SACSCOC REAFFIRMATION OF ACCREDITATION 2027

Since 1939, The University of Texas at Arlington has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). UTA’s accreditation was last affirmed in 2017 and the next reaffirmation review will be in 2027.

Accreditation in the United States is a voluntary and self-regulatory mechanism of the higher education community. It plays a significant role in fostering public confidence in the educational enterprise, maintaining standards, enhancing institutional effectiveness, and improving higher education by establishing a common set of requirements with which accredited institutions must comply. In addition, accredited status with an institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) enables institutions to seek access to federal financial aid funds for students (SACSCOC, Handbook for Institutions Seeking Initial Accreditation, 2020).

Accreditation by SACS Commission on Colleges signifies that the institution (1) has a mission appropriate to higher education, (2) has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission, and (3) maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers, and that indicate whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives (SACSCOC, Handbook for Institutions Seeking Reaffirmation, 2024).

 

Timeline

Fall 2024 marks the official kick-off for UTA’s preparations for its 2027 reaffirmation review.

Fall 2024

  • Nov. 1 – Kick-off Event
  • Dec. 8-10 – Orientation
  • Writing team confirmation
  • Assignment of Principles and begin writing
  • Assemble a QEP committee and begin developing a topic

Calendar Year 2025

  • Prepare narratives and gather support evidence
  • Narrative review by IER, consultant(s), and UTA leadership (each Principle will have its own timeline)
  • Identify target population for QEP, conduct research, and begin developing a plan

Spring 2026

  • March 13 – Narratives in final or near final form
  • Reviewing and editing continues, narratives entered into Compliance Assist
  • Faculty rosters finalized
  • Final vet of narratives by UTA leadership
  • Continue research and writing and developing QEP

Summer 2026

  • Finishing touches put on narratives
  • Identify and contact lead evaluator for QEP, begin campus outreach, continue writing

Fall 2026

  • September 8, 2026 – Deadline to submit CCR to SACSCOC
  • Nov. 3-6 – Off-site review of CCR by SACSCOC

Spring 2027

  • QEP and Focused Report Due to SACSCOC – 6 weeks prior to on-site review (on-site review TBD, but could be from Jan. 19 – April 16)
  • Response Report to any recommendations from on-site review (if required)
  • Any other follow-up or monitoring reports could be requested to be due spring-fall

Fall 2027

  • Dec. – Reaffirmation decision determined and announced by SACSCOC Board of Trustees

Spring 2028 and beyond

  • March 2033 – QEP Impact Report due

 

SACSCOC Resources

 The SACSCOC website (www.sacscoc.org) serves as a comprehensive repository of materials that can assist institutions as they maintain ongoing compliance and as they move through the reaffirmation process.

The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement is SACSCOC’s primary source document for the reaffirmation review process.

The Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement is designed to (1) provide guidance to institutions as they seek to identify strategies for documenting compliance with SACSCOC requirements and standards and (2) be a resource in the training of review committee members and trustees as they strive to apply the Principles fairly and consistently.

The Handbook for Institutions Seeking Reaffirmation is designed to guide institutions through the reaffirmation process, this Handbook is organized around the four major steps in the reaffirmation process: (1) building a foundation of understanding as the institution starts the process, (2) preparing for the Off-Site Review, (3) preparing for the On-Site Review, and (4) completing the reaffirmation process.

The SACSCOC Governing Documents webpage contains links to SACSCOC’s policies, procedures, interpretations, position statements, guidelines, and forms and templates.

 

Institutional Resources

The SACSCOC Kick-off Event Presentation (11/1/2024)

 

Contact Information

Rebecca Lewis, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice Provost
SACSCOC Institutional Accreditation Liaison
rebeccal@uta.edu
817-272-5133