Murray State University earns reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Murray State University has earned reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The new 10-year accreditation was a rigorous multi-year effort and process led by the Office of the Provost and involved numerous academic and administrative areas across the University to present a profile of the institution and demonstrate compliance with all SACSCOC standards and requirements. The process culminated in a multi-day campus visit by a SACSCOC review team last spring.
This is the second consecutive 10-year reaffirmation in which there were no recommendations given by SACSCOC to Murray State.
“Murray State University received its first accreditation in 1928. Since that time, it has cultivated a tradition of excellence through the development and enhancement of its programs, services and resources,” said SACSCOC liaison and Senior Associate Provost Dr. Bob Pervine. “It is because of this diligence that Murray State University has consistently upheld all accreditation requirements and standards presented by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Murray State University is, first and foremost, committed to the success of its students, which makes the reaffirmation process a top priority.”
“Echoing Dr. Pervine, we are very proud of this reaffirmation. In many ways, reaffirmation of accreditation is a true mark of high quality, especially when for 20 years now, our result was with no recommendations. That in and of itself is a testament to how seriously the faculty, staff and students take the reaffirmation process. Indeed, we are very proud of all of the work that goes into this process,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Tim Todd.
“We are very proud of this new 10-year reaffirmed accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges for Murray State University,” Murray State President Dr. Bob Jackson said. “To receive a second consecutive reaffirmation with no recommendations is significant and rare within the higher education landscape. I am grateful to our Office of the Provost for all of their hard work and dedication to ensuring a successful accreditation process, which is a multi-year effort and very rigorous in nature. Academic excellence and student success are vitally important at Murray State University, and these reaffirmations are not accidental in nature. I am thankful to our Board of Regents, administration, faculty, staff and students for their continued commitment and efforts in advancing this mission.”
Murray State University Promise offered as statewide tuition assistance program for qualifying first-time freshmen and new transfer students
Murray State University continues to offer the Murray State Promise as first-time freshmen and new transfer students throughout the state of Kentucky may be eligible for this tuition assistance program.
The program provides scholarship assistance to help pay for tuition and mandatory fees if the student’s combined federal, state, institutional and private gift aid total is less than the cost of Murray State’s tuition (12-15 hours).
Recognized nationally as one of America’s best college values, Murray State is the #1 “Best Value School” in the South region by U.S. News and World Report as part of the publication’s annual rankings.
Murray State has been recognized nationally for both quality and value by the following publications:
• Washington Monthly“Best Bang for the Buck”
• Wall Street Journal“Best Colleges in the United States”
• Niche - “Best Colleges in Kentucky”
• Colleges of Distinctiona “2024-25 Best College”
Murray State has also been recognized as a member of the FirstGen Forward Network and has achieved silver status by Military Friendly as a Military Friendly school for 2024-25.
Individuals are encouraged to learn more by visiting murraystate.edu/ promise or contacting the Scholarship Office at (800) 272-4678 or msu.scholarships@murraystate.edu.
Dr.
Aaron Thompson awarded an honorary doctorate at Murray State University’s fall 2024 commencement
Dr. Aaron Thompson, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), was awarded an honorary doctorate from Murray State University as part of the fall 2024 commencement ceremony on Dec. 14.
A total of 727 degree applicants from 30 states and 16 countries comprised the graduating class including doctoral, specialist, master’s, baccalaureate and associate degrees.
“I am thrilled to receive this honor from Murray State University, an institution that has distinguished itself for its commitment to academic excellence and student success,”
Thompson said. “I’m proud to call myself an honorary Racer.”
Senior Sara Morgan selected for Best Buddies International Young Leaders Council
Sara Morgan, a senior elementary education major from Louisville, Kentucky, has been selected to serve a two-year term on the Best Buddies International Young Leaders Council (YLC).
The Best Buddies International Young Leaders Council is a leadership program that connects student perspectives with the staff experience to support Best Buddies International initiatives.
Acceptance into the YLC is highly competitive, with acceptance rates ranging from 9% to 20%. This year, nine new members were selected from seven states to serve two-year terms, joining the existing council of 37 members representing 15 states and two countries.
Best Buddies, a student organization at Murray State University, works to promote
inclusion. Morgan currently serves as co-president of the Murray State chapter.
The YLC is dedicated to the education and engagement of student leaders, providing emerging leaders with unique opportunities for personal and professional growth. Morgan applied for the program in July 2024 and underwent a rigorous selection process before being notified of her acceptance in September.
Morgan’s work will focus on increasing engagement on social media, with the goal of reaching a wider audience to introduce more people to Best Buddies and support other chapters.
“Best Buddies is what sparked my interest in pursuing a career in education,” Morgan said. “Being able to take what I’ve learned through peer tutoring and Best Buddies and apply it in the classroom will help me create inclusive environments for students. I hope to either open an elementary chapter somewhere or support students with Individualized Educational Plans or 504 plans, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and help them succeed in the general education classroom.”
Speech and Debate Union wins big at Southern Forensics League debate tournament
The Murray State University Speech and Debate Union locked out the final round of novice International Public Debate Association (IPDA) debate recently at the Southern Forensics League, meaning the team took home both first and second place.
Dr. Ryan Goke, director of the Speech and Debate Union, said this is the first time that Murray State has had such a dominant performance since fall 2017 and only the second time in program history.
Co-champions Caleb McCurren, a junior from Paducah, Kentucky, and Zack Benz, a freshman from Eureka, Missouri, won 11 of the 12 judges’ ballots in their final two rounds, securing the top two spots at the tournament. Benz was undefeated in the preliminaries with a perfect 4-0 record. McCurren went 3-1. Both students won their quarterfinal rounds with a 3-0 decision, which resulted in Murray State closing out the final round. Out of the 20 total ballots, McCurren and Benz won 18 of them.
Benz also won champion speaker in novice IPDA debate.
Other notable awards include:
• Second place and top novice in communication analysis: Samuel Miller, a freshman from Island, Kentucky
• Fourth place in programmed oral interpretation: Zack Benz
• Fifth place in after dinner speaking: Caleb McCurren
• Fifth place novice IPDA debate speaker: Caleb McCurren
“These awards are especially impressive because this is Samuel, Zack and Caleb’s first ever tournament,” said Goke.