A university based in West Virginia with branches in Mooresville and Hickory will soon lose its accreditation. Mountain State University has about 140 students enrolled at those campuses. The regional Higher Learning Commission posted on its website Tuesday that the school had failed to correct major problems which include leadership, learning support for students, and inadequate financial resources. The commission notified the university of those problems in February. The chairman of the university's board of trustees Jerry Ice says the school has made significant changes since then. "We recognized that withdrawal of accreditation was a possibility," says Ice. "But, quite frankly, I and the rest of the members of the board were optimistic that our accreditation would be continued." The commission's 10-page report said Mountain State University has a culture focused more on growing enrollment than quality instruction. It went on to say teachers taught too many courses and didn't have enough time to help students. It also says several university administrators don't have the experience they should. Mountain State University plans to appeal the decision.
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