Contact: Maridith Geuder
Culminating a nearly three-year self-study process, Mississippi State will host a 20-member visiting team April 6-9 for one of the final stages of the process leading to reaffirmation of accreditation.
The peer-review committee represents the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the regional accrediting body for 11 Southeastern states.
Launched in 2000, MSU's self-study has been headed by physics professor Leslie E. Bauman and has involved 13 campus committees and more than 200 committee members from around campus. In a 300-page document resulting from the self-assessment, the committees examine every aspect of university operations.
Required every 10 years, the SACS self-study evaluates institutions according to criteria designed to assure quality in higher education, Bauman said.
"It is a thorough, detailed examination of the university on our part, which is followed by a visit from professional peers who help assess Mississippi State's effectiveness," she explained.
During their four-day visit, the peer-review team will examine data and conduct a wide variety of interviews that will help them identify educational strengths and weaknesses.
"We know that the Mississippi State community will welcome these visitors and will offer to assist them in any way needed," Bauman said. "The end result is that we benefit from their expertise and suggestions for improving our effectiveness."
The intensive four-day visit will conclude April 9 with an exit interview with MSU President Charles Lee and campus administrators and will be followed approximately six weeks later with the team's written report, Bauman said.
Those on the peer-review team are:
Dr. Laura F. Lindsay, chair, interim provost and chief academic officer, Louisiana State University; D.J. Alan Boyette, senior associate provost for academic affairs, University of North Carolina-Greensboro; D. Royal G. Albridge, physics professor, Vanderbilt University; Dr. James H. Aylor, chair, electrical and computer engineering, University of Virginia; Dr. Theodor M. Benditt, philosophy professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham;
Dr. J. Thomas Bowen, associate vice president, finance and administration, the University of Georgia; Dr. Gregory N. Brown, professor and dean, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Dr. Jennifer S. Cargill, dean of libraries, Louisiana State University and A&M College; Dr. Gary A. Couvillon, professor of horticulture and faculty athletic representative, University of Georgia;
Dr. Fran A. Franz, president, the University of Alabama at Huntsville; Ms. Jill Gemmill, assistant director, academic computing and assistant professor, department of computer and information science, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Dr. John J. Hoey, director of assessment, Georgia Institute of Technology; Dr. Almeda R. Jacks, vice president for student affairs, Clemson University;
Dr. Robert L. Leiter, dean, university outreach and continuing education, University of Tennessee; Dr. Barbara G. Lyman, associate dean, Graduate College and professor of education administration, Southwest Texas State University; Dr. Arnett C. Mace Jr., interim senior vice president and provost, University of Georgia; Dr. George F. McNulty, professor of mathematics, University of South Carolina;
Dr. Keith W. Prasse, dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia; Dr. Thomas Regan, dean, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University; and Dr. Robert L. Vigeland, professor of accounting and department chair, Texas Christian University.
Also accompanying the group will be Dr. G. Jack Allen, associate executive director, Commission on Colleges.
For more about the MSU Self-Study, see http://library.msstate.edu/selfstudy/resources/ReportLinks.htm.