The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools announced re-affirmation of accreditation for Freed-Hardeman University December 6, 2011 at its annual conference in Orlando, according to Dr. Joe Wiley, FHU president. FHU was “reaffirmed for ten years with no negative action,” SACS officials said. The university is accredited to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and education specialist’s degrees.

The decision came after a two-year process involving self-examination of the entire university, an on-site visit by a committee representing SACS, and submission and review of three reports.

“I am extremely pleased by the action taken by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,” Wiley said. “It demonstrates the trust the agency has in the quality of the educational experience offered here. This has been a lengthy process involving representatives of every area of the school’s operation.”

The self-study process was directed by Dr. Vickie Johnson, associate vice president for academics, and Dr. Michael Johnson, associate professor of mathematics and SACS liaison. Almost 100 members of the faculty and staff were involved in the self-study. “I am truly grateful to all of those who gathered information and wrote reports,” Vickie Johnson said. “This was truly a team effort.”

“A special thanks goes to the A-Team for their leadership and countless hours of work in getting us to this result,” Wiley said. The “A-Team” consisting of Dr. Vickie Johnson, Dr. Mike Johnson, Dr. Stephen Morris, and Dr. Becky Cargile led the efforts of the university in the self-study process.

Although the accreditation extends over the next ten years for the school, a five-year interim report covering the Quality Enhancement Plan will be due in 2016. Vickie Johnson described this as a “mini version” of the self-study document.

SACS requires each school receiving reaffirmation to submit a QEP. Freed-Hardeman’s plan, now in its first year, has been dubbed iLearn. It provides a considered, proactive approach to faculty training and student learning by integrating the use of effective, relevant and transparent technologies into teaching. It has three goals: improve student learning, enhance faculty teaching and provide additional resources.

“I said when we started this process that Freed-Hardeman was a good university but that we would be a much better one when the reaffirmation was completed,” Vickie Johnson said. “I still believe that to be true.”