Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Meeting the NCA General Institutional Requirements

For Accreditation (GIRs)

Seminole State College meets and exceeds all General Institutional Requirements for Accreditation. This chapter highlights specific ways in which each GIR is addressed.

Mission

1. It has a mission statement, formally adopted by the governing board and made public, declaring that it is an institution of higher education.

Seminole State College has a clear and updated mission statement that is published and disseminated to its constituents. Initially, the College recently rewrote its mission statement during the 1994-1995 academic year in an effort to more clearly define the primary goal of the institution. This revision followed the solicitation of opinions from various College constituencies (see above response of Seminole State College to the six concerns of 1990 NCA team). The SSC Board of Regents, the College's governing board, approved a revised mission statement on May 11, 1995:

Seminole State College exists to enhance the capabilities of individuals to achieve their goals for personal development by providing learning experiences and services that respond to both individual and community needs.

The 1996-1998 Catalog featured the first publication of the statement. Other publications followed and included the mission statement. Eventually, SSC's statement of mission was disseminated in these publications: the Board Policies manual, Chapter 3, Section I-3; the Board Policies manual; the Student Handbook; and the Student Guide to Academic Success. The mission statement was also published in various other official reports and documents.

The official documents all clearly indicate that Seminole State College is established and maintained as a two-year college by the State of Oklahoma. The Function section of the Catalog, page 3, also declares that the school offers "General Education and other university-parallel coursework" and "one and two-year programs of collegiate-level technical-occupational education to prepare individuals to enter the workforce" (see copies in Self-Study Resource Room). In 1997, the Regents reaffirmed the revised mission when they approved the College's re-accreditation process and its NCA Self-Study Plan (see Self-Study Report, Chapter 6).

During 1998 and 1999, Seminole State College once more re-examined its mission statement. NCA's liaison officer, Dr. Cecilia Lopez, visited the campus in August 1998 to approve the Self-Study Plan and outline of the Report. She encouraged the institution to take advantage of the self-study process and to review its mission. The advice of the last NCA Team, "to update the mission statement to reflect the present role of the College," further prompted the NCA Sub-Committee Mission and Governance Committee to review the 1995 version of mission.

Using constituency deliberations expressed throughout the entire College through the submission of written ideas and e-mail, the NCA Sub-Committee reorganized the language of SSC's mission statement, combining sentences formerly under the Purpose and Philosophy heading. The 1999 version of the mission statement reads:

Seminole State College is maintained as a two-year public college authorized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to offer courses, provide programs, and confer associate degrees. Seminole State has the primary responsibility of providing post-secondary educational programs to residents of Hughes, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Seminole, and Pottawatomie counties in east central Oklahoma. The College exists to enhance the capabilities of individuals to achieve their goals for personal development by providing quality learning experiences and services that respond to diverse individual and community needs in a changing global society. Seminole State College prepares students to continue their education beyond the two-year level, trains students for careers and other educational opportunities, and makes available resources and services designed to benefit students and the community at large.

The SSC Board of Regents approved this change at its July 15, 1999, meeting. The most recently revised mission statement is contained in the: Catalog, page 3, Board Policies manual, Section I-3-1, Student Handbook, Seminole State College, 1999-2000 Academic Plan, various program brochures of the College, and the Student Guide to Academic Success at SSC, a student orientation piece (see copies in Self-Study Resource Room and see Self-Study Report, Chapter 6).

2. It is a degree-granting institution.

Seminole State College offers 21 on-campus major areas of concentration toward three degree-areas: Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Applied Science (AAS), and Associate in Science (AS).

The College provides the AA degree in General Studies for students who desire a broad educational program aimed at transfer to most four-year arts and sciences curricula for further study. Three other AA programs exist: Art Related Studies, Communication Related Studies, and Language Arts Related Studies (AA/four degrees).

Seminole State College grants AAS degrees in Business and Information Systems with Accounting, Office Management, and Supervision/Management tracks. The College also offers AAS programs in Medical Laboratory Technology and Nursing (AAS/3 degrees).

Moreover, the College grants AS degrees in business related programs, computer science, office management, health, physical education and recreation programs, life science related programs, mathematics, physical education related programs, pre-engineering related programs, health occupations related programs, behavioral science related programs, criminal justice, social studies related programs, and elementary education (AS/14 degrees).

A joint consortium between Seminole State College and Mid-America Bible College allows SSC graduates and others in the College service area to pursue course opportunities leading to bachelor's degrees without having to leave the campus. This joint program is accomplished through a space utilization agreement (see Self-Study Report, Chapter 7).

Authorization

3. It has legal authorization to grant its degrees, and it meets all the legal requirements to operate as an institution of higher education wherever it conducts its activities.

Seminole State College is a fully accredited member of the Oklahoma State System for Higher Education, which authorizes the College to grant associate degrees. The College adheres to the policies of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSHRE) in establishing and conferring degrees. The OSHRE is the coordinating authority that controls the state system and, through that system, is provided power to grant degrees by the Oklahoma Constitution, Article XIII-A-2. Seminole State College is granted membership as part of the system by Oklahoma Statute 70-4423.

The Oklahoma State Regents authorizes Seminole State College, a two-year college of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, to provide the following public functions:

General education and other university-parallel coursework
One and two-year programs of collegiate-level technical-occupational education to prepare individuals to enter the workforce
Programs of remedial and developmental education
Formal and informal programs of study especially designed to serve community needs for continuing education
Programs of institutional research to improve the College's efficiency and effectiveness
Special support and activity programs which assist and enrich students' educational experience.
Programs of economic development, in conjunction with area colleges and universities which serve the needs of the service area

In addition to SSC's statewide system membership, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education authorize the College to conduct off-campus courses through direct classroom instruction, electronic delivery, or other means. On several occasions, SSC has offered courses at these area and regional sites in Oklahoma: Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Shawnee; Wes Watkins Vocational-Technical School, Wetumka; Redlands Community College, El Reno; Davis Correctional Center, Holdenville; Seminole Nation Tribal Complex, Seminole; McLoud Correctional Center, McLoud; and high schools in Bethel, Bowlegs, Dale, Henryetta, Holdenville, Prague, Stroud, and Tecumseh.

4. It has legal documents to confirm its status: not-for-profit, for-profit, or public.

A "Basic Documents" component of the College section (Part I, I-1-1) in the Board Policies manual, explains SSC's status as a state institution of higher education. To summarize key passages: "Seminole State College is a member of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education pursuant to the Oklahoma Constitution." Article XIII-A. Section 1 in the Higher Education Code stipulates:

All institutions of higher education supported wholly or in part by direct legislative appropriations shall be integral parts of a unified system to be known as ‘The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.

As part of this System, SSC is responsible under the Oklahoma Constitution to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSHRE), which constitutes "a coordinating board of control for all State institutions." Two copies of the Board Policies manual are on reserve in the David L. Boren Learning Resources Center for public examination.

Article XIV, Section 180, the Higher Education Code, authorizes OSHRE "to establish and maintain two-year colleges," one in Seminole where it shall "serve Seminole County and surrounding area." All the-two year institutions of higher education, including Seminole State College, "shall have seven-member local governing boards referred to as the Boards of Regents."

Governance

5. It has a governing board that possesses and exercises necessary legal power to establish and review basic policies that govern the institution.

The seven-member Seminole State College Board of Regents is the governing body of the institution. With the advice and consent of the Oklahoma State Senate, the Governor of Oklahoma appoints members to the SSC Board of Regents. Members serve renewable seven-year terms, with the term of one of the seven members expiring each year.

The SSC Regents conduct nine, regularly scheduled meetings each calendar year and report annual meeting dates to the Office of the Secretary of State of Oklahoma no later than December 15 of each preceding year. Special Board meetings may be called with appropriate public notice. The Board meets in open, public session, exercising full prerogatives as a policy-making and governing body. The Board Policies manual delineates Regents' duties and responsibilities. The Board ratifies policy for the operation of Seminole State College, adopts rules and regulations, employs staff, enters into contracts, monitors monthly financial statements and claims reports, gives final sanction to SSC's formal publications such as the Catalog and handbooks, and certifies contracts, partnerships, consortium arrangements, and financial audits (see Part I-2-1 of the Board Policies manual in Self-Study Resource Room and Self-Study Report, Chapter 6).

6. Its governing board includes public members and is sufficiently autonomous from the administration and ownership to assure the integrity of the institution.

As prescribed by the Oklahoma statute establishing the Board, members of Seminole State College's governing Board of Regents represent a cross-section of the service-area communities and include four members from within the immediate College area. Regents hold to different political persuasions and religions. These men and women are bankers, housewives, alumni, parents, educators, and community leaders. Diverse backgrounds help ensure that the Board represents the interests of the public in their deliberations and decision-making rather than advancing personal interests. During their terms of office, Regents may not be employees of the College or, by state law, receive any financial benefit from the institution.

The College's Board Policies manual states rules regarding Regents' appointments, oaths of office, training, filling of vacancies, and conflict of interest. In Part II, Chapter 1 of the document, by-laws and rules for Board procedure are shared with the public. To ensure responsiveness of this public body to state citizens and all College constituencies, Board operation complies with the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act, following strict guidelines regarding public notice of meetings, keeping of minutes, and executive-session requirements (see Self-Study Report, Chapter 6).

7. It has an executive officer designated by the governing board to provide administrative leadership for the institution.

The Seminole State College Board of Regents appoints the President as the chief executive officer of the College. The President's contract and job performance are reviewed and awarded on a yearly basis by the Board. The current President, Dr. James W. Utterback, was formally employed by the Board at their regular meeting in October 1996 after the resignation of Dr. James J. Cook. Dr. Utterback assumed office in January 1997 as the Board's designated chief officer on the SSC campus.

Board Policy Number II-3-1 details the duties of the President of Seminole State College, which are also published in the Board Policies manual. While the Board Policies manual listing is more specific, the Board provides "the President the authority to guide and direct all operations and activities of the College" and makes the President "accountable directly to the Board." The Board Policies manual also describes the President's power to develop lines of responsibility, review administrative decisions, and recommend the hiring of all members of the faculty, administration, and professional staff (see Self-Study Report, Chapter 6).

8. Its governing board authorizes the institution's affiliation with the Commission.

In 1970, the Seminole Junior College Board of Regents approved seeking membership and accreditation from the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. NCA granted the College correspondent status in 1971, candidate status in 1973, initial accreditation in 1975, and ten-year accreditation in 1980 and 1990. During the current ten-year period, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approved the College's name change from Seminole Junior College to Seminole State College. In 1997, the SSC Regents sanctioned the re-accreditation process and the proposed Self-Study Plan, which was forwarded to NCA and accepted by the Commission. The current chair of the SSC Board of Regents represents the Board on the NCA Steering Committee.

Faculty

9. It employs a faculty that has earned from accredited institutions the degrees appropriate to the level of instruction offered by the institution.

Seminole State College only hires full time, half time, and adjunct faculty members who meet the teaching qualifications of the institution. A master's degree (or professional equivalent) from accredited institutions in their teaching discipline is the preferred teaching degree for SSC's instructors (see faculty files in Self-Study Resource Room). On occasion, a bachelor's degree-person having experiences in certain fields is employed when a staff member with a master's degree cannot be found. Also certain program areas require a specific accredited degree; for example, an RN must teach SSC's nursing program students. Nursing faculty must earn a master's degree within five years of employment at Seminole State. The College also hires faculty members with master's degrees in education from accredited institutions as long as they have coursework in the discipline or area they are teaching (first priority) or that they have earned a M.Ed., with a baccalaureate major in the discipline they teach (second priority).

Seminole State College has a reputation for hiring stable teachers who stay at the institution and earn tenure. These faculty members are loyal, experienced, and possess the required academic credentials from accredited institutions of higher learning.

For fall of 1999, SSC faculty includes 42 FT faculty members (7 Doctorates; 35 Masters), 24 of whom have taught from one to ten years and 19 instructors with 11 to 30 years of service. The average age of full-time teachers is 51. The same fine record holds for adjunct professors teaching either half time or part time. For the fall of 1999, there are at SSC 46 adjunct faculty members (1 Doctorate; 21 Masters), 37 of whom have taught from 1 to 10 years and 14 who have from 11 to 45 years of service. The average age of adjunct teachers is 57 (see Biographical Report in the Self-Study Resource Room).

10. A sufficient number of the faculty are full-time employees of the institution.

Currently, the College employs 42 full-time and 51 adjunct instructors. Full-time instructors teach approximately sixty-eight percent (68%) of student credit hours at Seminole State College, indicating that an appropriate level of instruction teaching and academic counseling is taking place at the College (see Self-Study Report, Chapters 9 and 7, and see Fall 1999 Biographical Report in the Self-Study Resource Room).

11. Its faculty has a significant role in developing and evaluating all of the institution's educational programs.

Developing and evaluating educational programs and coursework are ongoing processes at Seminole State College. The work starts at the departmental level with faculty members actively involved. The Division Chair Council serves as SSC's Curriculum Committee. The Division Chair Council includes six division heads who teach 12 credit hours per semester and are contracted as full-time instructors.

Developing the right course and its proper content must as its first priority meet the needs of SSC students as described in the mission statement. Adding to or deleting from the College's list of courses begins with recommendations of faculty within a given academic division. Faculty also decides on course-embedded assessment elements that determine the extent to which individual-class learning objectives are met. Class objectives are measured and validated by a variety of assessment tools, including student evaluation and surveys of graduates (see Self-Study Report, Chapters 6, 7, and 9).

Educational Program

12. It confers degrees.

Seminole State College has conferred AA, AS, and AAS degrees since 1969 and currently offers no certificate programs. During the academic year 1998-1999, the College granted 224 degrees, compared to 205 degrees conferred in Academic Year 1997-1998. During its entire history as a degree-granting institution of higher education, Seminole State has conferred approximately 5,000 Associate degrees.

13. It has degree programs in operation, with students enrolled in them.

All current 21 Associate degree programs at Seminole State College have students enrolled in them. For the fall of 1999, major field enrollment ranges from 739 students in the General Studies program to seven students in Business Administration.. Of those programs with 87 or fewer students enrolled in each major, including Business Administration, the average student population per field or program is 30. Excluding undeclared majors, 36% of the fall of 1999 enrollment is in General Studies (see Self-Study Report, Chapter 7 and see Revised Institutional Statistics Fall 1999 in Self-Study Resource Room).

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education monitors program enrollment figures, and each semester Seminole State College submits the total numbers of students enrolled in each major to OSHRE. The state "program productivity" policy necessitates that public colleges examine programs when registration in any given major is less than five students.

14. Its degree programs are compatible with the institution's mission and are based on recognized fields of study at the higher education level.

All degree programs at Seminole State College are mission-oriented and thus compatible with transfer, career-oriented, life-long learning, and course-integrity objectives. All SSC programs link to public statements of mission, institutional philosophy, and program functions. All academic programs are approved to accord faculty mission objectives through the Division Chair Council, the President, the local Board of Regents, and Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Furthermore, degree programs at Seminole State College are compatible and congruent with accepted, recognized fields of two-year study in higher education. To guarantee compliance, SSC participates in the State Regents instituted Student-Transfer Initiative. Through this program faculty meet statewide with their public college peers to standardize course learner outcomes, titles, numbers, and descriptions in a collective effort to enhance smoother program transferability for students and to ensure academic rigor.

15. Its degrees are appropriately named, following practices common to institutions of higher education in terms of both length and content of the programs.

Through the machinery of the College's Division Chair Council and the State Regents Student Transfer Initiative, two fool-proof mechanisms exist that ensure SSC's programs and coursework are appropriately named, consistent and congruent with acceptable terminology in use in higher education today, and possess the necessary academic rigor to challenge students and to prepare them for futurity. The requisite number of credit hours for all degree programs at Seminole State College corresponds to the accepted, statewide normative figures. They range from a minimum of 62 credit hours needed for graduation at SSC in AA, AS, and AAS degree programs to 66 credit hours for Business Administration, 69 credit hours for Nursing, and 71 credit hours for Medical Laboratory Technology (see Self-Study Report, Chapter 7 and Catalog).

16. Its undergraduate degree programs include a coherent General Education requirement consistent with the institution's mission and designed to ensure breadth of knowledge and to promote intellectual inquiry.

The Seminole State College commitment to General Education is strong and coherent. To complete the General Education degree requirements, students must select from a variety of specific courses in the arts, business and computer sciences, communications, humanities, mathematics, natural and social sciences, and personal wellness. The courses vary in content but all aim to broaden students' perspectives on human life, cultural diversity, and biological and physical environments. Three-fourths or more of the credit hours earned in transfer degrees (generally 47 hours) and an appropriate number of hours earned in technical degrees (for example, 18-19 credit hours in business administration) come through General Education.

As part of Seminole State College's self-study process, the faculty and staff revisited and rewrote the institution's General Education philosophy to be more current and in line with the mission statement. This belief statement emphasizes the first-priority function of public colleges as prescribed by the State Regents: to offer "General Education and other university-parallel coursework." It reads:

Seminole State College believes General Education forms the central core for all associate degrees. The College is, therefore, committed to requiring students in all degree programs to participate in basic General Education courses. The College also believes that General Education experiences form bridges between the various educational endeavors of the institution including terminal programs, transfer programs, and life-long learning [precisely in line with our mission statement]. General Education is designed to broaden students' exposure to commonly recognized areas of knowledge; introduce students to diverse subject areas that will encourage informed choices to be made in today's society; and equip students with essential skills necessary for careers and life-long learning.

17. It has admission policies and practices that are consistent with the institution's mission and appropriate to its educational programs.

Seminole State College and all community colleges in Oklahoma have open admissions policies. Seminole's institutional admissions policies and procedures are clearly defined and published in the Catalog as well as in other College handbooks and are consistent with the Oklahoma State Regents' program requirements. Also, the policies follow the institutional mission and several public-college functions mandated by the State Regents. While admissions are open, general admissions requirements and those requirements specific to particular programs such as for Nursing do exist and are published (see Self-Study Report, Chapters 6 and 7, and the Catalog).

18. It provides its students access to those learning resources and support services for its degree programs.

Seminole State College exists to serve students. To accomplish this task, the College believes it needs to offer students the best and most up-to-date educational and other support services. The full extent of these learning resources and the wide array of support services that assist with higher education on campus are detailed in the Catalog and Student Handbook. Learning resources include books and other materials located in the David L. Boren Learning Resources Center; developmental learning laboratories in reading, writing, and mathematics; Internet access in the LCRC open-access lab; and program laboratories and/or studios in art, photography, sciences, physical education, business, computer science, nursing, and MLT. Support services for students range from ADA compliance, placement, transfer, and academic counseling to TRIO and financial aid assistance as well as recreational and sports activities for all.

Finances

19. It has an external financial audit by a certified public accountant or a public audit agency at least every two years.

As required by Oklahoma State Statute for all public colleges and carried out by and the review of local Regents, annual audits are performed by an external CPA firm on all College operations, federal and state financial-aid programs, and grant awards. By statute, the College contracts with an outside firm to conduct internal audits during the course of the year as well. The Board of Regents employs checks and balances by reviewing financial statements at each of their public meetings. In addition, a CPA firm conducts a separate, yearly audit of endowment and other funds maintained by the Seminole State College Educational Foundation, Inc. A copy of the institutional audit is on reserve in the David L. Boren Learning Resources Center for public examination.

20. Its financial documents demonstrate the appropriate allocation and use of resources to support its educational programs.

All public budget, financial statements, and other fiscal reports are published, disseminated, and available on campus. For example, a copy of the annual institutional budget is on reserve in the Learning Resources Center for public examination.

Seminole State College financial resources are dedicated to instruction and generally account for approximately 60% of the College's annual Educational and General budget, a percentage that increases beyond 60% when other academic expenditures earmarked to enhance instruction are totaled. Other costs related to instruction include registrar, transcript functions, physical-plant expenditures, and curriculum development and preparation for regional and program accreditation. The budgeting of these resources, plus costs for maintenance and security to ensure students a safe and healthy environment, indicate that the College has allotted its human, physical, and financial resources to sustain educational and other programs. All these resources are dedicated to fulfilling the mission and public functions of Seminole State College (see Self-Study Report, Chapter 10 and financial documents in the Self-Study Resource Room).

21. Its financial practices, records, and reports demonstrate fiscal viability.

Audit reports, especially during the decade of the 1990s, illustrate that Seminole State College is growing and expanding while remaining financially sound and viable. Historically, the College has enjoyed a positive fund balance. Review of the College's financial procedures, practices, and records demonstrates this evidence of fiscal soundness.

Seminole State College's current financial picture is attributable to several major developments during this period of growth. (1) The approval of the statewide construction bond issue in 1993, resulted in construction and renovation projects on campus valued at $3,000,000 (as listed above). (2) The allocation in 1993 by the Oklahoma Legislature to the State Regents and to each public college of Section 13 freed funds to assist yearly capital improvement projects (ranging $250,000-$500,000 annually). (3) The 1998 referendum by the City of Seminole approved a sales tax extension dedicating $400,000 to help build a Residential Learning Center. (4) $3,000,000 in additional bond funds for the new Technology and Industry Training Center were allocated in 1999. (5) Finally, a five-year $1.74 million Title III Strengthening the Institution grant was awarded to Seminole State College beginning in October 1999 (see Self-Study Report, Chapter 10 and audits and financial reports in the Self-Study Resource Room).

Public Information

22. Its catalog or other official documents includes its mission statement along with accurate descriptions of its educational programs and degree requirements; its academic calendars; its learning resources; its admissions policies and practices; its academic and non-academic policies and procedures directly affecting students; its charges and refund policies; and the academic credentials of its faculty and administrators.

An examination of bi-annual College catalogs and different yearly handbooks disseminated to students, faculty, staff, and the public at large substantiate the institution's mission statement, philosophy, and public functions. These operational statements are published and available to varied constituents in continually revised documents that list, delineate, and explain program, course, and General Education requirements along with learning and other resources available to students for their accomplishment of academic goals. These various publications make clear the College's admissions, academic, student, financial (e.g., tuition charges and refunds), and other policies, procedures, and practices. In addition, each catalog lists the academic credentials of all faculty members and administrators, their titles or principal job responsibility, and the beginning year of service for each at Seminole (see Catalog and other documents in the Self-Study Resource Room).

23. It accurately discloses its standing with accrediting bodies with which it is affiliated.

In the beginning section of the Catalog, under Section I, General Information, a brief, specific history of Seminole State College's relationship with the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools appears. The same section also features a complete list of all accreditation agencies and other bodies with which SSC is affiliated.

24. It makes available upon request information that accurately describes its financial condition.

In compliance with the Open Records Act of the State of Oklahoma, Resolution No. 86-1, Seminole State College makes available on file in the Learning Resources Center annual copies of the institution's budget detailing the financial condition of the College. Interested persons may write to the College and request copies of audit reports. Persons requesting this information incur duplication costs. Every year, the Seminole Producer publishes budget information and all professional salaries.

Summary

By taking the measures, adopting these policies, and maintaining these processes, Seminole State College meets the 24 General Institutional Requirements of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education as described by the North Central Association. At SSC, these important requirements form the baseline of the institution. The NCA requirements create a stable foundation for Seminole State College in its pursuit of academic and student service excellence and help the institution meet the five Criteria for Accreditation as the following Self-Study Report indicates.