Statement of Accreditation Status
as of March 31, 2023
Western Oklahoma State College
2801 N. Main St.
Altus, OK 73521
(580) 477-2000
www.wosc.edu
*Previous names: Institution name changed from Altus Junior College to Western Oklahoma State College. (1973)
The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission. General information about the Commission and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document. In addition, links to definitions are provided for many of the terms used.
Accreditation Information
Current status: Accredited
• Action Letter - Reaffirmation of Accreditation
| Candidacy date(s): |
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| Accreditation granted: |
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Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2018 - 2019
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2024 - 2025
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
| Date | Event | Description |
| 10/28/2024: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History With HLC
| Date | Event | Description |
| 01/03/2022: | Interim Report | Accepted |
| 06/27/2019: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Reaffirm Accreditation - The Institution meets, but with concerns, Criterion Four, Core Component 4.B, "the institution demonstrates a commitment to educational achievement and improvement through ongoing assessment of student learning," for the following reasons: • Western has a systematic process for collecting and reporting assessment results at the course level. The Institution ties both course and program learning outcomes across all disciplines within its curriculum to the institutional learning outcomes within its annual Report on Assessment Activities. The Institution's data are aggregated to produce program outcome results, and these results then feed into general education assessment. Program reports include past and anticipated changes based on data, as well as resources needed at the course level. • Western cites the connection between assessment of course, program and institutional learning outcomes, analysis of the data, identification of actionable opportunities and improvement efforts themselves. Such connections, however, are difficult to track given the "siloed" documentation that separates the annual Assessment Report, Program Reviews, and the annual College Plan. • While course-level assessment processes have served well in the collection and reporting of assessment data, improvements need to be made in the communication of how these results feed into the General Education Assessment, and training in the analysis and use of assessment results at the varying levels is needed. The general education assessment does not report on how the accumulated evidence from the assessments have impacted change or improved general education outcomes across the curriculum. • Although Western has implemented new methods of co-curricular assessments in recent years, additional steps need to be taken to develop and implement a campus-wide plan for co-curricular assessment. The Institution must plan and develop comprehensive student co-curricular structure and outcomes as it would in curricular design. The assessment of the co-curricular program must be developed to include direct and indirect assessment design. • The Institution is making progress on assessment of student learning in academic areas; however, there has been insufficient time to demonstrate systemic results. The Institution needs to continue its momentum in developing and communicating curricular and co-curricular assessment. Although its assessment processes have been systematic, they have not been systemic. |
| 02/10/2017: | Interim Report | Accepted |
| 11/01/2016: | Monitoring, Non-Financial Indicator | |
| 06/25/2015: | Probation | Continue Accreditation |
| 08/11/2014: | Focused Visit | Accepted |
| 04/06/2013: | Placed on Probation | |
| 09/04/2008: | Comprehensive Evaluations - Approved for Continued Accreditation | |
General Institutional Information
This section provides brief, general information about the institution’s organization and scope as self-reported by the institution through its annual Institutional Update to HLC.
The U.S. Department of Education publishes a College Scorecard (available at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/), which allows students to search and compare colleges: their fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more. Additional information can also be found at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/.
Please note: All institutions are required to represent themselves accurately and consistently to multiple agencies. However, some information about institutions may appear differently among agencies depending on the timing of the institution's updates to those agencies or those agencies' definitions or standards. Such agencies should be consulted directly for further information. For example, an institution's "Control" (or "Type") may be categorized differently by the U.S. Department of Education for other purposes under its standards.
Control: Public
Degree programs (number in each category): Associates (21)
Certificate programs (number offered): 6
Off-Campus Activities (This listing was last updated: 01/13/2023.) The institution’s accreditation includes courses and programs at these approved sites. (This includes sites that are active and inactive (meaning approved but currently without students):
| In-State: | Campuses: | None. |
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| Additional Locations: | Altus Air Force Base - Altus AFB, Oklahoma Animal Science Education Center, WOSC Rodeo Arena - Altus, Oklahoma Cameron Site - Lawton, Oklahoma North Fork Correctional Facility - Sayre, Oklahoma Western Oklahoma State College/Regional Medical Center Distance Learning Site - Elk City, Oklahoma |
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| Out-of-State: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | Oklahoma State Reformatory - Granite, OK |
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| Out-of-U.S.: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | None. | |||
| Location | Campuses | Additional Locations |
| In-State: | None. | Altus Air Force Base - Altus AFB, Oklahoma Animal Science Education Center, WOSC Rodeo Arena - Altus, Oklahoma Cameron Site - Lawton, Oklahoma North Fork Correctional Facility - Sayre, Oklahoma Western Oklahoma State College/Regional Medical Center Distance Learning Site - Elk City, Oklahoma |
| Out-of-State: | None. | Oklahoma State Reformatory - Granite, OK |
| Out-of-U.S.: | None. | None. |
About HLC and Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in the United States.
Institutional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC’s accreditation includes all degree levels as well as onsite and online course delivery. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through specialized or programmatic accreditation agencies, which accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.
Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status. HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation reflect a set of Guiding Values.
The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Approximately 2,000 educators from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. They make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies, which take final action on institutional evaluations and are made up of both peer reviewers and public members.
Evaluation Process
HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets threshold requirements and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to data annually in the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices, including Assumed Practices and Obligations of Membership.
Decision Making
HLC’s decision-making bodies evaluate and make decisions, called actions, on recommendations from peer review teams that review institutions for their compliance with HLC's Criteria for Accreditation and other requirements. The decision-making bodies are comprised of institutional representatives and public members. See Decision-Making Bodies and Processes for more information.
Public Information
HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.
Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution’s accreditation status are disclosed to the public. In cases of reaffirming continued accreditation, placing an institution on or reviewing a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available for viewing on the institution’s Statement of Accreditation Status, found by searching the institution’s name through HLC’s online directory. Public Disclosure Notices are also issued and posted in the directory in cases of sanction, assigning or removing an institutional designation, resignation of accreditation or candidacy, institutional closing or withdrawal of accreditation by HLC. The PDN provides the public with the most applicable information from the posted Action Letter. HLC decision-making outcomes also are summarized on the HLC Institutional Actions page.
Complaints Against Institutions
HLC has a formal complaint process, consisting of an online complaint form on the HLC website, for faculty, students and other parties to submit information regarding a member institution’s potential non-compliance with HLC requirements. HLC does not accept complaints through mail, email or over the phone. As stated in HLC policy, the complaints process is designed to enable HLC to review, in a timely and fair manner, information that suggests potential substantive non-compliance with an institution’s ability to meet HLC requirements.
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