News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 19, 2005

LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER EARNS ACCREDITATION REAFFIRMATION

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirmed LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans accreditation at its meeting on December 5, 2005. The university was awarded a 10year reaffirmation of accreditation with no monitoring reports required. Accreditation is required for all federally sponsored education programs including student loans.

            Despite the displacement of LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans caused by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Joseph Moerschbaecher, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Michael Levitzky, President of the Faculty Senate, led this process to a successful conclusion, said Dr. Larry Hollier, Acting Chancellor and Dean of the School of Medicine.

            The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the recognized regional accrediting body in the eleven U.S. Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia) and in Latin America for those institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees. The Commission on Colleges is the representative body of the College Delegate Assembly and is charged with carrying out the accreditation process. To gain or maintain accreditation with the Commission on Colleges, an institution must comply with the standards contained in the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement and with the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges. .

            Accreditation by the Commission on Colleges signifies that an institution has a purpose appropriate to higher education and has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that purpose. Accreditation indicates that an institution maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers, and that it is successful in achieving its stated objectives.

            We greatly appreciate the guidance and understanding the staff of the Commission on Colleges of SACS provided to all of the schools impacted by the recent storms, especially LSU Health Sciences Center, noted Moerschbaecher.

            The process for initial and continued accreditation involves a collective analysis and judgment by an institutions internal constituencies, an informed review by peers external to the institution, and a reasoned decision by the elected members of the Commission on Colleges. Accredited institutions periodically conduct internal reviews involving their administrative officers, staffs, faculties, students, trustees, and others appropriate to the process. The internal review allows an institution to consider its effectiveness in achieving its stated mission and its compliance with the accreditation requirements established by the member institutions. Furthermore, it helps an institution evaluate its efforts in enhancing the quality of student learning and the quality of programs and services offered to its constituencies as well as challenge itself to examine its successes in accomplishing its mission. At the culmination of the internal review, peer evaluators representing the Commission apply their professional judgment through a preliminary assessment of the institution; elected Commissioners make the final determination of an institutions compliance with the accreditation requirements.

Contact: Leslie Capo; Temp Office 225-763-2808; Cell 504-452-9166