SACSCOC- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges - SACSCOC is recognized as a regional body that provides accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states.

• Affiliations- U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

• SACS Authority- 13,000 institutions extending from preschools to universities

• Regions- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia

• Purpose- Educational Accreditation for Higher Education

SACS assesses American schools for U.S. students in Mexico, South and Central America, and the Caribbean Sea. The Commission correspondingly receives requests from various additional international institutions of higher education.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges checks and assures the educational quality as well as progress the efficiency of institution members.

The Southern Association of College and School is broadly classified into two organizations,

• The Southern Association of Community, Junior, and Technical Colleges

• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

What are the guideline values for the SACS?

• Integrity

• Continuous quality improvement

• Peer review/self-regulation

• Accountability

• Student learning

• Transparency

Eligibility requirements for SACS Accreditation

An institution must encounter broad-based, foundational, and basic core requirements to be accredited by the commission on college. These requirements begin the verge of the progress of an institution looking for initial or continued accreditation by a commission and replicate the basic expectations of the commission. An institution must meet all the below requirements to be authorized a candidacy.

• The institution must have a degree-granting authority.

• An institution should have a governing board of at least five members.

• The institution must have a chief executive officer.

• There should be a clear, defined, comprehensive, and published Institutional mission statement.

• Institutional Effectiveness is one of the important factors.

• An institution must involve in continuous operation.

• There must be an adequate number of faculty members.

• The institution must provide learning resource and services

• An institution must provide student support programs.

• Financial resource and stability, physical resources and Quality Enhancement Plan

List of some of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Accredited Universities

East Carolina University	Hodges University
Clemson University	South University
East Tennessee State University	Kennesaw State University
Fayetteville State University	James Madison University
George Mason University	King University
Fort Valley State University	Sullivan University
Gardner-Webb University	Queens University of Charlotte

SACS-COC Decision-making bodies

• Voting Representative

• Board of Trustees comprising of 77 members

• Executive Council

• Council Members

SACS Strategic Directions for Student Success

• To improve the nature of communication with institution members as well as the public to provide a better understanding and awareness of the accreditation values.

• To offer appropriate and meaningful proficient progress and training openings.

• To improve and sustain to implement a combined, Commission-wide research-based development and valuation procedure

• To certify an effective process that advances the task of the Commission

• Administer and continuously advance information and associated technologies to forecast and encounter the Commission’s working and strategic requirements. 

Does SACS offer a training program to students and scholars?

The Southern Association of College and School offers Evaluator Training Program for its disciples. Evaluator Program ensures credibility, consistency, and confirmability in peer reviews. Students are trained in various activities to gain knowledge about the intent and structure of the Principles of Accreditation.

Conclusion

The Southern Association of College and School Commission is one of the recognized regional accrediting organizations. This provides accreditation to institutions of higher education that honor associate, baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral degrees.