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SACSCOC Accreditation and maintaining higher education quality, integrity levels

By Erica T. Hughes
 
SACSCOC AccredidationSACSCOC, which stands for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges, is the institutional accrediting agency for Southwest. SACSCOC Accreditation is a process designed to reassure constituents and the public that higher educational institutions maintain acceptable levels of quality and integrity. This is accomplished through internal and external peer reviews, where institutions are evaluated against established standards. 

When an institution receives accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), it signifies several key aspects: a suitable mission for higher education, adequate resources, programs, and services to fulfill and sustain its mission, clearly defined educational objectives consistent with its mission and degree offerings, and success in evaluating and enhancing its progress towards these objectives. SACSCOC accreditation reflects the institution's ongoing dedication to maintaining quality and integrity, along with its ability to deliver effective programs and services aligned with agreed-upon standards.

The decennial reaffirmation of accreditation represents the most extensive and thorough evaluation of an institution. A total of 79 standards are examined in the reaffirmation report. As part of this process, Southwest submitted a Compliance Certification report in March, which is currently being assessed by an off-site committee (the composition of which is beyond the institution's influence).

The Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee's main task is to review the Compliance Certification. Typically, each committee is responsible for evaluating a group of three institutions, selected based on similarities such as the highest degree offered and type of control (public/private). Their role is to make an initial assessment of compliance for each standard outlined in the Compliance Certification.

After the off-site review, Southwest receives feedback on the outcome and any necessary areas deemed as non-compliant. These areas of non-compliance must be addressed before an on-site visit, scheduled for the upcoming fall. Southwest follow-up must be submitted by August 20, 2024. 

The responsibilities of the On-Site Reaffirmation Committee are to substantiate the preliminary report prepared by the Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee and evaluate various aspects including the institution’s mission, policies, procedures, programs, resources, services, and compliance with standards related to federal regulations and USDE recognition of accreditors. They also assess Standard 7.2 (Quality Enhancement Plan) and may visit branch campuses and off-campus sites offering a significant portion of a program and review distance education. 

Unlike the Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee, the On-Site Reaffirmation Committee communicates their findings to the institution verbally during an exit conference with senior staff and in writing in the finalized report of the Reaffirmation Committee.

During the subsequent SACSCOC Board of Trustees meeting, reaffirmation is finalized, and decisions are announced at the following December SACSCOC annual meeting. In January, following the annual meeting where results are announced, a letter is received documenting the official results of the decennial process.

Important dates for Southwest’s SACSCOC accreditation are listed below: 

  • Compliance Certification submitted March 31, 2024
  • Focus Response and QEP due August 20, 2024
  • Onsite visit scheduled for October 1 – 3, 2024

Quality Enhancement Plan 

The QEP, or Quality Enhancement Plan, is a plan focused on improving student learning outcomes and/or student success and is a SACSCOC requirement for Southwest’s 2025 Reaffirmation. The focus of the QEP is to refine and reimagine learning supports for students registered in co-requisite courses. 

This initiative seeks to increase student success rates and decrease the number of students who fall into academic probation or suspension. These innovative learning support activities are intended to empower students and cultivate academic confidence while providing the necessary tools for academic success within co-requisite courses. Below are key outcome measures for the QEP. 
 
Student Success Outcomes:

  • Increase student success rate for academically underprepared students in selected co-requisite learning support courses
  • Increase persistence for academically underprepared students

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will identify learning support competencies to support academic success
  • Students will determine supports needed for their academic success through reflections
  • Students will apply learning support competencies to successfully complete a program or transfer to a 4-year institution

For questions about accreditation, contact Erica Hughes, associate vice president of Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness, at ethughes@southwest.tn.edu.

For more information about QEP, contact Raquel Adams, director of Quality Enhancement Plan, at radams11@southwest.tn.edu.