Principles and Philosophy

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Chapter1

Principles and Philosophy

of Accreditation

Introduction

The primary focus of this Chapter is to demonstrate that Troy State University addresses the accreditation requirements which include commitment and responsibilities in the accreditation process, compliance with the Criteria, compliance with the Conditions of Eligibility, and accuracy in reporting the University’s status and relationship with the Commission.

1.1INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS

1.1.1 An institution must be committed to participation in the activities and decisions of the Commission.

In 1934, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (hereinafter referred to as SACS-COC) first accredited Troy State University (known then as Troy State Teachers College). At that time, the University committed itself to internal and peer review processes to foster improvement in its programs and services. That commitment has not wavered in the following 68 years of subscribing to the activities and decisions of SACS-COC. Troy State University perceives adherence to the Criteria of the Commission on Colleges to be consistent with the University Mission which states that “Administrators, faculty, and students are committed to excellence in education through a shared system of governance.”

The last institutional self-study was conducted at Troy State University during Academic Year (AY) 1991-1992. The current self-study was completed during AY 2001-2002. The study addresses all aspects of the University at the Troy campus, Troy State University Phenix City (TSUPC), and University College, which includes the Troy State University Atlantic Region (TSUAR), Troy State University Florida/Western Region (TSUF/WR), Troy State University Pacific Region (TSUPR), Troy State University Southeast Region (TSUSR), and the Distance Learning Center. University College administers academic programs outside of Alabama.

Students, alumni, staff, faculty, administrators, and the Board of Trustees have been involved in the self-study process and have invested much time and effort in developing the Troy State University Institutional Self-Study Report. Of the 105 people who worked on the major committees, the distribution by percentages is as follows: 8.6% students (some of whom became alumni), 2.9% alumni, 30.5% staff, 46.7% faculty (some of whom had administrative duties), 10.5% administrators, and 1% trustees.

Troy State University has demonstrated commitment to the Commission on Colleges throughout the years by serving SACS-COC in a variety of ways. The Chancellor of the Troy State University System serves as a member of the SACS-COC; and a former Dean, now retired, served as President of the SACS-COC in 2001. Numerous members of the Troy State University community have served on visiting teams to other colleges and universities around the Southeast. In addition to these services, Troy State University sends representatives to the Commission’s annual meetings. At these meetings over the years, representatives of the University have presented informative sessions on topics ranging from distance learning to articulation between two-year and four-year institutions of higher education in Alabama.

In addition to commitment to the Commission on Colleges through service and involvement, Troy State University has been committed to adhering to the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges, including reporting changes within the Institution. These changes have been routinely reported as required by the Policies, Procedures and Guidelines of the Commission on Colleges. Over the past 10 years, numerous substantive change prospectuses have been forwarded to the Commission on Colleges to report programs offered at new locations in University College, programs implemented through distance learning, and other changes as the Commission Guidelines require.

In summary, Troy State University has a tradition of commitment to SACS-COC that spans 68 years from 1934 to the present. This tradition is exhibited by the University’s commitment to excellence, the broad-based participation by the University community in the self-study, the University’s service to SACS-COC, and its adherence to the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges over the past years.

1.1.2 Each institution must provide the Commission access to all parts of its operation and to complete and accurate information about the institution’s affairs, including reports of other accrediting, licensing and auditing agencies.

Access to information about the operation and affairs of Troy State University is provided to SACS-COC, and appropriate documents and reports will be mailed to members of the review team prior to their visit. In addition, documentation required by the visiting team while it is on campus will be provided in a timely manner both in a centralized Self-Study Resource Room and in academic and administrative offices on the campus. This documentation may include, but not be limited to, State audit reports, and other accrediting agencies’ reports.

1.1.3 Each participating institution must be in compliance with its program responsibilities under Title IV of the 1992 Higher Education Amendments.

Troy State University is in compliance with its program responsibilities under Title IV of the 1992 Higher Education Amendments. Troy State University receives Title IV funds in various programs. The Student Financial Aid Office is in full compliance with the Title IV responsibilities and adheres to Federal Regulations regarding financial awards to students. Financial aid procedures are published in the Troy State University Undergraduate Bulletin2001-2003 (pp. 72-73), the Troy State University Graduate Bulletin 2001-2003 (pp. 31-32), and the Troy State University Oracle 2002-2003 (pp. 11-12). The Student Guide from the U.S. Department of Education, which provides Title IV information, is available to students who apply for financial aid. Federal aid awards are audited annually, and the most recent audit report found that “the Troy State University System complied, in all material respects, with the requirements….that are applicable to each of its major federal programs for the year ended September 30, 2001,” and there were no “findings or questioned costs” in the September 2000 audit report from the State of Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. At 4.2%, the default rate for Troy State University during Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 was well below the national average of 5.9%. Documentation of compliance with program responsibilities under Title IV is available in the Self-Study Resource Room and other appropriate offices. Additional information regarding the Title IV financial awards is available in the Financial Aid Office, 133 Adams Administration Building, on the Troy campus.

1.1.4 Each institution seeking candidacy, membership or reaffirmation with the Commission on Colleges must document its compliance with the Conditions of Eligibility as outlined in Section 1.4.

Troy State University has documented its compliance with the Conditions of Eligibility. This documentation is presented in Section 1.4 and is fully presented throughout the Self-Study Report.

1.2APPLICATION OF THE CRITERIA

1.2.1An institution must refrain from making a substantive change, defined as a significant modification in the nature or scope of an institution or its programs, except in accordance with the Commission’s “Substantive Change Policy for Accredited Institutions” and its attendant procedures.

Troy State University has provided numerous substantive change prospectuses to the Commission on Colleges over the last 10 years. All substantive changes were made in accordance with the Commission’s “Substantive Change Policy and Procedures” in the Policies Procedures, and Guidelines, Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1996 Edition and 1998-2000 Edition, which included the “Substantive Change Policy for Accredited Institutions” and its attendant procedures. Substantive changes have been reported for distance learning programs and for programs at new locations in University College regions. Substantive changes, submitted since the last reaffirmation visit, are available in the Self-Study Resource Room and in the Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness. When this Self-Study began, there were five regions of University College—the Atlantic Region, Florida Region, Western Region, Pacific Region, and Southeast Region. In AY 2001-2002, the administration of the Western Region was moved to the Florida Region, and this move reduced the number of regions of University College to four. This administrative restructuring information may be needed for accurate review of the substantive change documents on file.

1.2.2All existing or planned activities must be reported according to the policies, procedures and guidelines of the Commission on Colleges and

1.2.3must be in compliance with the Criteria.

As required by the Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines of the Commission on Colleges, Editions 1996 and 1998-2000, all planned activities which constitute substantive changes of the University have been, and will continue to be, reported and are in compliance with the Criteria. Copies of substantive change prospectuses that have been forwarded to the Commission are available in the Self-Study Resource Room and in the Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness (OIRPE).

1.2.4 Each institution must have adequate procedures for addressing written student complaints.

In the section “Student Grievances” in the Oracle 2002-2003 (p. 64), procedures for addressing written student complaints are addressed as follows:

Student grievances are handled through one of two procedures, depending on the nature of the grievance. If the matter is academic in nature, the student should address the concern with the appropriate faculty member, department chair and/or dean. If the matter is not resolved through these channels, the student should then address the concern with the Provost’s Office. If the matter is not academic, the student should address the concern with the appropriate department head. After that, all student grievances that are non-academic should be brought to the Vice President for Student Affairs. A student who does not know where to file a grievance should come to the Student Affairs Office, Adams Administration Building 244.

In addition, the section “Standards of Conduct” (pp. 80-92) describes procedures for addressing student conduct, and many sections of these procedures allow students to provide written responses. Furthermore, procedures for addressing sexual harassment complaints are presented in the “Policy on Sexual Harassment” in the Oracle (pp. 64-69).

The “Constitution of the Student Government Association” and the “Student Government Association Code of Laws, Troy State University, Troy, Alabama” in the Oracle (pp. 42-62)address the Judicial Branch of the Student Government Association that deals with certain student complaints. In Section 1.6.2 “Harassment,” in the Faculty Handbook 2001 (pp. 10-16),procedures are provided for addressing harassment complaints, including complaints by students. In the Faculty Handbook, “Appeals of Grades” section 3.8.2.9c (pp. 61-62), procedures are provided for students to appeal a grade they may contend is invalid. The Distance Learning Center and the remote sites of the University (Phenix City, Atlantic Region, Florida/Western Region, Pacific Region, and Southeast Region) utilize the appropriate portions of the Oracle and the Faculty Handbook to define procedures for addressing written student complaints.

1.3SEPARATELY ACCREDITED UNITS

1.3.1If an institution seeks separately accredited status for one of its units, it must notify the Executive Director of the Commission on Colleges of its intent and follow procedures established by the Commission.

In the 1980s, the SACS-COC separately accredited two units of Troy State University—Troy State University Montgomery (1983) and Troy State University Dothan (1985). These two independently accredited institutions of the Troy State University System underwent self-studies, reviews, and reaffirmation in the 1980s and 1990s. For these two separately accredited units of the System, all required procedures were followed.

1.4CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY

1.4.1Any institution seeking candidacy must document its compliance with each of the thirteen Conditions of Eligibility to be authorized initiation of a self-study, or to be awarded candidacy or candidacy renewal.

1.4.2In addition, the institution must provide evidence that it is capable of complying with all requirements of the Criteria and that it will be in compliance by the end of the period allowed for candidacy.

Troy State University is presently accredited by the SACS-COC; therefore, the University is not subject to these “must statements” addressing candidacy.

1.4.3The Conditions of Eligibility are basic qualifications which an institution of higher education must meet to be accredited by the Commission on Colleges. They establish a threshold of development required of an institution seeking initial or continued accreditation by the Commission and reflect the Commission’s basic expectations of candidate and member institutions.

Troy State University meets the Conditions of Eligibility, and evidence of meeting these 13 conditions can be found below in Sections 1.4.4 (Condition 1), 1.4.5 (Condition 2), 1.4.6 (Condition 3), 1.4.21 (Condition 4), 1.4.23 (Condition 5), 1.4.24 (Condition 6), 1.4.29 (Condition 7), 1.4.30 (Condition 8), 1.4.31 (Condition 9), 1.4.32 (Condition 10), 1.4.37 (Condition 11), 1.4.39 (Condition 12), and 1.4.40 (Condition 13). Further evidence can be found throughout the Troy State University Institutional Self-Study Report in the sections addressing the Criteria in Chapters 2 through 6.

1.4.4 Compliance with the Conditions is not sufficient to warrant accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation. Accredited institutions must also demonstrate compliance with the Criteria for Accreditation which holds institutions to appropriately higher standards of quality.

(Condition 1) In obtaining or maintaining accreditation with the Commission on Colleges, an institution agrees to the following:

1. That it will comply with the Criteria for Accreditation of the College Delegate Assembly consistent with the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges.
2. That the Commission on Colleges, at its discretion, may make known to any agency or member of the public requiring such information, the nature of any action, positive or negative, regarding the institution’s status with the Commission.
3. That it will comply with Commission requests, directives, decisions and policies, and will make complete, accurate and honest disclosure. Failure to do so is sufficient reason, in and of itself, for the Commission to impose a sanction, or to deny or revoke candidacy or accreditation.

1. This Self-Study Report documents compliance with the current SACS-COC Criteria for Accreditation (2000) of the College Delegate Assembly consistent with the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges. In Chapters 1 through 6 of this document, compliance with each “must statement” in the Criteria is addressed.

1. Troy State University understands and agrees that the Commission on Colleges may, at its discretion, make known to any agency or member of the public requiring such information, the nature of any action, positive or negative, regarding the Institution’s status with the Commission.

1. Troy State University agrees to comply with Commission requests, directives, decisions and policies and to make complete, accurate and honest disclosure. The University recognizes that failure to do so is sufficient reason for the Commission to impose a sanction or to deny or revoke accreditation. Troy State University has shown its willingness to comply with these requirements in its past record of providing reports, Annual SACS Profiles, substantive change documents, and any follow-up reports to SACS-COC for substantive change visits and reaffirmation visits.

1.4.5 (Condition 2) The institution must have formal authority from an appropriate government agency or agencies located within the geographic jurisdiction of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees.

The University was designated as a Normal School in 1887. The Alabama Legislature has acted over the years to change the name of the Institution to Troy State Teachers College in 1929, Troy State College in 1957, Troy State University in 1967, and the Legislature’s action in 1997 established the Troy State University System, which consists of University College and campuses in Troy, Phenix City, Dothan, and Montgomery. In these legislative actions, Troy State University was provided formal authority from the Alabama Legislature to award—associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees. Key portions of the legislation of 1997 follow:

1. All rights, duties, property, real orpersonal, and all other effects existing in the name of Troy State University, or in any other name by which the Institution has been known, shall continue in the name of the Troy State University System. Any reference to Troy State University, or any other name by which the Institution has been known, in any existing law, contract, or other instrument shall constitute a reference to the Troy State University System. All acts of Troy State University lawfully done prior to August 1, 1997, by the board of trustees or by the executive officer are approved, ratified, and confirmed (Paragraph 2).

1. The Troy State University System shall provide, maintain, and operate public higher education programs with facilities dedicated to the preparation of students in a variety of pre-professional and professional fields at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree levels. The University System shall provide educational services for the greater community including adult education and advanced education for mature students, private citizens, and military personnel. The Troy State University System shall provide an academic, cultural, and social environment that fosters individuality and develops productive members of society. The mission of the Troy State University System shall be accomplished by providing services to students and the greater community through the utilization of its staff and facilities and through research, creative activities, superior teaching, scholarship, and public service. (Acts 1967, No. 420, p. 1084, Section; Acts 1997, No. 97-586, p. 1035 Section)

Copies of the Code of Laws of Alabama, Section 16-56, and the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees for the Troy State University System confirm that Troy State University has formal authority from the State of Alabama to award degrees. Copies of these items are available in the Self-Study Resource Room.

1.4.6(Condition 3) The institution must have a governing board of at least five members, which has the authority and duty to ensure that the mission of the institution is implemented. The governing board is the legal body responsible for the institution.

The governing board of Troy State University, the Board of Trustees, has the authority and duty to ensure that the mission of the Institution is implemented. The Board of Trustees is the legal body established by the Alabama Legislature in Title 16 of the Code of Alabama to govern the Troy State University System which “shall provide, maintain, and operate public higher education programs with facilities dedicated to the preparation of students in a variety of pre-professional and professional fields at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree levels.” (Code of Alabama, Title 16, Section 16-56-1). The Board of Trustees consists of the Governor who serves as the ex-officio president of the Board; the State Superintendent of Education; 10 members from eight geographical areas of Alabama with two of these members from the Second Congressional District, with one of these members as a member-at-large who may or may not be a resident of Alabama; and the TSU Student Government Association (SGA) President who is a non-voting member of the Board. The Board includes 10 voting members and one non-voting member, the SGA President.