Meridian Technology Center granted full postsecondary accreditation

The State Board granted full postsecondary accreditation to Meridian Technology Center following a hybrid accreditation visit conducted Sept. 10–12, 2024, agency staff reported.

Why it matters: Accreditation confirms Meridian met the agency’s standards for leadership, instruction, support services, personnel and system impact, and it triggers the agency’s five-year improvement and monitoring schedule. Full accreditation affects the center’s eligibility for federal student aid, grants and statewide recognition.

Visit details and board action: Jessica Ventress, director of academic affairs, said 25 examiners participated in the combined review (agency staff plus examiners from technology centers across the state) and that the team interviewed 37 stakeholders including business and industry partners, administrators, teachers, parents and students. Examiners observed program areas and reviewed documentation against board-approved standards. The examiners found no areas of noncompliance and recommended the board grant full accreditation. The board voted to approve full accreditation for Meridian.

Center response and context: Dr. Majors (presenting for Meridian) thanked the board and agency staff and described accreditation as a system of continuous improvement; he emphasized peer learning within the hybrid accreditation model and credited agency examiners and staff for ongoing system support.

Follow-up: Meridian will submit an action plan within 90 days addressing chosen opportunities for improvement from the accreditation report and will receive a three-year monitoring visit to review progress on the selected items.