IDP_MLS_Accreditation
Accreditation & Reports
MLS Program Accreditation
American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, with the status of conditional accreditation. The next comprehensive review is scheduled for Fall 2025.
The MLS program is also nationally recognized by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), offering coursework in school librarianship that meets the requirements of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for licensure as a school library media coordinator.
Student Retention and Time to Degree
| Semester | Incoming Students | Still Enrolled | Percent Still Enrolled | Graduated | Average Time to Degree (years) | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | 98 | 86 | 88% | 24 | 2.4 | 83% |
| Spring 2023 | 22 | 17 | 77% | 30 | 2.9 | 81% |
| Fall 2023 | 38 | 36 | 95% | 19 | 2.9 | 90% |
| Spring 2024 | 35 | 19 | 54% | 39 | 2.4 | 81% |
| Fall 2024 | 46 | 39 | 85% | 50 | 3.0 | 80% |
| Spring 2025 | 26 | 25 | 96% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fall 2025 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Current Student Demographics
*This data is provided by the ECU Institutional Planning, Assessment & Research (IPAR) office. Further gender identity and ethnicity identity-based information is not available. The program recognizes the limitations and biases represented in this data.
Alumni Data 2022-2025
Surveys of graduating MLS students from Fall 2022 through Spring 2025 indicate:
- 98% of MLS graduates had a positive academic experience at ECU
- 98% of MLS graduates feel prepared to enter the LIS professions
- 95% of MLS graduates rate the quality of online instructional delivery as good/excellent
- 80% of MLS graduates have secured a position in the LIS fields or a related area
MLS Program Goals and Objectives
The MLS Program is a unit within the Department of Interdisciplinary Professions (IDP) in the College of Education. Our approach to library science is grounded in the ethics and principles of the LIS professions. We are committed to ensuring the success of our students, who will be our future colleagues. To that end, the MLS Program’s goals and objectives focus on teaching excellence, student success, impactful research, and community engagement, aligning the priorities outlined in East Carolina University’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan.
Goal 1 – Student Success
Offer transformative experiences preparing professionals to meet the information needs of global citizens and communities with an ethos of excellence.
- Objective 1.1: The MLS Program will recruit and retain a diverse student body representing work across the LIS professions and the communities that they serve.
- Objective 1.2: The MLS Program will fortify students with socio- cultural professional knowledge and values to ensure that students enter the profession as culturally competent leaders for North Carolina and beyond
Goal 2 – Teaching Excellence
Teach research-based library science principles, practices, and technologies to develop a professional identity, grounded in community-based information services.
- Objective 2.1: The MLS Program will offer courses that align the foundations of library science with contemporary ideologies, methodologies, and technologies.
- Objective 2.2: The MLS Program will educate students about the value of community-based libraries and information services in a global society.
Goal 3 – Impactful Research
Engage in impactful research that supports the information professions and builds new knowledge to support the advancement of library and information science.
- Objective 3.1: The MLS Faculty will conduct research relatable to the social and cultural rurality of Eastern North Carolina and similar communities.
- Objective 3.2: The MLS Faculty will engage students in scholarship that centers community and is meaningful to their interests and context.
Goal 4 – Community Engagement
Impart the values of service, leadership, and collaboration within diverse communities and the LIS professions.
- Objective 4.1: The MLS Program will develop and foster relationships with regional, state, national, and international LIS professional organizations.
- Objective 4.2: The MLS Program will support students in contextualizing and honoring embedded local knowledge in communities.