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Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

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Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is an institutional accreditor for quality assurance in higher education.

Committed to assurance & excellence since 1895.

06/04/2026

The June edition of The Torch Report is now available.

In this month's issue, SACSCOC President Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt discusses the release of the first draft of the revised Principles of Accreditation and why member engagement is critical as the review process moves forward.

You'll also find updates on:
-The AIM Negotiated Rulemaking process
-SACSCOC's new Office of New Member Services
-Workforce development initiatives
-Summer Institute 2026
-Institutional achievements from across our membership

Read the latest issue and learn how your voice can help shape what's next for accreditation.

Read it here: https://sacscoc.org/torch-report/

06/02/2026

Accreditation is strongest when it reflects the voices and experiences of the institutions and communities it serves.

SACSCOC has released the first draft of the revised Principles of Accreditation: The Standards for Accreditation and Reaffirmation for public review and comment.

We invite member institutions and stakeholders to review the draft and share their feedback as we work together to shape the future of accreditation.

Comments accepted through June 19, 2026.

🔗 Review the draft and submit feedback: sacscoc.org/principles-review

06/01/2026

WORKFORCE INITIATIVE |

America faces a significant workforce challenge. Millions of jobs are projected to go unfilled in the coming years, and meeting that challenge will require stronger connections between higher education and workforce needs.

In this conversation, Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt and Dr. Sandra Jordan discuss how colleges and universities can help create more pathways to high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand careers while maintaining the quality and rigor students deserve.

Through SACSCOC's Workforce Initiative, institutions are exploring new approaches, including certificates, workforce-focused pathways, and innovative degree models designed to help more students move successfully from education into meaningful careers.

Higher education has long been one of our nation's greatest economic engines. The question is not whether institutions can help meet workforce needs, but how we can work together to do it more effectively.

Watch the conversation below.

05/12/2026

2026 ANNUAL MEETING | Exploring New Frontiers in Higher Education

UPDATE: The Call for Proposals is now closed.

Set in Houston, Texas, a city long associated with bold missions, calculated risk, and the courage to push beyond what is known, this year’s Annual Meeting invites the higher education community to chart its own new frontier. Just as mission control brings together diverse expertise to navigate the unknown and guide explorers safely forward, SACSCOC calls on its member institutions to come together, share what is working, and build the strategies needed to lead with confidence into what lies ahead.

04/29/2026

2026 ANNUAL MEETING | Call for Proposals

UPDATE: The Call for Proposals is now closed.

Inspired by the idea of “new frontiers,” this year’s meeting calls on institutions to share what’s working, what’s changing, and what comes next in accreditation and institutional effectiveness.

04/01/2026

Summer Institute 2026 | July 19-222 | Atlanta

Planning ahead for summer?

The SACSCOC Summer Institute returns July 19–22 in Atlanta, bringing together higher education professionals from across the country to focus on accreditation, quality, and student success.

Whether you’re preparing for reaffirmation, working through substantive change, or just looking to connect with peers, this is a great opportunity to learn and grow.

Learn more:
https://sacscoc.org/summer-institute/

03/31/2026

The March edition of the Torch Report is now available, and it’s a great snapshot of the work happening across the SACSCOC community.

This month’s issue highlights:
✔ New efforts supporting innovation and workforce alignment
✔ Progress on updating accreditation standards
✔ New programs helping students connect education to careers
✔ Torch Awards spotlight and member highlights

Each edition of the Torch Report shares how colleges and universities are working to strengthen quality, support students, and serve their communities.

📖 Read the latest edition here: https://sacscoc.org/torch-report/

03/23/2026

LAW OR LORE | Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt’s Law or Lore series is designed to clear up some of the most persistent myths of SACSCOC accreditation.

Accreditation is built on principles, not perceptions. Yet myths and misunderstandings persistently take root. Law or Lore examines recurring questions in accreditation to distinguish what is grounded in policy from what stems from assumption or misinterpretation.

Drawing on real experiences from institutions, peer reviewers, and SACSCOC staff, each post brings clarity to how accreditation actually works. The goal: strengthen understanding, support sound institutional practice, and build confidence in the process.

Read the series here: https://sacscoc.org/law-or-lore-2/

03/12/2026

The SACSCOC Executive Council has approved a new policy establishing a framework for reduced-credit hour bachelor’s degree programs, giving SACSCOC member institutions the ability to create a more direct and efficient path for students to complete bachelor’s degrees in high need career-focused fields.

For students, reduced-credit bachelor’s degrees can provide a more streamlined route to completing a degree in fields that lead directly to employment.

“At the end of the day, this is about students,” said Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt, president of SACSCOC. “We want institutions to have the flexibility to design programs that help students reach their goals efficiently while ensuring that the degrees they earn continue to reflect the quality and credibility that accreditation represents.”

Read more here: https://sacscoc.org/news-and-events/sacscoc-opens-pathway-for-reduced-hour-bachelors-degrees/

03/05/2026

The Torch Report | March 4, 2026

In this month’s update, Stephen Pruitt highlights how SACSCOC is advancing workforce alignment, supporting institutional innovation, and strengthening transparency across the accreditation process.

This edition includes:
• A new Lumina Foundation – supported initiative to help SACSCOC member institutions better connect education pathways with workforce needs
• A preview of upcoming SACSCOC initiatives, including the new public data dashboard and progress on revising the Principles of Accreditation
• Recent Substantive Change approvals supporting career-aligned certificates and emerging programs such as artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing
• Highlights from member institutions and the Torch Award spotlight on affordability efforts at the University of the Cumberlands

📖 Read the full Torch Report here:https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2026/03/The-SACSCOC-Torch-Report-March-4-2026-.pdf

Address

1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, GA
30033

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

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+14046794500

Website

https://sacscoc.org/

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