Accreditations & Notices
Southwest Minnesota State University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the Minnesota Board of Teaching, the Council on Social Work Education, the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools,
230 South LaSalle Street
Suite 2400
Chicago IL 60602
(800) 621-7440.
For more information about the Higher Learning Commission visit their website: www.ncahlc.org.
For more information on SMSU's recent reaccreditation process visit: www.SMSU.edu/go/HLC
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement
Southwest Minnesota State University is committed to providing equal education and employment opportunities to all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or membership or activity in a local commission as defined by law, or any other group or class against which discrimination is prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 363, and other applicable state or federal laws. Furthermore, Southwest Minnesota State University will continue to develop and implement timely and comprehensive affirmative action procedures aimed at removing barriers to equal educational and employment opportunity. Inquiries regarding compliance should be referred to the Affirmative Action Officer, (507) 537-6243.
The Minnesota State system and SMSU policies and procedures regarding discrimination and/or harassment are available on the SMSU Affirmation Action Office webpage linked here.
Student Records and Directory Information
The University allows former students, current students, and parents of students under 18 access to their academic records. While the primary record is located in the Registration and Records Office, other records may be located in Admission, Financial Aid, the Business Office, Career Services, Counseling and Testing, the Health Center, Student Development, and academic departments.
The following items have been designated as directory information and may be disclosed without the student’s prior consent: name, class standing, field of study, attendance dates, degrees received, local and home address, local and home phone number, email address, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, awards received, and most recent previous educational agency or institution attended.
View the University's Policies online. Refer to G-009 Student Records for the Privacy of Student Records under the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Copies of the University’s privacy policy may be obtained from the Registration and Records Office or from the Office of Academic Affairs.
Fiscal Information
The University makes available upon request information that accurately describes its financial condition. A copy of the latest Minnesota State system financial statement, the most recent audit, as well as SMSU’s current budget documents are on reserve in the SMSU McFarland Library. Audit information may be viewed online at www.osa.state.mn.us. The MinnState financial statements are available at www.minnstate.edu/system/finance/budget/. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Office of Business Services at (507) 537-6219.
Notice to All Students
Southwest Minnesota State University, in accordance with Minnesota Statute §135.157, is hereby notifying both current and prospective students if they have been arrested, charged or convicted of any criminal offense, they should investigate the impact that the arrest, charge or conviction may have on their chances of employment in the field they intend to study or on their chances to obtain federal, state, and other higher education financial aid.
University Promotional Photographs
Southwest Minnesota State University and its representatives, on occasion, take photographs for the University’s use in print and electronic publications. This serves as public notice of the University’s intent to do so and as a release to the University giving permission to use such images as it deems fit. If you prefer that your photograph(s) not be used for such purposes, you have the right to withhold its release by contacting the Communications and Marketing Office at (507) 537-6255 or (800) 642-0684, ext. 6255.
Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act
Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act. The Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act increased the level of information universities must collect and provide to current and prospective students and employees and to the Department of Education. The first part of the act, entitled the Student Right-to-Know Act, requires colleges and universities to compile and release institution-wide graduation rates for all students, with more detailed statistical information submitted on the graduation rates of athletes. For institution's graduation rates for all students, click here.
Part II of the act, entitled the Campus Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, requires colleges and universities to annually make available to all current employees and students as well as to applicants for enrollment or employment the following information:
- a description of policies concerning the security of and access to all campus facilities; policies and procedures for reporting campus crime; and policies concerning law enforcement along with crime prevention educational programs relating to campus security, and
- statistics concerning the occurrence of certain categories of campus crimes.
Institutions are also required to issue timely warnings to the campus community about criminal activities representing a continued safety threat to aid in crime prevention. In addition, the University complies with the 1998 Higher Education Amendments Act that amended the Campus Security Act by expanding the geographic scope and categories of offenses that must be included in the annual statistics. This information is available on SMSU’s Public Safety website: https://www.smsu.edu/campuslife/publicsafety/ under the “Annual Security and Fire Report” banner, and for a printed copy, contact:
SMSU Office of University Public Safety
Founders Hall Basement
1501 State Street
Marshall, Minn. 56258
or call 507-537-7252.