Criteria for Accreditation > Possible Sources/Committees > Criterion One
Criterion One: Mission and Integrity
Criterion Statement: The organization operates with integrity to ensure the fulfillment of its mission through structures and processes that involve the board, administration, faculty, staff, and students.
Core Component 1a: The organization’s mission documents are clear and articulate publicly the organization’s commitments
.Examples of Evidence
 | The board has adopted statements of mission, vision, values, goals,
and organizational priorities that together clearly and broadly define
the organization’s mission. Board minutes will reveal when;
Performance Measures, Statewide Mission in Public Affairs; Welcoming the
21st Century; Countdown to the Centennial; |
| The mission, vision, values, and goals documents define the varied
internal and external constituencies the organization intends to serve.
In broad terms. We are a public, metropolitan university with a
statewide public affairs mission that also serves SW Missouri whose
purpose is to develop educated persons; Performance Measures;
Assessments of various kinds; trend toward allied health programs
requiring advanced level such as AuD; emphasis on high qualifications
for students taking licensure exams; |
| The mission documents include a strong commitment to high academic
standards that sustain and advance excellence in higher learning.
Selective admissions, Honors College, program accreditations, improved
retention, increasing number of graduate programs and proportion of
graduate enrollment; Assessments; |
| The mission documents state goals for the learning to be achieved by
its students. Yes, when "Annual Performance Measures" is included as
a mission document; Assessment Plan; Program assessments; |
| The organization regularly evaluates and, when appropriate, revises
the mission documents. After evaluation of "Welcoming…", the mission
was revised to a "Public Affairs Mission" with five themes in
"Countdown…"; progress report of Welcoming found in Countdown; progress
report of Countdown will be part of Daring to Excel; feedback from
previous long-range plans will guide Daring; also roundtables and
discussion with constituencies; |
| The organization makes the mission documents available to the public, particularly to prospective and enrolled students. Online and in paper format, desk placards, catalog, etc. |
Core Component 1b: In its mission documents, the organization recognizes the diversity of its learners, other constituencies, and the greater society it serves.
Examples of Evidence
| In its mission documents, the organization addresses diversity within
the community values and common purposes it considers fundamental to its
mission. Goal of 7% minority student enrollment; Diversity in teacher
education; part of a "global society"; Multicultural Resources Center
(newsletter "The Source"); International Student Services; Public
metropolitan university; State of the University addresses; Minority
Student Recruitment Plan; Affirmative Action Employment Plan; |
| The mission documents present the organization’s function in a
multicultural society. |
| The mission documents affirm the organization’s commitment to honor
the dignity and worth of individuals.
Statement of Community Values;
Public Affairs Mission; Definition of an "educated person"; Academic
Freedom; Grants that have emphasized economic diversity; TRIO grants and
offices; Upward Bound; Free Speech Policy; |
| The organization’s required codes of belief or expected behavior are
congruent with its mission. See above; Faculty Handbook; Staff
Handbook; Statement of Community Values; |
| The mission documents provide a basis for the organization’s basic strategies to address diversity. Affirmative Action; "Countdown . . ."; Annual Performance Measures; Program Accreditation Reports; |
Core Component 1c: Understanding of and support for the mission pervade the organization
Examples of Evidence
| The board, administration, faculty, staff, and students understand
and support the organization’s mission.
Might bring in Purpose to
develop educated persons; |
| The organization’s strategic decisions are mission-driven.
Review
of "Welcoming…"; Annual Performance Measures; budgets; |
| The organization’s planning and budgeting priorities flow from and
support the mission. Review of "Welcoming…";
"Countdown…" and
Annual Performance Measures; annual budget and 3-year budget process;
What about use of assessment results; |
| The goals of the administrative and academic sub-units of the
organization are congruent with the organization’s mission. College,
VP units, department plans, center plans; Performance Measures; Use of
assessment results; |
| The organization’s internal constituencies articulate the mission in a consistent manner. See above; recruitment materials; webpages; |
Core Component 1d: The organization’s governance and administrative structures promote effective leadership and support collaborative processes that enable the organization to fulfill its mission.
Examples of Evidence
| Board policies and practices document that the board’s focus is on
the organization’s mission. Board minutes; Board approved documents
(plans, budgets, etc.); |
| The board enables the organization’s chief administrative personnel
to exercise effective leadership. Board minutes; Delegation of
authority; organizational charts; Other? |
| The distribution of responsibilities as defined in governance
structures, processes, and activities, is understood and is implemented
through delegated authority. Administrative Council; Academic
Council, College department heads meetings; Annual Performance Measures;
Organizational charts; Faculty Handbook; Planning documents; |
| People within the governance and administrative structures are
committed to the mission and appropriately qualified to carry out their
defined responsibilities. Best way to address this? |
| Faculty and other academic leaders share responsibility for the
coherence of the curriculum and the integrity of academic processes.
Faculty Senate; Graduate Council; College Councils; Faculty Handbook;
Curriculum is under faculty control; |
| Effective communication facilitates governance processes and
activities. e-Essentials; Focus; Missouri State Magazine; Administrative
Council; Academic Council; State of University Addresses; |
| The organization evaluates its structures and processes regularly and strengthens them as needed. "Welcoming…"; "Countdown…"; Annual Performance Measures; Periodic realignment (IDM to COBA; CFS to CNAS; establishing School of Agriculture); |
Core Component 1e: The organization upholds and protects its integrity.
Examples of Evidence
| The activities of the organization are congruent with its mission. |
| The board exercises its responsibility to the public to ensure that
the organization operates legally, responsibly, and with fiscal honesty.
Board bylaws; Board minutes; Legal Counsel; |
| The organization understands and abides by local, state, and federal
laws and regulations applicable to it (or by laws and regulations
established by federally-recognized sovereign entities.) Missouri
Revised Statutes; Missouri State Legal Counsel; open meetings laws and observance;
Web Site; |
| The organization consistently implements clear and fair policies
regarding the rights and responsibilities of each of its internal
constituencies. Board minutes; Affirmative Action Office and
statements; Statement of Community Values; grievance procedures; hiring
guidelines; Student and Staff Grievance policies; |
| The organization’s structures and processes allow it to ensure the
integrity of its co-curricular and auxiliary activities. Affirmative
Action; Integrity Council; Missouri State Legal Counsel; Board Approved Policies; |
| The organization deals fairly with its external constituents.
Business contracts of various kinds; contract procedures; Purchasing
policies; Internal Audit reports to the Board; |
| The organization presents itself accurately and honestly to the
public. Websites; news releases; press review; legislative hearings;
|
| The organization documents timely response to complaints and grievances, particularly those of students. Records of proceedings (as allowed by privacy regulations); |
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