Institutional Research and Assessment

Accreditation

Spring Hill College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate and master's degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Spring Hill College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

The College's Education programs are accredited by the Alabama State Department of Education. Last review: April 2021. P-12 Visual Arts is approved through June 2022; all other programs are approved through June 2024.

The College's BSN Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Last review: November 2013. Approved through June 2024.

Student Outcomes and Achievement Data

In keeping with our institutional mission, Spring Hill College strives to prepare responsible leaders in service to others. in order to accomplish this mission, our educational programming focuses on the following intellectual and practical outcomes: critical thinking; reading; effective communication; quantitative literacy; moral development; social awareness through cultural diversity; understanding human nature; and integration of knowledge. These outcomes are pursued within each of Spring Hill College's undergraduate and graduate programs.

Goals

In 2017, the College identified the following minimum criteria for success in persistence:

90% of first-time, first-year students will persist as enrolled students to the second semester and
75% of first-time, first-year students will persist as enrolled students to the sophomore year.

The College also identified the following goals for improvement:

92% of first-time, first-year students will persist as enrolled students to the second semester and
80% of first-time, first-year students will persist as enrolled students to the sophomore year.

In 2017, the College identified the following minimum criteria for success in completion:

60% of first-time, first-year students will complete the Bachelor's degrees within six years and
50% of first-time, first-year students will complete their Bachelor's degrees within four years.

The College also identified the following goals for improvement:

70% of first-time, first-year students will complete the Bachelor's degrees within six years and
60% of first-time, first-year students will complete their Bachelor's degrees within four years.

In 2017, the College identified the following minimum criteria for success in post-graduation plans of senior undergraduates: 90% of senior undergraduates will, by Commencement, have specific plans for employment, graduate study, or full-time volunteer service.

In 2017, the College identified the following minimum criteria for success in alumni experiences: 40% of senior undergraduates will, by the year following graduation, have full-time employment, graduate study, or full-time volunteer service.

Results

General student-achievement data are published on a regular cycle. Results of our student-achievement efforts include the following:

- 56% of Spring Hill College undergraduates complete their degrees within six years (Fall 2015 cohort).
- Similar, 58% of the Spring Hill undergraduates from the 2013 cohort completed their degrees within eight years, and 56% completed within six years.
- The average Fall-to-Fall retention rate over the 2015-2019 cohorts is 76%, while the average Fall-to-Spring retention rate is 91.9% for the same incoming cohorts. The fall-to-fall retention rate from Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 is 77%.
- Of alumni graduating after 2011, over 97% report being employed, attending graduate or professional school, or being retired (2022 data, n=101). Of alumni graduating after 2016, 100% report being employed, attending graduate or professional school, or being retired (2022 data, n=49).

For additional detail on Spring Hill College student achievement outcomes, please feel free to peruse the individual reports available in our Assessment and Institutional Research links, or email ir@shc.edu with requests.