Accreditation and Quality Initiative
Accreditation
Accreditation assesses the capacity of an institution and its programs to assure quality and to produce evidence that it does so. As an accredited institution, Edison State Community College is expected to have the standards, processes, and the will for quality assurance in depth and throughout our educational offerings and programs that includes a focus on student learning, education, continuous improvement, evidence-based institutional learning, integrity, ethical behavior, institutional sustainability, mission-centeredness and accreditation through peer review. Holding accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission is a privilege that we proudly maintain.
Edison State Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Higher Learning Commission accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region of the United States. Please see the Accreditation
As an accredited institution of higher education, Edison State undergoes regular monitoring to maintain accreditation. This monitoring includes compliance with the Criteria for Accreditation.
| Criterion 1 | Mission | The institution's mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution's operations. |
| Criterion 2 | Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct | The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible. |
| Criterion 3 | Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support | The institution provides high quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered. |
| Criterion 4 | Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement | The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments and support services; and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement. |
| Criterion 5 | Resources, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness | The institution's resources, structures and processes are sufficient to fulfill its mission, improve the quality of its educational offerings and respond to future challenges and opportunities. The institution plans for the future. |
The full version of the Critera for Accreditation is available online.
Edison State Community College academic programs that hold accreditation with professional accrediting bodies can be reviewed on the Accreditation page.
The Higher Learning Commission is required by the U.S. Department of Education to assure that all of its member institutions are complying with the expectations of specific regulations that accreditors must enforce as a part of their federal recognition. In addition, the Commission is required to review the institution's compliance with its Title IV program responsibilities. Compliance with these requirements by both institutions and the Commission is necessary to ensure that institutions accredited by the Commission are eligible for federal financial aid.
Also see Consumer Information.
Edison State Community College is currently seeking authorization from other states where instruction is delivered for distance education. Please see the Accreditation page.
Quality Initiatives
Edison State Community College adopted the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach to organizational performance in 2000. In 2001, the College joined the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) and the Continuous Quality Improvement Network (CQIN). In 2018, Edison State transitioned from AQIP to the Open Pathway for Accreditation, following HLC's decision to phase out AQIP. The College's focus remains on quality assurance, institutional improvement and innovative initiatives.
The Edison State Open Pathway Map can be viewed by clicking the button below.
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is at the core of our quality thinking. It means that Edison State will continuously evaluate our operations and processes to make them better, focusing on the process rather than the individual. CQI Process Teams apply the Plan | Do | Check | Act cycle of quality improvement and the President's Cabinet monitors the results. Any continuous quality improvement journey is long and arduous—it is continuous. Edison State's process management focus supports our efforts to be a stronger, learner-centered college, to encourage a more positive workplace and to be more supportive of each other in an ever-changing higher education environment.
CQI Process Teams
CQI Process Teams are commissioned by the CQI Steering Committee to address college-wide opportunities for improvement. All CQI processes are continually evaluated for cycles of improvement, ownership and subsequent retirement of any process that has been successfully integrated into daily business operations.
Edison State Community College utilizes a Baldrige-based Employee Satisfaction Survey to evaluate our leadership's performance in providing an understandable mission, guiding values, positive work environment, information sharing, individual career advancement opportunities, prioritization of initiatives and opportunities.
The Employee Satisfaction Survey measures the level of which employees are satisfied with the intent of the statement on an 4-point scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. It is an annual measurement of employee satisfaction based on the criterion of:
- Mission and Integrity
- Leadership
- Quality of Programs and Support Services
- Evaluation and Improvement
- Inclusion and Belonging
The Employee Satisfaction Survey is figured on a 'positive response' rating where the total of the positive indicators are divided by the total of the positive and negative indicators. 'Neither Agree nor Disagree' responses are not factored in the totals. See the results of the most recent survey:
Quality Leaders
The following individuals have periodic communication with the President. Unresolved concerns may be shared with your representative group to be discussed with the President.
Academic Year 2023–2024
ESEA Representatives | Executive Committee
President: Dustin Wenrich
Vice President: TBA
Secretary: TBA
Treasurer: Vickie Kirk
Academic Senate Executive Committee
Chair: William Loudermilk
Past Chair: Greg Clem
Secretary: Vickie Kirk
Academic Standards | Executive Committee Member: Eileen Thompson
Assessment | Executive Committee Member: Enrique Rivera-Cerezo
Curriculum | Executive Committee Member: Susan Barth
Professional Development | Executive Committee Member: Beka Lindeman
Non-Faculty | Executive Committee Member: Amber Hare
Governance Senate Representatives
Academic Year 2023–2024
Student Senate | Officers
President
Director of Operations
Director of Administration
Staff Senate | Representatives
Co-Chair: Rhonda Rich
Co-Chair: Meghan Cotterman
Secretary: Lisa Hall
Amy Borgert
Al Decker
Carolyn Jackson
Caleb Means
Tucker Schneider
President's Council | Representatives
Senior Leadership:
Chad Beanblossom
Dr. Rick Hanes
Bruce Jamison
Heather Lanham
James Lehmkuhl
Kara Myers
Chris Spradlin, President
Dr. Melissa A. Wertz
Faculty:
Gail Ahmed
Marva Archibald
Rachael Detraz
Michael Houser
Vickie Kirk
William Loudermilk
Erin Reese
Leah Shreves
Dr. Sara Young
Staff:
Stacey Bean
Amy Borgert
Todd Brittingham
Tom Burelison
Nate Cole
Andrea Francis
Roger Fulk
Amber Hare
Lisa Hoops
Paige Kiley
Justin McCulla
Bruce McKenzie
Christina Raterman
Joe Ratermann
Administration:
Jill Bobb
Rachel Carlisle
Macy Guillozet
Dr. Paul Heintz
Harold Hitchcock
Brandi Olberding
Dr. Andy Runyan
President's Cabinet
Academic Year 2023–2024
Chad Beanblossom
Dr. Rick Hanes
Heather Lanham
James Lehmkuhl
Bruce McKenzie
Kara Myers
Chris Spradin, President
Dr. Melissa A. Wertz
Blake Madden
Institutional Data Analyst
937.381.1538