2025-11-23T15:06:52-07:00 2025-06-30 990EZ 2024-07-01 851816923 LEIGHTON UNIVERSITY LEIG 9013365315 3805 Heathcliff Drive Horn Lake MS 38637 Lillian Takona President 9013365315 2025-11-16 1 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X X https://leighton-edu.us X X 21240 X 21240 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21240 0 0 0 8081 11760 975 0 20816 424 20816 0 21240 20816 21240 0 0 0 0 20816 21240 0 0 20816 21240 Leighton University is established as a private, non-profit institution of higher learning dedicated to expanding access to high-quality, student-centered education in the State of Mississippi and beyond. The institution exists to provide transformative academic programs that cultivate intellectual rigor, professional competence, ethical leadership, and lifelong learning. Guided by a commitment to public service and social responsibility, Leighton University seeks to prepare graduates who contribute meaningfully to their communities, advance human well-being, and address emerging challenges across diverse fields of practice. The purpose of the institution is to create an inclusive learning environment where students from varied backgrounds can pursue academic and professional goals through well-designed curricula, evidence-based teaching, and robust student support services. Guided by a commitment to public service and social responsibility, Leighton University seeks to prepare graduates who contribute meaningfully to their communities, advance human well-being, and address emerging challenges across diverse fields of practice. Fiscal Year: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Leighton University advanced its establishment as a fully online, nonprofit institution by focusing on the state authorization process with the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation (MCCA), the agency responsible for administering Title 37, Chapter 60 of the Mississippi Code of 1972. Building on feedback from the prior year's application, the University devoted extensive time to refining faculty and staff recruitment plans, strengthening evidence of financial responsibility, and improving institutional capacity and program documentation to ensure compliance with state requirements. During the reporting period, Leighton University submitted the majority of its AY 2024-2025 materials to the MCCA, including revised academic program descriptions, updated organizational structures, hiring plans, financial projections, and operational policies. The University also made substantial progress in developing the technological infrastructure required for online operations, identifying and engaging Student Information System (SIS) providers capable of supporting admissions, student records, fiscal processes, and academic services. In addition to regulatory preparation and technology development, the University invested significant effort in building national relationships and cultivating a support network aligned with its mission as a nonprofit institution. These partnerships enhanced institutional visibility, broadened professional support, and contributed to long-term sustainability. Overall, the fiscal year represented substantial forward momentum, positioning Leighton University for continued progress toward state authorization and the successful launch of a fully online, high-quality educational institution. 0 20816 20816 Lillian Takona President of the Board of Directors 25 0 0 0 Rebecca Kigaita Vice President of the Board 20 0 0 0 Brenda Morgan Secretary and Member of Board of Directors 15 0 0 0 Kelli Kobe Member Board of Director 15 0 0 0 Caroline Noel Member Board of Directors 15 0 0 0 Kristopher Anderson Member Board of Trustees 15 0 0 0 Nicholas Alipui Member Board of Trustees 15 0 0 0 Rudy Mattai Member Board of Trustee 15 0 0 0 Sam Talala President of the Board of Trustees 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lillian Takona 3805 Heathcliff Drive Horn Lake MS 38637 9013365315 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 NONE NONE 1 X 0 31225 34400 23180 21240 110045 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31225 34400 23180 21240 110045 100 109945 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 110045 0 0.99909 1 X Schedule A, Part I, Line 10 No other source of income beyond contributions. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Schedule E, Part I Our records indicate that we do not have any students, as the state has not fully approved us to admit any. Our student head count is zero (0). Schedule E, Part I, Line 3 Leighton University affirms that it has a racially nondiscriminatory policy applicable to all prospective students and members of the institutional community. Consistent with IRS requirements, the University has publicly posted this policy on its official website in locations readily accessible to the general public, including sections addressing admissions, institutional policies, and student services. These postings serve as public notice to all parts of the community the University intends to serve. Although the institution remains in the pre-operational phase, the policy is already available through its online presence, which functions as its primary public communication platform Schedule E, Part I, Line 4 These are filed in our offices. Form 990-EZ, Header, Line A Line A. Supplemental Information to Form 990-EZ, including additional detail regarding program service accomplishments and organizational activities during the fiscal year: Line A. Supplemental Information to Form 990-EZ During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Leighton University continued its efforts to establish itself as a fully online, nonprofit institution committed to accessible and high-quality higher education. The primary institutional priority for this fiscal year was the preparation of materials for review by the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation (MCCA), the agency responsible for administering Title 37, Chapter 60, Mississippi Code of 1972. The University devoted substantial time and resources to preparing and aligning its academic programs, governance structures, and institutional documents for MCCA approval. Most components of the academic year 2024-2025 submission were completed, and the institution invested extensive hours responding to Commission expectations, refining required program documentation, and ensuring full compliance with state regulatory standards. In addition to accreditation preparation, the University advanced the development of its internal infrastructure to support future operations as a fully online institution. These efforts included identifying a Student Information System (SIS), establishing lines of communication with system providers, and strengthening administrative processes essential for student enrollment, record keeping, and academic delivery. As a nonprofit institution, Leighton University also initiated outreach and relationship-building efforts with national partners, supporters, and professional networks to establish a foundation of external support for the institution's mission and long-term sustainability. Operationally, the fiscal year involved substantial planning and alignment of institutional policies, governance documents, academic programs, technology infrastructure, and compliance frameworks. These actions were essential to positioning the University for MCCA approval and for future federal and state reporting requirements. The University's activities during this period did not involve instructional delivery or tuition-based operations, as institutional resources were primarily allocated toward start-up development, accreditation readiness, and compliance preparation. No significant changes occurred in the mission or governing documents during this period, and the organization continued to operate exclusively for educational and charitable purposes. Form 990-EZ, Header, Line B During the fiscal year, the Board of Trustees continued to refine Leighton University's emerging governance and administrative framework to support long-term institutional stability. Although no formal amendments were made to the governing documents during this period, the Board engaged in regular review of its policies, operational procedures, and compliance expectations to ensure that the institution remains aligned with state regulatory requirements and best practices in nonprofit higher education administration. Trustees met periodically to evaluate progress on accreditation preparation, review financial stewardship, and assess institutional needs related to technology infrastructure, student services, and academic program development. These meetings helped to clarify roles, strengthen internal controls, and position the University for forthcoming phases of accreditation and operational expansion. The organization maintained its commitment to transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility, and no material governance issues arose that required corrective action during the reporting period. Form 990-EZ, Part I, Line 20 Description;Amount^No description;0^Total;0^ Server issues.