FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is accreditation?

Accreditation is intended to assure constituents and the public of the quality and integrity of higher education institutions and programs, and to help those institutions and programs improve.  These outcomes are achieved through rigorous internal and external review processes during which the institution is evaluated against a common set of standards.

When accreditation is awarded to an institution of higher education by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, it means that the institution has (1) a mission appropriate to higher education, (2) resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain its mission, (3) clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers, and that it is (4) successful in achieving its stated objectives.  Accreditation is a statement of the institution’s continuing commitment to integrity and its capacity to provide effective programs and services based on agreed-upon accreditation standards.

2. What is the difference between regional, national and specialized accreditation?

Regional accrediting bodies conduct comprehensive reviews of institutions of higher education and operate primarily in a specific geographical area.  The accreditation granted encompasses the entire institution including reported branch campuses, other instructional sites, and distance learning modalities. Regional accrediting bodies typically accredit a wide range of institutions offering associate, baccalaureate, master’s and/or doctoral degrees which include many of America’s most prestigious institutions. 

There are six regional accrediting associations in the United States comprising eight commissions that grant institution-wide accreditation. (For a list of regional accrediting agencies, please see www.chea.org).  While there are some modest differences in accreditation standards across regions, they operate similarly and all are recognized by the United States Department of Education (U.S.D.E.) to conduct accreditation activities. Regional accrediting bodies also serve a “gate keeper” function for access to Title IV funds.  The primary service area for the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, plus Latin America.

National accrediting bodies conduct comprehensive reviews of institutions and operate primarily throughout the United States.  The accreditation granted encompasses the entire institution.  Most of the accredited institutions are private and have missions focused on career education or religious education. (For a list of career and faith-based accrediting agencies functioning nationally and recognized by the U.S.D.E., please see www.chea.org).

Specialized or programmatic accrediting bodies conduct focused reviews of an educational program and operate primarily throughout the United States.  Many are recognized by the U.S.D.E. to conduct accreditation activities.  (For a list of specialized accrediting agencies, please see www.chea.org).

3. Where can I find the accreditation standards and policies of the Commission on Colleges?                                                      

For accreditation standards, please see www.sacscoc.org and click on Accrediting Standards; for policies click on Policies and Publications.

4. How does an institution become accredited by the Commission on Colleges?

Please see www.sacscoc.org and click on Application Information.

5. What standards must an institution meet in order to gain or maintain accreditation? 

Institutions accredited by the Commission on Colleges must demonstrate compliance with the standards for accreditation as contained in the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, and with the policies and procedures of the Commission.   (For additional information, please see www.sacscoc.org and click on Accrediting Standards and on Policies and Publications).

6. What happens if an accredited institution doesn’t meet accreditation standards?

Institutions that do not demonstrate that they meet accreditation standards may be asked for monitoring reports, placed on the public sanctions of Warning or Probation, or dropped from status as a candidate or an accredited institution.  (For additional information, please see http://www.sacscoc.org/policies.asp and click on Sanctions, Denial of Reaffirmation, and Removal from Membership).

7. What is a substantive change and how should it be handled?

Substantive change is a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution.  The types of substantive change and the procedures for addressing them appropriately may be found here.

8. How can I determine if an institution is accredited by the Commission on Colleges?

For a listing of institutions accredited by the Commission on Colleges, please see www.sacscoc.org and click on Membership Directory.

9. Are distance learning programs, branch campuses, and instructional sites included in the Commission’s grant of accreditation to an institution?

The Commission accredits the entire institution, including reported distance learning programs, branch campuses, and instructional sites.  Please see www.sacscoc.org and click on Membership Directory for more information.

10. Will my credits transfer or enable me to attend graduate school?

The acceptance of transfer credit is the responsibility of the receiving institution and graduate school.  Students should check with potential receiving institutions and graduate schools well in advance to determine the answer to this question.

The accreditation standards of this Commission require accredited institutions to analyze credit accepted for transfer in terms of level, content, quality, comparability and degree-program relevance.  The Commission’s accreditation standards do not mandate that institutions accept transfer credit only from regionally accredited institutions.  For more information, please see www.sacscoc.org, click on Policies and Publications, and then click on Transfer of Academic Credit under Commission Position Statements.

11.  How can I determine if there are any accredited institutions currently on the public sanction of Warning or Probation?  What do Warning and Probation mean?

For a list of any institutions on Warning or Probation, please see www.sacscoc.org and click on Accreditation Actions and Disclosure Statements.

For a description of Warning and Probation, please see http://www.sacscoc.org/policies.asp and click on Sanctions, Denial of Reaffirmation, and Removal from Membership.

12. How can I file a complaint against an institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges?

Complete the Commission’s Complaint Form and send two hard copies to the President, Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097.  Both the Form and the Commission policy entitled, Complaint Procedures for the Commission or its Accredited Institutions may be found at the following site: http://www.sacscoc.org/policies.asp. 

Please read the policy carefully before submitting a complaint.  Note that the Commission’s complaint procedure only addresses significant, documented, alleged non-compliance with the Commission’s standards, policies or procedures.  Complainants are expected to have attempted to resolve the issue through the institution’s complaint processes before filing a complaint with the Commission.  The Commission’s complaint process is not intended to be used to involve the Commission in disputes between individuals and member institutions, or to cause the Commission to interpose itself as a reviewing authority in individual matters; nor, does the policy allow the Commission to seek redress on an individual’s behalf.  The primary purpose of the Commission’s complaint procedure is to acquire valuable information regarding an accredited institution’s possible non-compliance with accreditation standards, policies and procedures