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One of the key components of the re-accreditation process is the Assurance Argument. ߣߣÊÓƵ University’s Assurance Argument provides a comprehensive demonstration of its alignment with the criteria for continued accreditation, as defined by the Higher Learning Commission. This document reflects ߣߣÊÓƵ’s commitment to academic excellence, ethical governance, public service, and continuous improvement. The summary below outlines key highlights from the institution’s self-assessment.

1. Mission and Integrity

• Mission Alignment: ߣߣÊÓƵ’s mission, revised in 2024, emphasiz es liberal arts, student success, public service, diversity, and a transformative learning environment. It is consistently reflected in strategic planning, academic programming, and institutional operations.
• Mission and Public Good: The university actively serves the public through partnerships with the Myaamia Tribe, K-12 schools, businesses, and civic organizations. Initiatives like the ASPIRE office, Advancement Manufacturing Workforce and Development Hub, and College@Elm advance regional economic development.
• Mission and Diversity of Society: ߣߣÊÓƵ prioritizes inclusive excellence through strategic recruitment and retention strategies, climate surveys, and university-wide cultural engagement initiatives such as the Constructive Dialogues Initiative and the Freedom Summer Celebration. It promotes civic and global learning through the ߣߣÊÓƵ Plan and other curricula, education abroad, student organizations, faculty development, and globally oriented research.

2. Integrity and Ethical Conduct

• Integrity and Transparency: ߣߣÊÓƵ maintains robust systems for communicating accurate information to the public, students, and stakeholders via the website, general bulletin, policy library, and consumer information webpage. Checks are in place to ensure accuracy. Institutional data and financial practices are transparent and regularly audited.
• Board Governance: ߣߣÊÓƵ’s board of trustees operates within legal mandates and ethical frameworks, and participates actively in the life of the university. Policies are in place to manage conflicts of interest and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Academic Freedom: The university promotes inclusive decision-making through university senate, shared governance, and numerous policies which affirm academic freedom. The ߣߣÊÓƵ Plan and academic programs advance the power and joy of intellectual inquiry.
• Knowledge Acquisition and Discovery: ߣߣÊÓƵ fosters an environment of inquiry through its liberal education plan, internal and external support for student and faculty research, focus on responsible conduct in research, and relevant policies, including the promotion and tenure criteria.

3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support

• Educational Programs: ߣߣÊÓƵ offers a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs that have clear learning outcomes and multiple quality assurances (e.g., ߣߣÊÓƵ Academic Program Incubator; multi-step approvals, including at the state level; specialized accreditation).
• Exercise of Intellectual Inquiry: The four pillars underpinning the recently revised ߣߣÊÓƵ Plan (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and social engagement) prompt all ߣߣÊÓƵ students to tackle authentic problems facing our world today. 
• Sufficiency of Faculty and Staff: ߣߣÊÓƵ prides itself on our low faculty-student ratio and the in- and out-of-class support that faculty and staff provide to students. Quality faculty and staff are assured through rigorous appointment, professional development, and continuous performance measures. 
• Support for Student Learning: Student support is extensive, including advising, mental and clinical health services, tutoring, career development, and accessibility programs. These supports have contributed to our national reputation for student success (high graduation rates, employment).
• Assessment Practices: ߣߣÊÓƵ has well-established assessment of student learning outcomes at the program and ߣߣÊÓƵ Plan level. These “full-cycle” assessments inform curricular and pedagogical improvements.
• Program Review: ߣߣÊÓƵ engages in ongoing, data-driven evaluation of its academic programs and departments via the Academic Program Evaluation, Improvement and Prioritization (APEIP) process and the recently instituted Department Planning and Improvement process.
• Student Success: Guided by ߣߣÊÓƵ’s Completion Plan, the university offers a wide range of success initiatives — including early-alert progress reports, Winter Thrive, Spring Launch, GradU8, and a comprehensive advising approach — to achieve outstanding success outcomes for its students. 

4. Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning

• Effective Administrative Structures: ߣߣÊÓƵ promotes shared governance through its deliberative bodies such as board of trustees, president’s executive cabinet, university senate, and divisional and departmental governance documents, as well as the wide-ranging involvement of faculty, students, staff, and other constituents in key decisions and initiatives, such as the revision of the mission and the development of ߣߣÊÓƵTHRIVE.
• Resource Base and Sustainability: The institution demonstrates sound fiscal management with comprehensive budget oversight, investment policies, and transparent reporting. Its financial practices support long-term sustainability. ߣߣÊÓƵ invests in personnel development and maintains high-quality facilities and technology infrastructure to support its academic mission.
• Future-Focused Planning: The university incorporates demographic, economic, and educational trends in its planning efforts, ensuring readiness to meet evolving student and societal needs. Informed by an in-depth environmental scan, the university’s strategic plan, ߣߣÊÓƵTHRIVE, outlines priority areas including experiential learning, inclusivity, research excellence, and affordability. Continuous improvement is embedded in institutional practices.

Conclusion:

ߣߣÊÓƵ University presents a compelling assurance argument for reaffirmation of accreditation. The document illustrates a vibrant academic community driven by a clear mission, ethical governance, student-centered values, and strategic vision. With demonstrated excellence in education, public service, and continuous improvement, ߣߣÊÓƵ affirms its position as a leading institution dedicated to fostering learning, discovery, and societal impact.

Download an Executive Summary of the Assurance Argument.  

Please contact the Office of the Provost if you would like to review the full assurance argument.