There's $300 million on the line in this year's university accreditation.
Every 10 years, this process, governed by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of colleges and schools, leads to federal financial aid and the ability for students to transfer credits between accredited universities.
Preparing for a February site visit, the administration collected feedback from deans, directors and chairpersons identifying strengths and weaknesses across MSU.
June Youatt, assistant provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies, and Karen Klomparens, dean of the Graduate School, co-led the self-study process.
"The thing that is significant about our self-study is in two parts: How we meet the criteria of an effective university and really demonstrating where we meet those standards," Youatt said.
The accreditation process began in the fall of 2003 and will be completed later this spring.
Universities that have been continuously accredited are being given the opportunity to have a special emphasis on a specific topic accompanying the general self-study, which is posted online.
MSU, which sets the standards in accreditation, is focusing on internationalization, Youatt said.
"That's always been a hallmark of MSU," she said. "We are one of the first universities that did significant international work. It's always been an area of distinction.
"If we are going to continue to make a maximum contribution and hold on to the distinctiveness, what's next?"
But not every school gets accredited, said John Taylor, director of the program to evaluate and advance quality at the Higher Learning Commission. The institution's site visit is important in the process, when an evaluation team will be sent to MSU as experts in internationalization and the related aspects of curriculum, he said.
"We are going to look at the whole Michigan State University," Taylor said. "They will interview across operational units, organizations. They will meet the student groups and groups of staff without supervisors present."
Through the process, there have been several things the administration has been able to identify as successful, Youatt said.
"Obviously the things that stand out are the significant ways we have advanced study abroad programs and made them accessible to students in all majors," she said. "We also have some really innovative cross-disciplinary programs."
However, Youatt said there are some weak spots, such as general education outcomes. She said in the next 10 years there will be more time and attention spent in assessing these areas.
Although the accreditation process is to show MSU's best features, the administration said they hope to find ways to improve during the next 10 years.
"It gives us a chance to reflect on what we have in place and what things we can do better," Provost Kim Wilcox said. "It is like studying for a test, you may not always want to take a test, but the studying process can help you learn it better."
