The online Hattiesburg American has a blurb now.

No one is really saying anything, but Klumb is meeting with Thames tomorrow.

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Originally posted by: stephen judd
"Has anyone tried to call Lisa Mader? Just curious . . . . "

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Or Dr. Exline?

 

ACADEMIC SELF-STUDY RESULTS IN

ONE-YEAR PROBATION FOR SOUTHERN MISS

 

HATTIESBURG – Reporting deficiencies in a 10-year self-study conducted by The University of Southern Mississippi have resulted in a one-year probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Southern Miss has only received verbal notification from personnel at SACS and does not expect to receive formal written notification of the probation until January.

Southern Miss began the SACS self-study in 1995 and has been engaged in submitting updates and reports throughout the 10-year process.  SACS areas of concern include deficiencies in the areas of assessment of institutional effectiveness, assessment of distance-learning effectiveness and strategic planning in academic units.

This probationary status does not affect academic programming at Southern Miss.  “The areas of concern do not have anything to do with faculty teaching,” said Shelby Thames, president of The University of Southern Mississippi. “This status does not in any way negatively affect our students and their education.

“Since the last SACS visit in 1995, the reporting and documentation efforts were not done as they should have been,” said Thames. “We have to do a better job of letting SACS know what we are doing, and how we are doing it, in regard to assessing our processes and procedures.

 “We’ve already begun working on the issues noted by SACS and expect to be removed from probationary status at the next scheduled annual meeting in December 2005. We take our SACS accreditation very seriously and we will remedy this situation.” 

Dr. Joan Exline, who was appointed by Thames to the position of assistant to the president for accreditation, planning and articulation in July 2004, has been working with the university’s deans, graduate council, council of chairs and a new committee of faculty to address strategic planning and assessment issues. Three teams, including a leadership team, a compliance team and a quality enhancement plan team, have also been formed to work on accreditation. “We have already addressed the majority of the commission’s concerns and we are working diligently on the remaining portion,” said Exline.

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the recognized regional accrediting body in the 11 U.S. Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia) and in Latin America for those institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees. The Commission on Colleges is the representative body of the College Delegate Assembly and is charged with carrying out the accreditation process.

 

quote:

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Originally posted by: Magnolia
"  “Since the last SACS visit in 1995, the reporting and documentation efforts were not done as they should have been,” said Thames. “We have to do a better job of letting SACS know what we are doing, and how we are doing it, in regard to assessing our processes and procedures.   "

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This is code for "all Tim's fault!"

College Board president: USM on academic probation

By Kevin Walters
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Previous story: Library funding could affect accreditation, official says

Thames scheduled to discuss SACS information

The University of Southern Mississippi has been placed on academic probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, College Board President Roy Klumb confirmed Wednesday.
“I really don’t know much other than there is negative report coming out of SACS that (the university is) going to be placed on probation,” Klumb told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “I don’t know if its the whole university or just one of the colleges.”
Klumb told the Hattiesburg American on Wednesday he plans to meet Thursday with Southern Miss President Shelby Thames to discuss “negative reporting” concerning the university's accreditation.
Klumb, of Gulfport, said the discussion was to be about information from the Commission on Colleges of SACS.
Klumb said none of the College Board members has seen a report from SACS.
Sarah Nicholas, spokeswoman for the state College Board, said College Board interim commissioner Richard Crofts is preparing a statement about a SACS accrediting issue pertaining to Southern Miss. Before the statement can be issued Crofts wants to talk to Thames.
Nicholas said SACS should notify both the university and the College Board at the same time in writing about any accreditation issues. So far, the College Board has not received written notification from SACS, she said Wednesday afternoon.
Calls to the SACS office in Decatur, Ga., outside Atlanta, were not returned Tuesday or Wednesday as staff members were out of the office.
Thames, who has been out of town with family members in Atlanta, could not be not reached for comment, but was scheduled to return to Hattiesburg late Wednesday evening, said Lisa Mader, Southern Miss spokeswoman.
SACS is the regional accrediting body institutions in the 11 Southern states and in Latin America for schools offering baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degrees.
Thames did not attend the SACS annual meeting in Atlanta, Mader said.


Originally published December 8, 2004

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Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
" This is code for "all Tim's fault!" "

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Is this another one of Tim Hudson's "surprise packages" that board members were speculating about on the Ole FireShelby Board? I recall people here discussing some surprises will be found after TH left.

quote:

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Originally posted by: Magnolia
"  ACADEMIC SELF-STUDY RESULTS IN ONE-YEAR PROBATION FOR SOUTHERN MISS   HATTIESBURG – Reporting deficiencies in a 10-year self-study conducted by The University of Southern Mississippi have resulted in a one-... "

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Magnolia,

Can you provide us with the source of your post?  It differs from the one in the Hattiesburg American and I'm trying to track it down.  Thanks

From the American:

The president of the state College Board said Wednesday he plans to meet Thursday with University of Southern Mississippi President Shelby Thames to discuss “negative reporting” concerning Southern Miss’ accreditation. <SNIP> Thames, who has been out of town with family members in Atlanta... <SNIP> ... did not attend the SACS annual meeting in Atlanta, Mader said.

Well, the USM administration has one year to accomplish what he didn't bother to do for nine years. Good luck. Because this time next year, USM will either have remediated its problems 100% or it will be removed from membership in the Southern Association.

This probably delights Mr. Klumb no end. And you can bet your bottom dollar he doesn't ask Shelby why he didn't bother to go across town & take his lumps like a red-blooded American male.

to any number of posters--those of us familiar with SACS have known that since 1995 we should have been doing different and better when it came to assessment and the like. it didn't happen. it didn't happen at all through the late Lucas years and the Fleming years. It was done piecemeal (although people like Brad Bond tried to get us moving in the correct direction) in the Thames administration. People knew we needed at least 3 years of outcome assessment data--and some people fought doing this (and they wouldn't be some people you would expect).

This process has to be a continuous one. It can't be done like it used to be in the past. As one poster said, previous administrations have been warned (i emphasize multiple administrations) and there was little impetus to getting it done.

quote:

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Originally posted by: ouch!
" Klumb . . . “I don’t know if its the whole university or just one of the colleges."

Is the IHL president so uninformed about such an important matter that he really believes SACS would sanction "just one of the colleges?" Doesn't he know that SACS accredits, and sanctions, the entire institution - not just one unit therein.

I find it an interesting connection that our own Aubrey K. Lucas was a member of 3-person SACS special committee investigating the Auburn situation.  Just a random observation...

The press release came by email late this afternoon, long after speculation began on this board, and well after the Hburg American article.

As a very concerned Alum, and disgusted with this administration's incompetence, I might add, I suggest that the Faculty call for another vote of no confidence.

As another alum and USM Foundation Honor Club donor, I would agree that this is the time for another no confidence vote. 

What's more, I'd suggest that the new IHL (interim?) commissioner needs to be fully briefed on the recent history on campus (surely he would be open to nice, informal chat with a representative of the faculty senate or other body).  It is not clear to me that, as a newcomer, Crofts, is aware of the specific details of Thames' dismal track record.  As a seemingly legitimate educator, perhaps Crofts would be able to articulate/translate some of these issues into language the IHL board can appreciate.