SACSCOC Decennial Reaffirmation of Accreditation

Accreditation

In this section:

Overview

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the recognized regional accrediting body in the eleven U.S. Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia) and in Latin America for those institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees.

Every 10 years, the college must reaffirm its accreditation with SACSCOC. The process begins approximately two years ahead of the reaffirmation deadline, and includes extensive off-site and on-site reviews of the institution.

The reaffirmation process requires institutions to complete two significant steps:

  1. Prepare a compliance certification that describes and documents the institution's compliance with the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement
  2. Develop a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which serves as a long-term plan guiding the institution's quality improvement efforts in strategic areas identified by the institution's constituencies

The college is currently in the process of preparing for its next 10-year reaffirmation in 2024.

For more information, please see the SACSCOC website 

2025 Reaffirmation of Accreditation Timeline

Accreditation Date 
Compliance Certification March 1, 2024 
Off-Site Committee Review of Compliance Certificate March April 2024 - June 2024 
Focused Report and Quality Enhancement Plan August 2024
On-Site Review of Focused Report and QEP September 2024
On-Site Committee Campus Visit  October 7-10, 2024 
Reaffirmation Decision December 2024

Quality Enhancement Plan

The reaffirmation process requires a thorough review and documentation of current programs, policies, and procedures as part of the Reaffirmation Compliance Certification Report, and the development of a new, 10-year Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). A QEP is an integral and required part of the SACSCOC 10-year reaffirmation process. It is a future-oriented, time-bound project that allows the college to demonstrate its commitment to the continuous improvement of student learning and success.

QEP Standard 7.2 Evaluative Framework

There are five major components to the QEP Standard 7.2 Evaluative Framework:

  • A = Topic. The institution identified a topic through its ongoing, comprehensive planning and evaluation processes.
  • B = Broad-based support. The topic has broad-based support of institutional constituencies.
  • C = Focus. The plan focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student success.
  • D = Resources. The institution commits resources to initiate, implement, and complete the QEP.
  • E = Assessment. The institution has developed a plan to assess the achievement of its QEP.

The rubric can be accessed by using the embedded link above to the SACSCOC website.

Standard 7.2 Overview

The institution has a QEP that (a) has a topic identified through its ongoing, comprehensive planning and evaluation processes; (b) has broad-based support of institutional constituencies; (c) focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student success; (d) commits resources to initiate, implement, and complete the QEP; and (e) includes a plan to assess achievement. (SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation)

 

QEP Progress Timeline

The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is an integral component of the reaffirmation of accreditation process and is derived from an institution’s ongoing comprehensive planning and evaluation processes. It reflects and affirms a commitment to enhance overall institutional quality and effectiveness by focusing on an issue the institution considers important to improving student learning outcomes and/or student success.

SACSCOC, QEP Standard 7.2, defines the desired elements of a QEP, including:

  • Identifies key, emerging issues for action based on institutional data
  • Aligns with and supports the institution’s strategic plan
  • Focuses on students and student learning
  • Reflects broad-based involvement
  • Includes clear and measurable goals

Year 1 - QEP Topic Selection Committee

In the Fall of 2022, the Reaffirmation Leadership Team established a QEP Topic Selection Committee for the entire college. A 27-person committee composed of college faculty, staff, and administrators was tasked with selecting a QEP topic. The committee was designed to be broadly representative, and membership invitations were extended to all college departments. The committee was presided over by the Provost and the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness.

The QEP topic selection began with a review of institutional planning and current initiatives, with broad campus participation and links to the college's planning process.  Committee members reviewed institutional reports that discussed the important initiatives that have an impact on student success as part of this discussion. Members of the Committee were then tasked with disseminating this information and discussing the results of a campus-wide topic selection survey with their respective divisions/departments. Another QEP survey centered on the top five choices from division/department meeting reviews was distributed to all QEP committee members. In order to ensure campus-wide participation, each committee discussed these topics prior to voting on their top three choices. Based on the information gathered, the college decided on online learning as the QEP topic.

QEP Topic Selection Committee Members

  1.  Sam DeZerga - Director, TSC Learning Commons
  2. Ceron Bryant - English Faculty, Division of Communications and Humanities
  3. Stephen Powers - Political Science Faculty, Division of Social Sciences
  4. Summer Dusek - Associate Dean, Division of Social Sciences
  5. Gareth Euridge - English Faculty, Division of Communications and Humanities
  6. Margelet Hamilton - Math Faculty, Division of Science and Mathematics
  7. Julie Baroody - Art Faculty, Division of Communications and Humanities
  8. Vera Mayes - Content Expert, TSC Learning Commons
  9. Judith Reymond - Instructional Designer, TSC Online
  10. David Hoover - Biological Sciences Faculty, Division of Science and Mathematics
  11. Ken Tellis - Associate Dean, Division of Healthcare Professions
  12. Daisy Garcia - Student Success Specialist, Florida Public Safety Institute
  13. Andrea Arce-Trigatti - Director of Institutional Assessment and Accreditation, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
  14. Mahmoud Abdelhadi - Instructional Technology Specialist, User Services for Instructional Technology
  15. Joey Walter - Dean, Division of Business, Industry, and Technology
  16. Caitlin Williams - Nursing Clinical Faculty, Division of Healthcare Professions
  17. Shakonda Diggs - College Success Faculty, Division of Social Sciences
  18. Sila Lott - Director, TSC Libraries
  19. Steve Outlaw - Director, Florida Public Safety Institute
  20. Eric Iungerich - PSAV Welding Faculty, Division of Workforce Development
  21. Lindsay Tanner - Program Coordinator & Supervisor, Division Workforce Development
  22. Kalynda Holton - Dean, Division of Science and Mathematics
  23. Pamela Johnston - Dean of Career and Academic Planning, Student Success and Retention
  24. Bobby Jones - Associate Vice President, Administrative Services
  25. Nyla Davis - Director, TSC Human Resources
  26. Lei Wang* - Vice President, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
  27. Calandra Stringer* - Provost, Academic Affairs

*Co-Chairs of the QEP Topic Selection Committee

Year 2 - QEP Planning Committee

In the Fall of 2023, the Quality Enhancement Planning Committee will be formed. The purpose of this committee is to undertake an intensive study of Online Learning on campus, plan the first-year implementation, and create an overview of the student learning outcomes and measures to be collected. The below graphic offers an overview of the general timeline for the TSC QEP. 

Quality Enhancement Plan: phase one topic selection fall 22- spring 23, phase 2 design and planning fall 23, phase 3 assessment and pilot data spring 24, and phase 4 implementation and sustainability fall 24 and onward.

Contact Us

Should you have any questions regarding the College's QEP, please do not hesitate to reach out for more information:

Iris Davis-Pendleton, QEP Co-Lead

Tricia Rizza, QEP Co-Lead