Motlow Wins Accreditation

Motlow Wins Accreditation

Motlow State Community College

A newspaper account of how Motlow College won its academic accreditation in record time.

December 3, 1971

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English

Newspaper Clipping

College Meets Standards in Minimum Time-

Motlow State Community College has gained full Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The action, a milestone in the college’s life, came after a formal vote of the association’s college panel Wednesday during the accrediting body’s annual meeting in Miami.
Dr. Sam H. Ingram the college president was present for the formal approval and telephoned the news to his office on the Motlow campus telling his secretary, Mrs. Kay Wiser, to “pass the word”.
“We’re all quite pleased of course,” said Dr Don England, dean of instruction, shortly after getting the news. “It’s the big news out here.”
Dr. Ingram said that, while he was happy at the outcome, the real credit for the full accreditation was due to the faculty and staff.
“I’m planning to get out a special memo of thanks to them for all their interest, effort and hard work.” he said. “They’re really the ones who have done it all. I just went there and attended the meeting.”
Dr. Ingram said he had been optimistic since the committee left shortly after its visit to the campus earlier this year, making only eight or nine minor recommendations.
Dean England, who attended the first three days of Southern Association session this week, explained that initial approval by the accrediting body is for an indefinite period, but that after a five-year period, Motlow will be asked to make a self-study and report to the association.
Accreditation means the college’s work meets common standards adopted by the accrediting body, which evaluates schools, colleges and universities in the South. The standards are higher than that of the state.
Approval by the Southern Association also gives Motlow’s graduates and transfer students a basis for consideration by other institutions throughout the nation.
While Motlow’s work is now accepted by other state institutions and many private colleges in this area, some institutions will not accept credits from an unaccredited institution.
Motlow has won accreditation within the minimum period required, since a school must be in operation two years before full approval is given. It has been visited twice by committees of educators from out of state evaluating it for Southern Association affiliation and candidacy.
The committees recommended such things as increased library holdings, more teachers holding degrees beyond the master’s, improved physical facilitation and some changes in faculty and staff organization.
Dean England said he and Dr. Ingram presented information of Southern Association hearings in October in Atlanta. He said some candidates were required to present additional information at hearings Sunday in Miami as the annual association meeting opened, but that Motlow was not one of them.
The college opened in the fall of 1969 with slightly more than 500 students, as a result of the combined effort by civic leaders in a ninety-county area, a financial guarantee of required funds by the City of Tullahoma, and the donation of a 200-acre site in the northeast Moore County by the family of State Senator Reagor Motlow of Lynchburg.
This year, it has slightly more than 900 students, and the State Higher Education Commission estimates it will reach the 1000 mark by September.