Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

One of the important factors to consider when looking into post-secondary schools is whether or not they are accredited. Accreditation is completely voluntary for an educational institute; however, accreditation guarantees that the school promotes a high level of learning that puts the education of their students first and foremost. Regional accreditation is the most respected level of accreditation. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of seven regionally accrediting bodies in the United States.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is dedicated to ensuring that their accredited institutions surpass the level of standard in learning. While the Council on Accredited and School Improvement (CASI) focuses on elementary, middle and high school accreditation, the Commission on Colleges and Schools (COCS) is responsible for the accreditation of post secondary institutions in eleven Southern states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

The COCS is recognised by the Department of Education as a leading national accreditation agency that focuses on enhancing the educational system in the Southern region. The mission of the COCS is to ensure their schools have the resources and services to accomplish and sustain a higher standard of education.

Integrity

The principle of integrity is the COCS's underlying belief and they use various forms of peer evaluation, self-study analysis and commissioner reviews in order to ensure the institute in question is at the highest level of integrity. This includes the fulfilment of the core requirements, the comprehensive standards, the federal requirements and the adherence to the Commission's strict policies.

The Accreditation Criteria

The institute in question will undergo a long process to ensure they are up to the standards of accreditation. This includes an evaluation of the following components: a clearly defined institutional mission; a capable Governing and Administration board and faculty, institutional effectiveness related to goals, outcomes and improvements; program sufficiency and variety at an undergraduate and graduate level; adequate learning and library resources; financial stability; student affairs support; and physical resources.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

Article References

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
http://www.sacs.org

Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
http://www.sacscoc.org

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/