Accreditation

You might be asking, "What is accreditation affirmation anyway and what does it mean to me?" Well, the first part is easy. Accreditation affirmation is an institutional process designed to demonstrate that our college is engaging in assumed practices and fulfilling obligations of affiliation that affirm our credibility. In short, accreditation is our quality seal of approval and promise to the world that we are a real deal college.

Institutional credibility is the aspect of accreditation common among all stakeholders. The extent to which various stakeholders play a role in accreditation, however, is different. You may not think so but we believe everyone plays a role in accreditation. Explore the ways you might engage in Southern State's accreditation reaffirmation and get involved for the long haul.

Students

Accreditation means more to students than to perhaps any other group. It's the reason a degree holds value in a competitive world and it's the reason financial aid is available to those seeking higher learning. Throughout the college experience, beyond the main stage of the academic classroom, there are a number of touch points where the College's quest for quality is front and center in a student's world.

You might recognize the accreditation touch points through your interaction with the Advising Center or your invitation to complete a graduate survey. Actually, there are many other aspects of your college experience where the things you do or the response you offer are directly linked to accreditation.

Faculty & Staff

Accreditation is simply the process of providing evidence of continuous quality improvement and aspirations and having those efforts validated. Making the case for quality assurance is so much a part of the College's core that it is often difficult to separate accreditation as a special project or initiative but occasionally, the College must pause to offer specific evidence to this end. Specific processes, procedures and activities are synonymous with accreditation and this is where everyone gets involved.

You might recognize some of the institutional activities directly linked to accreditation such as program review, assessment of student learning, performance evaluation and strategic planning exercises.

Community & Business

Many would suggest that higher education's accreditation model is much like the business sector's wide array of quality improvement initiatives and in many respects, they would be correct. Similar to the role of a consumer, those who benefit from Southern State's product, have an important role in informing and supporting the College's journey toward continuous quality improvement. Communities, business and otherwise, who coexist with the College have an important role ranging from information you might share to make a program stronger, tips on better preparing students for workforce demands, to offering work experience to hiring our graduates.

Your role in assisting with program needs assessments, supporting internships and coops, and service on advisory councils is critical in supporting our accreditation activities.

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The accreditation process is governed by The Criteria for Accreditation. Within the Criteria there are Criterion Statements and Core Components that ensure institutional effectiveness. Underlying the Criteria and Core Components is a set of assumptions shred by the community of practice within higher education and made explicit in the section on Assumed Practices.

The Criteria for Accreditation

• Criterion One — Mission
• The institutions mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution's operations.
• Criterion Two — Integrity: Ethical & Responsible Conduct
• In fulfilling its mission, the institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
• Criterion Three — Teaching & Learning: For Student Success
• The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness in fulfilling its mission. The rigor & quality of each educational program is consistent reguardless of modality, location or other differentiating factors.
• Criterion Four — Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning
• The institution's resources, structures, policies & proceedures & planning enable it to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational programs and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

The Assumed Practices

• Assumed Practices

Foundational to the Criteria and Core Components is a set of practices shared by institutions of higher education in the United States. Unlike Criteria and Core Components, these Assumed Practices are (1) generally matters to be determined as facts, rather than matters requiring professional judgment and (2) unlikely to vary by institutional mission or context.

Submitted Assurance Argument

• Southern State Assurance Argument

Nursing

The associate Nursing program at Southern State Community College located in Hillsboro, Ohio is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000, www.acenursing.org. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/acen-programs-05202024/southern-state-community-college

The Practical Nursing program has the full approval of the Ohio Board of Nursing.