Earlier this month, the University of Mississippi’s accreditation was reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

The decision was made during the association’s annual meeting in Houston, Texas. The mission of SACSCOC is to ensure the educational quality of member institutions and improve their effectiveness. Accreditation is a voluntary method of quality assurance developed more than a century ago by American universities and secondary schools. The process aims to ensure schools meet high-quality standards.

Ole Miss students, faculty and staff volunteered their time to help compile the re-accreditation proposal.

“We are all indebted to the hard work of our team, who led us through the successful accreditation process,” Provost Noel Wilkin said. “Every single person on our campus should understand that this is a reason to celebrate.

Reaffirmation is a comprehensive process, and it requires the day-to-day commitment of our entire campus to ensure that we are meeting the standards and providing the best possible educational experience to our students. Thank you to everyone who helps us live up to these expectations and achieve this successful outcome.”

There are two main components involved in the reaffirmation process: a compliance report and a quality enhancement plan. The enhancement plan is a forward-looking plan to enhance student learning at the University. Ole Miss’s plan is titled ‘Think Forward’ and is designed to foster the development of critical thinking skills in lower-division, general education courses and co-curricular learning experiences by enhancing faculty development and modifying student learning environments.

“Critical thinking has been a cornerstone of the UM academic experience, and Think Forward is a tremendous opportunity to further enhance students’ critical thinking skills regardless of their chosen field of study,” said Katie Busby, UM director of institutional research, effectiveness and planning. “The investment we are making in this QEP is an investment in our students so they are prepared to thrive in a broad, diverse and changing world and to adapt to any challenges they may face.”

Busby is also the University’s SACSCOC liaison.

Ole Miss is scheduled to undergo its next accreditation process in 2029.