http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060322/NEWS/603220376/1001/NEWS

March 22, 2006

USM officials hopeful school will retain accreditation
By Rachel Leifer
Hattiesburg American


University of Southern Mississippi officials are confident they will win a favorable evaluation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, an accrediting body scheduled for an on-site visit next month....

..."I feel good about the SACS visit," USM President Shelby Thames said, adding the exhaustive preparations would not have been possible without the efforts of faculty and staff. "They've done a real yeoman's job."...

...Exline said she expects the university will get recommendations for improvement.

"I don't have any qualms about being put on warning because we're in good shape," she said.

Though SACS will not immediately announce whether USM has been re-accredited, "you know when they leave basically what's going to happen," Exline said. "We really do expect a positive outcome."