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Southern Association has accredited college since 1960
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (Jan. 21, 2003) – The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) has announced that it has reaffirmed the accreditation status of Milligan College, a private Christian liberal arts college near Johnson City, Tennessee, for another 10 years.
The decision follows a three-year comprehensive self-study process and an evaluation visit last February by a team of peers assigned by the commission. The commission examined all of the educational programs at Milligan as well as areas such as student services, financial condition and administrative effectiveness.
“This is exciting news for Milligan,” said Milligan President Donald R. Jeanes. “Our longstanding accreditation by SACS serves as a strong endorsement of the high quality of our programs and services.”
The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the regional body for the accreditation of higher education institutions in the southern states. Accreditation of an institution by the Commission on Colleges signifies the institution has a purpose appropriate to higher education and has resources, programs and services sufficient to accomplish that purpose on a continuing basis.
The written report of the SACS visiting committee awarded the college two commendations and only 12 recommendations. According to several visiting committee members, to receive any commendations is unusual and to receive less than 25 or more recommendations is even more unusual, explained Jeanes.
One commendation praised Milligan for the quality of its self-study process, report and visit, stating that they “exceeded expectations and set a standard of excellence for other colleges.”
The other commendation applauded Milligan’s Master of Education program, specifically “the graduate education faculty members for exemplary practice in teaching and exceptional service to their students and the community.”
Jeanes noted the involvement of more than 150 individuals in the re-accreditation effort. “I’m grateful to everyone within the college community who was involved in this effort, especially Dr. Pat Magness, who provided outstanding leadership as chair of our self-study process, and Dr. Craig Farmer, who was exceptional as editor of our self-study report.”
The self-study is central to the accreditation process, explained Milligan Academic Dean Mark Matson. Each institution applying for renewal of accreditation is required to conduct a comprehensive study of its purpose, program and services.
Milligan’s self-study was a three-year process that began in 2000. Faculty, administrators, staff, students and trustees served on committees, which studied all aspects of the college based on SACS criteria for accreditation. The committees then reported their findings and offered advice on improvement.
This process, explained Matson, resulted in a 568-page document evaluating the college’s effectiveness in reaching its stated goals and its compliance with the criteria. The self-study culminated in an intensive, on-site review in March 2002 by a 13-member team of evaluators from peer institutions within the regional association.
“The self-study was a tedious process that allowed us to examine closely all facets of operations at Milligan,” said Matson. “The self-study prepared us for the SACS review and also afforded us the opportunity to fine-tune key academic and administrative areas and implement changes to make Milligan an even stronger institution.”
Joe Westerman, a senior communications major from Franklin, N.C., called the reaffirmation good news for the college and for students.
“An employer will know that students are graduating from a college where there are no questions about quality and standards of excellence. They’ll know that Milligan students have been well-taught and well-prepared to fulfill their roles.”
A copy of the visiting committee report is available from the Public Relations Office at Milligan College at 423-461-8719.