Assurance Argument
The University documents compliance with the Higher Learning Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation through the Assurance Argument. The HLC’s Open Pathway requires an Assurance Argument in years four and ten of the ten-year cycle. SAU will be concluding its current ten-year cycle in 2022-2023 with a Comprehensive Evaluation. Faculty and staff can find more information about the Comprehensive Evaluation, including the site visit, in the Faculty and Staff Virtual Center on BlackBoard®.
2022 Assurance Argument [pdf] submitted October 17, 2022.
Systems Portfolios
The Systems Portfolio described SAU’s fundamental institutional systems. The report covered the AQIP categories, describing context, processes, results and improvement in each system, and shows evidence that SAU continues to meet the Higher Learning Commission’s five criteria for accreditation. The portfolio was a valuable resource, both internally and for the University’s external audiences, including accrediting organizations, state higher education agencies, prospective employees, and other stakeholders. The University has transitioned to the Open Pathway and will no longer create a Systems Portfolio for the Higher Learning Commission.
Southern Arkansas University submitted its second Systems Portfolio in 2017. This Systems Portfolio is in the six category format adopted by the Higher Learning Commission.
- 2017 Systems Portfolio [pdf] submitted on May 31, 2017.
- Category 1 – Helping Students Learn
- Category 2 – Meeting Student and other Key Stakeholder Needs
- Category 3 – Valuing Employees
- Category 4 – Planning and Leading
- Category 5 – Knowledge Management and Resource Stewardship
- Category 6 – Quality Overview
- 2013 Complete Systems Portfolio [pdf] submitted on May 30, 2013.
- Category 1 – Helping Students Learn
- Category 2 – Accomplishing other Distinctive Objectives
- Category 3 – Understanding Students’ and other Stakeholders’ Needs
- Category 4 – Valuing People
- Category 5 – Leading and Communicating
- Category 6 – Supporting Organizational Operations
- Category 7 – Measuring Effectiveness
- Category 8 – Planning Continuous Improvement
- Category 9 – Building Collaborative Relationships
