Criteria for Accreditation

The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations.

Core Components

• 1.A. The institution’s mission is articulated publicly and operationalized throughout the institution.
• 1.B. The institution’s mission demonstrates commitment to the public good.
• 1.C. The institution provides opportunities for civic engagement in a diverse, multicultural society and globally connected world, as appropriate within its mission and for the constituencies it serves.

Narrative Summary for Criterion 1

Strategic planning provides a strong foundation for programs and services at Illinois State University, and the current strategic plan focuses the efforts of the many largely decentralized campus units on a common vision and mission. Sustained efforts have been made since 2000, when the first institutional strategic plan was adopted, to ensure that units continue to align their respective visions, missions, and goals to reflect the University mission.

This Criterion’s evidence documents how the institution’s widely understood and inclusive mission guides operations across all divisions. In addition, it informs institutional policies and processes to effectively respond to internal and external constituencies’ needs and to prepare graduates to be responsible members of a multicultural society.

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The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.

Core Components

• 2.A. The institution establishes and follows policies and processes to ensure fair and ethical behavior on the part of its governing board, administration, faculty and staff.
• 2.B. The institution presents itself clearly and completely to its students and to the public.
• 2.C. The governing board of the institution is autonomous to make decisions in the best interest of the institution in compliance with board policies and to ensure the institution’s integrity.
• 2.D. The institution is committed to academic freedom and freedom of expression in the pursuit of truth in teaching and learning.
• 2.E. The institution’s policies and procedures call for responsible acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge by its faculty, staff and students.

Narrative Summary for Criterion 2

Integrity is a Core Value articulated in the institutional strategic plan. Fostering an environment characterized by ethical and responsible conduct is an ongoing effort and the shared responsibility of all members of the community. Illinois State expects board members, administrators, faculty, staff, and students to act with integrity and provides guidance documents outlining responsible behavior and activities.

The evidence provided in this Criterion documents Illinois State’s commitment to integrity and its efforts to regularly update policies and processes related to promoting appropriate behavior on behalf of all members of the Illinois State community. In support of these efforts, the University Compliance Program reviews, coordinates, monitors, and, when possible, enhances Illinois State’s ability to meet its compliance responsibilities.

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The institution provides quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.

Core Components

• 3.A. The rigor of the institution’s academic offerings is appropriate to higher education.
• 3.B. The institution offers programs that engage students in collecting, analyzing and communicating information; in mastering modes of intellectual inquiry or creative work; and in developing skills adaptable to changing environments.
• 3.C. The institution has the faculty and staff needed for effective, high-quality programs and student services.
• 3.D. The institution provides support for student learning and resources for effective teaching.

Narrative Summary for Criterion 3

Illinois State University continues to provide a high-quality education for students enrolled in all programs. The University has well-established program review processes to monitor program quality and learning goal achievement. Just over half of all plans of study also maintain specialized accreditation. In addition, the University maintained its student-to-faculty ratio at 19-to-1 by allocating sufficient resources for instructional capacity, even with stable or declining financial support from the state. Since 2015, the University has refined its General Education Program to prepare students more effectively for success in their specialized programs and promote timely graduation.

The University continues its efforts to diversify programs and populations. The strategic plan outlines several initiatives to promote an inclusive environment for our increasingly diverse students, faculty, and staff population. Resources are available to support all students, faculty, and staff, including those from underrepresented groups.

Furthermore, the University continues its efforts to globalize the curriculum, internationalize the university population, and prepare students to be civically engaged after graduation. Faculty and students are actively engaged in scholarship and creative activities, with numerous programs available to support and showcase their successes.

Illinois State has well-established shared governance practices and policies to ensure sufficient faculty and staff are available to provide high-quality programs, faculty have the support they need for effective teaching, and appropriate curricular and co-curricular resources are available to support all students’ success.

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The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.

Core Components

• 4.A. The institution ensures the quality of its educational offerings.
• 4.B. The institution engages in ongoing assessment of student learning as part of its commitment to the educational outcomes of its students.
• 4.C. The institution pursues educational improvement through goals and strategies that improve retention, persistence and completion rates in its degree and certificate programs.

Narrative Summary for Criterion 4

Systematic assessment methods, comprehensive program review processes, and specialized accreditation reflect the University’s commitment to ensuring appropriately rigorous, current, and consistently delivered degree programs, regardless of venue. Illinois State continues to improve strategies for collecting data to support assessment efforts, by utilizing new predictive analytic technologies and further strengthening cooperation and collaboration between units responsible for collecting data.

Although they remain strong compared to peer institutions, recent retention and graduation rates have shown some fluctuation. As demonstrated throughout this Criterion, however, Illinois State remains committed to developing and funding initiatives and programs to ensure continued growth in these metrics, particularly those related to the success of students from historically underrepresented groups.

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The institution’s resources, structures, and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings, and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

Core Components

• 5.A. Through its administrative structures and collaborative processes, the institution’s leadership demonstrates that it is effective and enables the institution to fulfill its mission.
• 5.B. The institution’s resource base supports its educational offerings and its plans for maintaining and strengthening their quality in the future.
• 5.C. The institution engages in systematic and integrated planning and improvement.

Narrative Summary for Criterion 5

Illinois State continues to maintain the fiscal, human, physical, and technological resources necessary to support its operations. Through careful planning and collaboration, Illinois State remains financially strong with high academic standards in teaching, scholarship, and public service.

Significant infrastructure and facility upgrades during the past ten years have further supported the institution’s efforts to live its mission and achieve its vision.

The continued strength of Illinois State as an institution is grounded in its clear vision and goals articulated through the strategic plan and supported by effective leadership and a spirit of collaboration across divisions. Planning and budgeting processes are based on systematic assessment practices, which seek to continually improve institutional effectiveness, capabilities, and sustainability.

See the full argument for Criterion 5