UTPB

SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the regional accrediting body for degree granting higher educational institutions in Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Latin America. Participation in SACS is voluntary, but given the importance of accreditation, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, like all other University of Texas components, is a full voting member and has members of the campus community who participate in the accreditation process for other institutions across the South. Approved by the United States Department of Education, accreditation by SACS reflects the quality of the courses and programs offered by the institution. Without SACS accreditation, the quality of UTPB degrees and courses would be regarded with suspicion, and our students would be ineligible for federal financial aid.

The Reaffirmation of Accreditation at UTPB

UTPB’s current accreditation dates from 2000. Since SACS has a ten-year reaffirmation cycle UTPB is scheduled for a decision on reaccreditation by the SACS Commission on Colleges in December 2010. Reaffirmation is a multi-year process guided by SACS’ accrediting standards, Principles of Accreditation: Foundation for Quality Enhancement. Adopted in 2001, reaffirmation under the Principles was required of all institutions in January 2004.

The process for reaffirmation has been substantially altered since 2000. It now requires a bifurcated process that both documents the institution’s current compliance with the 12 Core Requirements, 61 Comprehensive Standards and 7 Federal Requirements and requires that the institution proactively address improvement in student learning through implementation of a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).

UTPB is actively engaged in both Compliance Certification and the Quality Enhancement planning. The Compliance Certification is reviewed by an off-campus review committee. Submitted in September 2009, this document spells out UTPB’s compliance with the Principles. Since the Principles extend throughout the University, many members of the University community will be involved in one way or another with the process of demonstrating how UTPB meets SACS’ requirements. The Compliance Certification is due 15 months prior to the December 2010 decision date for reaffirmation by the Commission on Colleges. The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is due to SACS six-weeks prior to the arrival of the on-campus visiting team. Your active participation in both the development and implementation of the QEP is vital.