Northwest Mississippi Community College has received official notification from its accrediting agency—The Commission on Colleges (COC) of The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools—that is has been fully reaccredited, according to Northwest President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears.

Dr. Spears shared the good news with members of the college’s Board of Trustees at the July meeting. “This is the first unqualified audit in the history of the institution,” said Dr. Spears. “We are so proud of this historical accomplishment.”

The reaccreditation team was at the college Oct. 23-26 as part of the reaccreditation process that occurs every 10 years.

The process has two major components—a compliance certificate that demonstrates the College’s compliance with 71 requirements covering everything from faculty and staff credentials to facilities, finances, and student services—and the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The QEP is a five-year plan to improve student learning in a specific area. Northwest chose to address improving math skills for students on all Northwest campuses.

Northwest submitted its compliance certificate in March. According to Dr. Gwen P. Aldridge, director of Institutional Planning and Research, the on-site committee, in October, found the College in compliance with all but one requirement, dealing with the definition of student learning outcomes. After submitting a follow-up report, the college learned that the revision had been accepted and that the college had been fully reaccredited.

“The college was extremely relieved to see the four magic words—no further action necessary—in the recent letter from the COC,” said Dr. Aldridge.

The College’s QEP “Moving Mathematical Mountains” was submitted to the committee in September. “The chair of the visiting committee told us that we had done exactly what the COC had in mind when the QEP concept was created,” said Dr. Aldridge. “We were told that our QEP and the efforts that had gone into it were a model for the Southern region.”

The process was coordinated by a team that included Dr. Aldridge; Dr. Chuck Strong, vice president for Educational Affairs; Charlotte Alexander, Senatobia campus mathematics chair; Dan Smith, vice president for Student Affairs; and Dr. Spears. Former Educational Affairs Vice President Keith Godbold was also a member of the team up until his retirement in June, 2006.

Northwest staff and faculty were heavily involved in the entire process. “I’m grateful to all our employees and the teamwork that made this a success,” said Dr. Spears.