Under theauspices of the Louisiana Board of Regents, as of Spring 2004, SouthernUniversity-Baton Rouge has achieved 100 percent program accreditation for alloffered programs.
This means thatout of a total of 39 programs, all are accredited on the Baton Rouge campus.
“Southern is ina class by itself when it comes to programs that are accredited,” said Dr.Johny Tolliver, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, “among Historically Black Colleges and all others.”
In addition,the university has 12 additional programs that are eligible foraccreditation.
This makes atotal of 46 out of 51 possible programs to date.
“We are movingtowards our goal of having all programs accredited,” Tolliver said. “Seeking 100 percent accreditation isunheard of at most institutions.”
These programsare: chemistry (Bachelor of Science), computer science-business option(Bachelor of Science), computer science-scientific option (Bachelor ofScience), family consumer sciences (Bachelor of Science), fine arts (Bachelorof Arts), mass communication (Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts), mental health counseling (Master ofArts), music (Bachelor of Music), public administration-generalist (Master ofPublic Administration), theater arts (Bachelor of Arts), and therapeuticrecreation and leisure studies (Bachelor of Science).
Computerscience-business option, therapeutic recreation and leisure studies, theaterarts, fine arts, and mental health counseling, are offered but are currentlyseeking accreditation by their national accrediting bodies.
Both theaterarts and fine arts are in the process and should be completed by January 2005.
“Overall, thepercentage of programs accredited is 90.2,” said Keisha Lacour, Assistant toChancellor for Media Relations. ”That is really awesome.”
The idea ofbeing an accredited institution means that the university has met standards ofexcellence by accrediting bodies. Course curriculums, faculty, students and facilities must all be takeninto account.
For graduates,accreditation is a signal of excellence and stamp of approval that wherever heor she may apply for employment in the nation, the University has met nationalstandards. Being accredited isalso good for recruiting students.
The LouisianaBoard of Regents is a state agency that was created by the 1974 LouisianaConstitution and has been in operation since 1975. The Board coordinates all public higher education in thestate of Louisiana.
The Board ofRegents has the responsibility to approve, disapprove and/or modify existingand proposed degree programs and administrative components at Louisiana’spublic colleges and universities. Allocated responsibilities are then delegated to the Academic andStudent Affairs Committee, advised by its own staff.
There arefifteen members of the Board of Regents, all appointed by the governor. Regent members serve for sixoverlapping terms, with at least one, but no more than two, Regents are drawnfrom each of Louisiana’s seven Congressional districts. Student members can serve upon byappointment by the Legislature.
Headed by theCommissioner of Higher Education, E. Joseph Savoie, Ed.D., all policies anddecisions of the Board of Regents are administered by a full-time staff.
