As staff to the Board of Trustees, the Office of Academic and Student Affairs coordinates system-wide activities through the formulation, interpretation, and implementation of policies related to academic programs, teaching and learning, student affairs, and continuing education. In addition, the Office of Academic and Student Affairs promotes academic quality in educational development to meet the diverse academic, workforce and lifelong needs of all Mississippians.

• Academic Guidelines Form
• Complete Academic Guidelines
• Academic Guidelines Report Calendar
• Academic Program Inventory
• Summer Development Program Manual

The Mississippi Association of Colleges for Teacher Education provides leadership in Mississippi for the continuing transformation of professional preparation programs to ensure competent and caring educators for all of Mississippi's children and youth. It is the principal professional association and primary voice for college and university leaders with responsibility for educator preparation.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB Act), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), places a major emphasis upon teacher quality as a factor in improving student achievement. The new Title II programs focus on preparing, training, and recruiting high-quality teachers and principals and requires States to develop plans with annual measurable objectives that will ensure that all teachers teaching in core academic subjects are highly qualified by the end of the 2005-2006 school year. Reaching this goal will require reform of traditional teacher training, which usually conducted in colleges if education, as well as the innovative expansion of alternative routes to teacher licensure. It will also require more effective in-service training and professional development for teachers currently in the classroom.

The State of Mississippi provides support to public school teachers with at least three years of teaching experience seeking advanced certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This support includes:

• Reimbursement of the $2,300 fee on completion of the process (whether or not certification is achieved);
• Provision of a salary supplement of $6,000 per year for the life of the National Board Certificate (10 years); and
• Renewal of the Mississippi Teaching License for one five-year period.

If you are interested in acquiring an online college degree, Mississippi has a number of Distance Learning opportunities and options available. You can earn a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree through flexible distance and online programs designed to fit your lifestyle. Whether you are an adult returning to complete a degree, serving in the US military, or restricted by distance and geography, our online degree programs and courses are designed to fit your life - no matter where you are.

The Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation (MCCA) has statutory authority and duty to approve all colleges and universities or other entities that offer one or more postsecondary academic degrees and are domiciled, incorporated or otherwise located in the State of Mississippi.