Policies and Publications

Policies, Guidelines, Good Practices, and Position Statements

In addition to the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, the accreditation standards of the Commission on Colleges, the Commission has four categories of documents: policies, guidelines, good practices, and position statements. For each of the four categories below, the Commission defines the term and lists the documents categorized as such. There is also a link below explaining the recent changes to documents on this page.

For all, the Commission maintains currency on the Web and reserves the right to add, modify, or delete any of the documents listed.

Summary of Changes to Commission Policies and Guidelines (Added Jan 2007)
Commission Policies
Commission Guidelines
Commission Good Practices
Commission Position Statements

Definition: A policy is a required course of action to be followed by the Commission on Colleges or its member or candidate institutions. Commission policies may also include procedures, which are likewise a required course of action to be followed by the Commission on Colleges or its member or candidate institutions. The Principles of Accreditation requires that an institution comply with the policies and procedures of the Commission. Policies are approved by vote of the Commission on Colleges. At its discretion, the Commission may choose to forward a policy to the College Delegate Assembly for approval.

The following are categorized as policies of the Commission.

Accrediting Decisions of Other Agencies  (Adopted June 2003)

Appeals Procedures of the College Delegate Assembly of the Commission on Colleges (Revised Dec 2007)

Complaint Procedures Against the Commission or Its Accredited Institutions (Revised Jan 2008)

Conflict of Interest for Commission Staff  (Revised Jan 2007)

Core Requirement 2.3:Documenting and Alternative Approach (Adopted Mar 2005)

Deadlines for Reports and Profiles  (Edited Jan 2007)

Distance and Correspondence Education  (Revised July 2009)

(Edited Nov 2005)

Ethical Obligations of Members of SACSCOC Board of Trustees and of Evaluators (Revised June 2009)

Governing, Coordinating, and Other State Agencies: Representation on Evaluation Committees (Edited for Principles March 2004)

Joint Curricular Ventures Involving the Award of Credit by Member Institutions (Edited Jan 2007)

Litigation: Institutional Obligations (Revised June 2009)

Mission Statement of the Commission on Colleges (Revised June 2008)

Observers on Reaffirmation On-site Review Committees (Adopted June 2004)

QEP: Lead Evaluator Nomination Process

Records Maintenance Policy of the Commission on Colleges (Revised Jan 2007)

Reports Submitted for Committee or Commission Review (Edited Feb 2009)

Separate Accreditation for Units of a Member Institution (Revised June 2009)

Standing Rules: the Commission on Colleges, Executive Council, and the College Delegate Assembly (Revised June 2008)

Substantive Change for Accredited Institutions of the COC (Revised June 2009)

Third-Party Comment by the Public (Adopted Dec 2007)

The Transfer or Transcripting of Academic Credit  (Edited Jan 2007)

Transfer of Accreditation Among Regional Commissions (Adopted June 2008)

Unreported Substantive Change (Adopted June 2008)

Definition: A guideline is an advisory statement designed to assist institutions in fulfilling accreditation requirements. As such, guidelines describe recommended educational practices for documenting requirements of the Principles of Accreditation and are approved by the Executive Council. The guidelines are examples of commonly accepted practices that constitute compliance with the standard. Depending upon the nature and mission of the institution, however, other approaches may be more appropriate and also provide evidence of compliance.

The following are categorized as guidelines of the Commission:

Accreditation Liaison (Edited Jan 2007)

Advertising, Student Recruitment, and Representation of Accreditation Status  (Edited Jan 2007)

Communicating Information Electronically: Guidelines

Distance Education and the Principles of Accreditation  (Added Jan 2010)

Faculty Credentials  (Adopted Dec 2006)

Nominating Committee of the Commission  (Edited Jan 2007)

Role of Chair (Adopted 07/05/06)

Travel and Committees Visits  (Edited Feb 2004)

Definition: Good practices are commonly accepted practices within the higher education community that enhance institutional quality. Good practices may be formulated by outside agencies and organizations and endorsed by the Executive Council or the Commission.

  Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs (Endorsed Dec 2000)

Definition: A position statement examines an issue facing the Commission’s membership, describes appropriate approaches, and states the Commission’s stance on the issue. It is endorsed by the Executive Council or the Commission on Colleges.

The following are categorized as position statements of the Commission:

Impact of Budget Reductions on Higher Education  (Endorsed Mar 2002)

Statement on Diversity (Adopted June 2008)