Chapter 3
Mission, Planning, and Governance

3 Mission, Planning, and Governance

This chapter addresses the following General Institutional Requirements for Accreditation of a University:

1. It has a mission statement, formally adopted by the governing board and made public, declaring that it is an institution of higher education.
2. It is a degree-granting institution.
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.
4. It has legal documents to confirm its status: not-for-profit, for-profit, or public.
5. It has a governing board that possesses and exercises necessary legal power to establish and review basic policies that govern the institution.
6. Its governing board includes public members and is sufficiently authonomous from the administration and ownership to assure the integrity of the institution.
7. It has an executive officer designated by the governing board to provide administrative leadership for the institution.
8. Its governing board authorizes the institution’s affiliation with the Commission.
17. It has admission policies and practices that are consistent with the institution’s mission and appropriate to its educational programs.
23. It accurately discloses its standing with accrediting bodies with which it is affiliated.

This chapter provides evidence for Criterion 1:

The institution has clear and publicly stated purposes consistent with its mission and appropriate to an institution of higher education.

This chapter provides evidence for Criterion 2:

The institution has effectively organized the human, financial, and physical resources necessary to accomplish its purposes.

This chapter further provides evidence for Criteria 3 and 4:

The institution is accomplishing its educational and other purposes.

The institution can continue to accomplish its purposes and strengthen its educational effectiveness.

This chapter provides evidence for Criterion 5:

The institution demonstrates integrity in its practices and relationships.