In February, a team from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) will be on campus to evaluate the university on a number of criterion and make sure it meets standards for accreditation.
According to Associate Provost Marty Spears, accreditation is more about bettering the university than a pass or fail.
“The process is intended really to be a process where institutions of higher learning work together to improve and hold each other accountable,” Spears said. “As an institution, we want to be looked at by other institutions. We have to meet minimum standards and the process is to help improve beyond that.”
The accreditation process encompasses a wide range of criteria. In chapel on Oct. 15, Spears went over five of the HLC criteria: mission; integrity demonstrated; quality in teaching and learning; evaluation and improvement; and resources, planning and institutional effectiveness. They also polled students about these categories.
“I think what they are doing with involving students in the accreditation process is a great idea,” sophomore Logan Beasley said. “Although we as students may not get exactly what we want we have the opportunity to have a say … and it gives administrators the opportunity to make accommodations.”
These categories include sub-criteria and many more details, but according to Spears, the university is well prepared. He said that the focus is to get students to graduation and what the university can do to help them reach that point. The committee that will come is made up of leaders at other universities, many of which are similar in nature to Harding. For example, the provost from another private university could be on the committee.
“We feel very confident going into this,” Spears said. “Their job is to evaluate and look for issues, we are well prepared and don’t expect anything big. This isn’t a ‘gotcha’ kind of process. It’s time consuming but they’re not out to get you. They come in to evaluate and make improvements. We definitely feel confident but nervously confident.”
After the campus visit in February, the school will not know for a few months what the formal results of the evaluation are.
When the HLC visits, there will be a group of students randomly selected to participate in the visit. Spears said the committee will ask about their experiences at Harding and if the university is providing tools to help them be successful.
“We have quality programs and quality faculty,” Spears said. “And as Christians we’re already striving to be the best we can be.”
