SACSCOC

MTSU has been reaccredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, with the announcement made at the annual SACSCOC meeting in Atlanta

in December. We received reaccreditation after the Commission

on Colleges reviewed the University’s Compliance Audit Report and its Quality Enhancement Plan, MT Engage. The review examined MTSU’s academic programs, policies, and operating procedures against standards based on best practices

in higher education. The University was found in compliance with both the audit standards and the QEP by the on-site peer review team that visited the campus as part of the two-year-long review process. A finding of compliance with every standard, including those related to the QEP, is rare among institutions that go through this review process. This accomplishment reaffirms the University’s quality endeavors by its peers and recognizes its commitment to excellence.

MT Engage

Our new Quality Enhancement Plan, called MT Engage, launched in Fall 2016 with broad support from

University faculty, students, and administrators. I keynoted a kickoff celebration for those who contributed to the development of the QEP under the leadership of Dr. Dianna Rust and recognized the leadership of Dr. Mary Hoffschwelle in implementing the plan. Over 1,500 students enrolled in 98 MT Engage-designated classes taught by 59 faculty. These classes featured high- impact teaching practices, beyond- the-classroom experiences, and assignments that fostered integrative thinking and reflection that students saved in electronic portfolios.

Engagement was the buzz across campus during MT Engage Week, Sept. 19–23. The College of Basic and Applied Sciences held Science Café informal discussions, and Behavioral and Health Sciences hosted a symposium on gang violence reduction and a lecture for its American Society of Interior Designers student chapter. The College of Education promoted education beyond the classroom with

campus and community partners, and students learned about volunteer and paid employment opportunities from Facilities Services staff. The

College of Liberal Arts hosted a foreign language film festival and a debate on the value of a college education. Media and Entertainment students performed at Engage-a-palooza and screened films at First Look 2016. Alumnae discussed how they bridged college to careers at a panel hosted by University College, while University Honors had Timothy Huebner speak about black constitutionalism. The Jennings A. Jones College of Business incorporated MT Engage into Donuts with the Dean, and Student Programming designated Bash the Rec as an MT Engage event.