Accreditations and Memberships
Academic accreditation plays a vital role in colleges and universities maintaining
and strengthening quality academic standards and practices. Ouachita Baptist University
was first accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 1927 and has held continuous accreditation since 1953.
Ouachita’s accreditation most recently was reaffirmed by the Higher Learning Commission
in 2018 following an in-depth three-year self-study by university faculty and staff.
One key aspect of that study was the adoption of Ouachita’s Vision, Mission and Values Statement which affirms, in part, that “Ouachita Baptist University is a Christ-centered learning
community. Embracing the liberal arts tradition, the university prepares individuals
for ongoing intellectual and spiritual growth, lives of meaningful work and reasoned
engagement with the world.”
Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
800.621.7440
Within the university, the following schools and programs have earned additional accreditation:
- Didactic Dietetic Program (Patterson School of Natural Sciences): Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Division of Music (School of Fine Arts): National Association of Schools of Music
- Hickingbotham School of Business: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Teacher Education Program (Huckabee School of Education): Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Department of Nursing (School of Natural Sciences) : Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
The university also is a member of the following organizations:
- American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)
- Consortium for Global Education (CGE)
- Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU)
- Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- Great American Conference (GAC)
- International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities (IABCU)
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, Division II)
- National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
