College recommended for 10-year accreditation

Seminole State College will be recommended for the maximum 10-year accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools with no visits, reports or further follow-up required.
SSC underwent a comprehensive visit Oct. 26 through 28 by a team representing HLC as the culmination of several years of preparation and the development of an extensive self-study report.
The college last underwent the accreditation process in 1999 when they received 10-year accreditation with a follow-up focus visit on student assessment.
Dr. Jim Utterback, SSC president, said that while it might be several months before the college receives official accreditation notice and the final report on the site visit, he was thrilled with the news of the recommendation.
“We were extremely fortunate to have a highly-qualified team with a tremendous understanding of the accreditation process,” Utterback said.
“Going through this process has given us the opportunity to look closely at ourselves and discuss ways to strengthen the institution in the coming decade.”
Dr. Thompson Brandt, dean of humanities and social sciences at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill., who chaired the team of evaluator-consultants, addressed a crowd of faculty, staff and students during the exit summary. Brandt applauded the college on behalf of HLC and community colleges around the United States on a job well done.
He told the group that the integrity of the self-study report was not in question and that all challenges addressed in the previous report a decade ago were cited. Brandt complimented Utterback on his leadership.
“Clearly Seminole State College is a robust, comprehensive and effective institution. I count SSC as one of the finest and best organized site visits I have ever been on, and on having one of the better self studies I have seen in 25 years,” Brandt said.
The HLC is one of six accrediting agencies in the U.S. that provides institutional accreditation on a regional basis.
Institutional accreditation evaluates an entire institution and accredits it as a whole. Other agencies provide accreditation for specific programs. Accreditation is voluntary.
SSC has been engaged in a process of self-study for several years, addressing the commission’s requirements and criteria for accreditation. The evaluation team visited the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate.
The commission accredits approximately 1,100 institutions of higher education in a 19 state region and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.