Institutional Accreditation 101

Accreditation is a form of self-regulation and quality assurance in higher education. In the U.S., accreditation is coordinated by a non-governmental non-profit organization, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the U.S. Department of Education. Rollins’ USDE-recognized institutional accreditor is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is authorized to accredit institutions in southern states, Latin America, and several international locations. Comprised of its members, Rollins among them, SACSCOC accredits institutions that have missions appropriate to higher education, devote resources to carrying out those missions, and can show that they do, in fact, achieve those missions.

Institutions that want access to federal financial aid for their students hold USDE-recognized accreditation. So, yes: Rollins needs to be accredited.

No. As more and more students began attending colleges across the U.S., accreditation organizations formed in the late 19th and 20th centuries to ensure consistency in academic standards across institutions. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) was founded in 1895; the Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) was founded in 1917, “and was organized to develop standards and a process for accrediting colleges and universities in the South,” according to the organization’s website. Rollins was first accredited by SACSCOC in 1927, and has been continuously accredited since that time.

An accredited institution like Rollins seeks a reaffirmation of accreditation every 10 years by undertaking a detailed self-study of its practices and submitting a required Compliance Certification Report (CCR) demonstrating its adherence to accreditor standards. The CCR shows the extent to which Rollins complies with each of the core requirements and standards presented in the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation. For SACSCOC, a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and project are required, along with a Fifth Year Interim Report (FYIR) in intervening years.

SACSCOC accredited institutions are asked currently to assure institutional compliance with about 75 core requirements and standards organized into 14 sections. While some of these standards do not apply to Rollins (e.g., questions about associate’s degrees), the College must still respond to each one, even if we only say, “This standard does not apply to Rollins.”

Here are four examples that show some of the breadth and depth of the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation core requirements and standards.

• Section 7, Standard 7.1 Institutional Planning. The institution engages in ongoing, comprehensive, and integrated research-based planning and evaluation processes that (a) focus on institutional quality and effectiveness and (b) incorporate a systematic review of institutional goals and outcomes consistent with its mission. [Core Requirement]
• Section 8, Standard 8.1 Student Achievement. The institution identifies, evaluates, and publishes goals and outcomes for student achievement appropriate to the institution's mission, the nature of the students it serves, and the kinds of programs offered. The institution uses multiple measures to document student success. [Core Requirement]
• Section 9, Standard 9.1 Program Content. Educational programs (a) embody a coherent course of study, (b) are compatible with the stated mission and goals of the institution, and (c) are based on fields of study appropriate to higher education. [Core Requirement]

It is. Completing the CCR requires the collaboration of the entire campus. In addition, each claim that Rollins makes in the CCR must be backed up by documentation, in much the same way that a scholarly article would footnote its sources. Nearly 2,200 documents were gathered in completing the 2015 Rollins CCR.

SACSCOC defines “Substantive Change” as a significant departure from, modification of, or expansion in the nature and scope of an accredited institution. Some changes require only that SACSCOC is notified in advance; others require that a detailed and documented prospectus describing the proposed change and the College's capacity to successfully undertake it be submitted at least six months prior to the start date of a new program. Others may require not only a prospectus, but also full documentation and a site visit from a SACSCOC substantive change committee. Rollins had its most recent substantive change site visit when it desired to offer a doctoral degree; this proposal changed Rollins’s SACSCOC institution level (from III, bachelor’s, to V, which allows us to offer up to three doctoral degrees) and, thus, required the onsite visit.

SACSCOC is emphasizing assessment of student learning, use of assessment results to improve learning, and the demonstration of student achievement.

The SACSCOC Quality Enhancement Plan, or QEP, has been a reaccreditation requirement for about 30 years. SACSCOC asks all institutions to develop 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. Rollins developed its 2015 QEP following extensive campus conversations; the 2015 QEP, R-Compass, focused on integrating career planning into academic planning and advising. Rollins can nominate at least two experts as QEP reviewers; SACSCOC will choose one, who will be part of the site-visit team.

The College submitted a Fifth-Year Interim Report (FYIR) consisting of an abbreviated compliance certification and an impact report for the College's QEP, to SACSCOC in March 2021. The Fifth-Year Interim Report report was accepted by SACSCOC without recommendations. The College's next decennial reaffirmation Compliance Report will be submitted to SACSCOC in September 2024.

Go to sacscoc.org/faqs for SACSCOC’s own “frequently asked questions” section.