A College Tale

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A College Tale

• Or. . . The story of how one college survived the
  SACS-un invasion

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Once upon a time in a land not so far away, a
small college stood amidst peanut fields and cow
pastures.
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The SACS-uns demanded that the college meet their
requirements for accreditation or cease enrolling
students.
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• Fortunately, the efforts of the inhabitants
  succeeded in satisfying the SACS-uns, and the
  invaders returned to their lair, leaving the
  inhabitants free to continue enrolling students
  in their exemplary educational programs.

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Ten years passed, and , lo, the governing body
once again appeared on the horizon. The SACS-uns
sent a courier with the message that their
demands had changed and that the process for
meeting those demands would differ from that of
olden days.
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. . . The college embarked on the quest to comply
with the requirements of the governing body.
And, thus, our tale begins. . . .
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SACS Re-affirmation Process

• An Overview

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LEADERSHIP TEAM

• Sue Baum
• Tammy Bunyan
• Jean Bynum
• Betty Cully
• Leslie Gibson
• Scott Smith
• Susan Steck

• Sam Covington
• Wanda Flowers
• Kathy Haynes
• Judy Snyder
• Judy Miller
• Linda Gordon
• Stafford Thompson

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LEADERSHIP TEAM

• Oversees the Compliance Certification process
• Provides leadership, organization, and
  inspiration in developing the Quality Enhancement
  Plan

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Key Elements of SACS Review

• The Principles of Accreditation (2 major
  components)
• The Compliance Certification
• The Quality Enhancement Plan

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Compliance CertificationThe Principles of
Accreditation

• Comprehensive Standards
• 12 general statements that focus on outcomes
• a broad review of the institution
• not intended to be redundant.

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Compliance Certification (contd.)

• Core Requirements - focus on institutional
  processes for accomplishing outcomes
• Institutional Mission, Governance, and
  Effectiveness
• Programs (Educational Programs, Faculty, Library,
  Student Affairs and Services)
• Resources (Financial and Physical Resources)
• Federal Mandates (Title IV Funds)

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Compliance Certification (contd.)

• The institutions response to the Core
  Requirements and Comprehensive Standards
• Indicates compliance, non-compliance, or
  conditional compliance
• Accompanied by documents to verify compliance

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The Quality Enhancement Plan

• Developed as a course of action for improvement
  in student learning and achievement
• Based on a thorough analysis of the effectiveness
  of the learning environment

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Quality Enhancement Plan

• Does not exceed 75 pages of narrative
• Intended to be an outgrowth of the institutions
  planning and evaluation process
• Supplements the institutions planning and
  evaluation process

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The Peer Review Process

• College prepares and submits Compliance
  Certification
• Off-Site Review Committee reviews the report and
  advises On-Site Committee regarding compliance
  issues

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The Peer Review Process

• College prepares and submits its QEP
• The On-Site Committee visits the college to
  review progress on QEP and address compliance
  issues

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Overview of Team VisitPrevious vs. Proposed

• Size of Team 11-15
• Length of Stay 4 days
• Opening reception and dinner
• Focus of Team Comprehensive Review of
  accreditation requirements

• Size of Team 5 - 7
• Length of Stay 3 days
• No opening reception or dinner
• Focus of Team Quality Enhancement Plan other
  issues as adv. by off-site team

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Overview of Team VisitPrevious vs. Proposed

• Individual interviews days 2 and 3 of visit
• Team delivers exit report to President on day 4
  of visit
• Chair edits team report

• Selected group interviews day 2 only
• Committee Chair delivers exit report to
  President on day 3
• Chair assembles teams assessment of compliance
  and QEP

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Pilot Institutions

• October 2000, eight institutions began process
  under proposed guidelines
• Representative of all types of institutions
  private and public, 2-year and 4-year

• Submitted Compliance Certification in September
  2001
• Quality Enhancement Plan in January 2002
• Visit Feb. - April 2002

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Timeline (Unofficial)

• September 2002 - Commission on Colleges notifies
  institution of reaffirmation visit in 2004
  provides dates for submission of reports
• September 2003 - Compliance Certification due to
  COC

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Timeline (contd.)

• September 2003 - Off-site team reviews Compliance
  Certification
• January 2004 - Quality Enhancement Plan due to
  COC
• February - April 2004 On-site team visits
  institution
• September 2004 - Institutional response to
  on-site visit due to COC

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Timeline (contd.)

• November-December 2004 COC review to determine
  reaffirmation
• January 2005 - Continued monitoring of QEP

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SACS Annual Meeting7 - 10 December 2002

• San Antonio, Texas
• Focus on changes in process as recommended
  following pilot program
• Final word on reporting process

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For more information, visit

• www.sacscoc.org

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. . . And the saga continues

• Watch for the best-selling sequel, The Quality
  Enhancement Plan