Southeastern Community College Earns Reaccreditation

Tuesday, July 19th, 2022

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has reaffirmed Southeastern Community College (SCC) for an additional 10 years.

SACSCOC is the accreditation body that reviews colleges and universities in the Southern states. Accreditation provides institutions with access to federal funding, including Pell Grants. Accredited schools can participate in transfer credits between institutions, and it assures established standards of higher education.

The SACSCOC reaffirmation process at SCC began in May 2019 with the submission of a compliance certification, which includes core requirements, comprehensive standards, and federal requirements. There are several steps to reaffirmation.

The SACSCOC Board of Trustees voted to approve the reaffirmation at its recent meeting the decision followed an extensive process that included an on-site visit in September 2021 by a SACSCOC on-site committee.

The college was found to be in complete compliance, with no recommendations, at the conclusion of the recent Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) on-site reaffirmation of accreditation visit.

The SACSCOC reviewed institutional integrity, curriculum, facilities, faculty, student services, budgets, and financial aid to see how it measured up to their standards covering mission, educational programs, governing board, student achievement, academic services, faculty,  administration, institutional planning and financial resources.

“This is the best news for our college, our students and the community we serve. I’m overwhelmed with excitement.  SCC President Chris English said. “I speak for everyone at SCC when I say we are all thoroughly pleased with this outstanding news. The administration, faculty, staff, and students have worked very hard for this outcome. We have incredible support from our board of trustees and community members.”

SACSCOC found SCC in complete compliance with all standards and offered no recommendations for the school’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), titled “I Know”, which works to increase student success and workforce development at SCC.

A requirement of SACSCOC accreditation, SCC must create a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The QEP is a 5-year action plan that targets an issue identified by the institution as important to increasing student learning and/or success. The plan will provide a course of action to improve student learning by focusing on an area that will enhance the institution’s effectiveness.

SCC concentrated on student success and workforce development for the QEP. SCC’s goal is to enable each student to select an appropriate academic program based on their identified interests and career objectives in order to facilitate the timely completion of their academic goals. This will assure the students KNOW they are on the right track to a great career. SCC’s QEP seeks to increase student retention, completion, and transfer rates by providing students with the proper tools, guidance, and support needed to select appropriate academic programs based on their identified interests and career objectives.

”Our on-site SACSCOC Committee was very impressed with the faculty, staff, students and Board of Trustees Members at Southeastern Community College,” said Vice President Sylvia Cox.  “It was my honor to serve as the SACSCOC Liaison during this process.  All the credit for this great accomplishment goes to the amazing faculty and staff at SCC.  It is an honor to work with such a great and talented team.”

SCC’s next reaffirmation will be in year 2032.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Southeastern Community College, I want to express our tremendous gratitude for the hard work that has gone into this reaccreditation result,” said Jack Hooks, Chair, Board of Trustees. “The fact of our reaccreditation is wonderful, but reaccreditation with no noted areas needing improvement is thrilling! Dr. English, the leadership team, faculty and staff have all put in a tremendous amount of work to illustrate things are being done the right way at SCC. We are proud of and thankful to all.”