 3A and 3C into two committees.
 
Additionally, the Chairs decided to reorganize the Steering Committee to establish a criterion liaison to act in an advisory capacity for his or her assigned criterion. Table A.2 identifies the reorganized  Steering Committee as of September 2013.
 
Table A.2. - Reorganized Steering Committee Fall 2013
 

Criterion One	T. Ramon Stuart	Assistant Provost and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Criterion Two	Thomas Bennett	Assistant Vice President for University and Legislative Relations
Criterion Three	Thomas Kiddie	Associate Professor of English
Criterion Four	Kimberly Whitehead	Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Criterion Five	Cristi Carson	Director of Institutional Research

 
During the creation of the second and third drafts of the Self-Study, the liaisons met regularly with their Criterion Committees either together at the Criterion level or separately at the Core Component level, depending on the size and complexities of the committees and the amount of revision required.
 
The new Steering Committee refined the Self-Study Plan through the creation of a detailed timeline for the entire Self-Study. They also formed a Logistics Committee to begin planning the resources needed for the mock visit in October 2014 and the actual site visit in April 2015. The Steering Committee also organized a Self-Study retreat in December 2013 for all committees to present their findings following their work on the second drafts.
 
At the beginning of the spring 2014 semester, Core Component Committees resumed meetings to produce a third and final draft of the Self-Study in preparation for the mock review. Dr. Whitehead and Dr. Kiddie also began weekly meetings of the Steering Committee to manage and execute the Self-Study Plan as the various pieces of the Self-Study started to come together. During a status meeting with the President and his Cabinet shortly after Provost Byers announced his intention to retire in June 2014, Dr. Hemphill appointed Dr. Orlando McMeans, Vice President for Research and Public Service, as the HLC liaison and Chair of the Self-Study with Dr. Whitehead and Dr. Kiddie becoming Vice Co-Chairs. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Carson left the University, and Dr. McMeans appointed Dr. Ami Smith, Associate Dean and Associate Director of Extension, as the liaison to Criterion Five. At the same time, he appointed Dr. Ulises Toledo, Associate Dean for Administration at the Gus R. Douglass Institute, and Ms. Lisa Williamson, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Research and Public Service, as members of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee continued to meet weekly following the organizational changes. Two final changes were made in July 2014. Following Provost Byers’ retirement in June, the new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya, joined the Steering Committee, and following Dr. Whitehead’s departure from the University, Mr. Bennett became the Vice Co-Chair of the Self-Study together with Dr. Kiddie.
 
In April 2014, the University hired a consultant to provide assistance with assessment plans and recommendations for the Self-Study drafts. Following the consultant’s recommendations, the Core Component Committees finished their final drafts by the end of May. In June 2014, Dr. Kiddie assumed the role of Self-Study Editor and began reviewing and revising the drafts for all criteria and introductory material to address duplication and omissions, to collect all evidence documents and load them into the Resource Room on Google Drive, to hyperlink all evidence documents referred to in the edited Self-Study document, and to produce a “single-voice” text.
 
The edited documents were reviewed by members of the University Relations and Operations team, Ms. Kimberly Osborne, Vice President for University Relations and Operations; Mr. Jack Bailey, Director for Public Relations; Mr. Matthew Browning, Director for Communications Gus R. Douglass Institute; and Ms. Katrina Slone, Executive Assistant for University Relations and Operations, and by Ms. Ashley Schumaker, Chief of Staff and Special Assistant to the President. Dr. Kiddie then incorporated the final edits into clean drafts and delivered them to Mr. Yuma Nakada, Director for Publications and Design, and Mr. Bailey for formatting, graphic design, and the development of a website for use by the mock reviewers.

At the end of August of 2014, the University’s reaffirmation webpage was finalized with notification being sent to the campus community via a newsletter that was developed specifically to update and inform the campus of the University’s reaffirmation. This newsletter has been sent weekly since August 20, 2014, and is titled “The Road to STATE’S Reaffirmation”. The first newsletter was an opening letter from President Hemphill explaining the purpose of the newsletter and provided details of the reaffirmation visit and process. This webpage included a full draft copy of the self-study report for review by the campus constituency and provided the ability for feedback through a University reaffirmation email address, reaffirmation@wvstateu.edu, or by calling (304) 204-4300.
 
In October 2014, the University held a three-day mock review with two consultants. Following the review, the Steering Committee continued to meet regularly and began reviewing the comments and suggestions received from both the mock reviewers and the University community to use in a final revision of the Self-Study. At the same time, Criterion Liaisons incorporated any new evidence that resulted from the completion of the AY 2013-2014 reporting period. Final drafts were delivered to Dr. Kiddie in early December for editing, and the edited versions of the Self-Study were reviewed by the University Relations team. The final Self-Study document and the corresponding website were prepared in January 2015, and the Self-Study document was delivered to the HLC in February 2015.

Self-Study Acknowledgements
 
Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Orlando McMeans, Self-Study Chair, Vice President for Research and Public Service
Mr. Thomas Bennett, Self-Study Vice Co-Chair, Assistant Vice President for University and Legislative Relations
Dr. Thomas Kiddie, Self-Study Vice Co-Chair, Associate Professor of English
 
 
The Provost and Self-Study Chairs would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Steering Committee and the Criterion Committees and thank all those who made contributions to the completion of the Self-Study.
 
Self-Study Steering Committee
Mr. Thomas Bennett, Assistant Vice President for University and Legislative Relations
Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Thomas Kiddie, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Orlando McMeans, Vice President for Research and Public Service
Dr. Ami Smith, Associate Dean and Associate Director of Extension
Dr. T. Ramon Stuart, Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. J. Ulises Toledo, Associate Dean for Administration at the Gus R. Douglass Institute
Dr. Kimberly Whitehead, former Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ms. Lisa Williamson, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Research & Public Service
 
Criterion One: Mission (Core Component Chairs, bold)
Dr. Micheal Fultz, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Billy Joe Peyton, Associate Professor of History
Mr. Gary Adams
Dr. Robin Broughton, Professor of Communications and Media Studies
Ms. Lori Elliott, Assistant Vice President of Business and Finance
Ms. Shantel Hudgins, University Union Coordinator
Mr. Steven McGowan
Ms. Julie Saldivar, Human Resources Representative
Dr. T. Ramon Stuart, Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Carol Taylor-Johnson, Associate Professor of English
 
Criterion Two: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
Dr. Robert Barney, Interim Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Dr. Thomas Kiddie, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Ami Smith, Associate Dean and Associate Director of Extension
Dr. C. Damien Arthur, former Assistant Professor of Political Science
Ms. Sharon Banks, Senior Academic Program Coordinator
Mr. Thomas Bennett, Assistant Vice President for University and Legislative Relations
Mr. Matthew Browning, Director for Communications Gus R. Douglass Institute
Ms. Barbara Cary, Director Trio Programs
Dr. Sean Collins, Associate Professor of Biology
Dr. Jonathan Eya, Professor of Biology
Ms. Donna Hunter, Registrar
Dr. John Teeuwissen, former Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ms. Deborah Wells, Systems Librarian
 
 
Criterion Three: Teaching and Learning—Quality, Resources, and Support
Dr. Timothy Alderman, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Barbara Liedl, Associate Research Professor Agricultural & Environmental Research Station
Ms. Sandy Maharaj, Director of the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education
Dr. Gail Mosby, Associate Professor of Sociology
Dr. J. Ulises Toledo, Associate Dean for Administration at the Gus R. Douglass Institute
Mrs. Debra Anderson-Conliffe, Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance
Dr. Sonya Armstrong, Professor of Mathematics
Dr. Kevin Barry, former Assistant Professor of Biology
Ms. Janis Bennett, Director of Purchasing
Ms. Rebecca Conner, Instructor of Modern Foreign Languages
Ms. Amanda Downs, Alumni Relations
Mr. Nathan Gainer, Academic Educational Outreach
Dr. Dirk Johnson, Assistant Professor of Music
Dr. Thomas Kiddie, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Barbara Ladner, Professor of English
Dr. Lois Lucas, Professor of History
Dr. Manashi Ray, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Dr. Aaron Settle, Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance
Dr. Medhi Seyedmonir, Associate Professor of Education
Dr. Genia Sklute, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Ami Smith, Associate Dean and Associate Director of Extension
Ms. Trina Sweeny, Interim Director of Adult and Commuter Student Services
Dr. David “Woody” Wilson, Associate Professor of English
 
Criterion Four: Teaching and Learning—Evaluation and Improvement
Dr. Rebecca Francis, Professor of Psychology
Dr. Willette Stinson, Director of the Drain-Jordan Library
Dr. Walter Stroupe, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Dr. Ron Baker, Professor of Mathematics
Mr. James Buchanan, Accountant
Ms. Mary Frye, Associate Professor of French
Dr. David Huber, Assistant Professor of Biology
Ms. Debbie Jarvis, Associate Registrar
Dr. Anne McConnell, Associate Professor of English
Mr. Jerry Miller, Director of University Union and Student Activities
Dr. Charles Perdue, Professor of Psychology
Dr. Ernest Sekabunga, Associate Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Kerri Steele, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
Ms. Kellie Toledo, Director of Counseling and Academic Support Services
Dr. Brenda Wamsley, Professor of Social Work
Dr. Kimberly Whitehead, former Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
 
Criterion Five: Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Daton Dean, Assistant Professor of Education
Dr. Steven Richards, Professor of Health and Human Performance
Mrs. Debbie Williams, Associate Professor of Business
Dr. Naveed Zaman, Professor of Mathematics
Mr. Anthony Brown, Purchasing Agent
Dr. Cristi Carson, former Director of Institutional Research
Mrs. Kimberly Cobb, Assistant Professor of Communications
Ms. Brunetta Dillard, Director of Business and Finance Gus R. Douglass Institute
Dr. Richard Ford, Professor of Biology
Ms. Belinda Fuller, Director of Alumni Relations
Ms. Mary Horn, Reference Coordinator Drain-Jordan Library
Mr. Eric Jackson, Staff Assistant, Research and Development Corporation
Dr. James Natsis, Director of International Studies
Dr. Joseph Oden, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Ms. Jamie Rinehart, Office Manager, Economic Development Center
Dr. Ami Smith, Associate Dean and Associate Director of Extension
Ms. Daisy Squirts, Counselor II Counseling and Academic Support Services
Dr. Walter Stroupe, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Dr. Frank Vaughn, Associate Professor of Political Science