Shawnee State University received its Quality Check-Up Report by the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the Portsmouth university.

According to Elizabeth Blevins, executive director of communications at SSU, AQIP is the method of accreditation for the university. Representatives from The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools spent two days in October touring the SSU campus and meeting with faculty, staff and students.

The report was released to SSU this month, finding successes in the university’s friendly and helpful staff, and its advertising that accurately portrays students.

“The reviewers were very positive overall and made particular mention of our management of limited resources and our flexibility in accommodating such rapid growth. They found us to be in compliance with accreditation expectations and committed to continuous improvement,” SSU President Rita Rice Morris wrote in her weekly newsletter.

One area identified in need of improvement was communication between internal committees.

“For different committees involved in improvement projects, and different areas to be able to know across the institution what those projects are and where we are with them,” Blevins said.

Morris wrote in her newsletter that The Strategic Planning Committee will be working over the following weeks and months to address these opportunities for improvement.

“These include establishing procedures for creating, continuing and retiring quality improvement action projects; establishing a plan of action for communicating continuous improvement issues and accomplishments across the campus; creating a timeline and process for ongoing and accurate updates to the Systems Portfolio; and performing a periodic review of our progress with Shawnee 20/20 action items and goals,” Morris wrote.

Blevins said this is all part of continuously looking for ways to improve the university.