PCC’s JOURNEY TO SACS Reaccreditation
5. Continuous review: By accepting accreditation status, Pitt Community College agrees to undergo a review on a rotating basis every 10 years. An institution is usually required to go through all the steps of the accreditation process each time it is reviewed. The purpose of the continuous review is to ensure that Pitt Community College continues to maintain the required accreditation status.
PCC’s Review
A team of 15 people from community colleges in the Southeast visited Pitt Community College on September 1820, 2012. The Committee examined all aspects of our operations. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is one of six private, voluntary, nonprofit regional accrediting associations in the United States. SACS, which was established in 1895, is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Its mission is to “improve education in the South through accreditation.” SACS is comprised of three Commissions: the Commission on Elementary and Middle Schools, the Commission on Middle and Secondary Schools, and the Commission of Colleges. The Commission of Colleges (COC) was created in 1912 to focus on developing standards for quality programs in higher education. The COC accredits institutions of higher education in eleven southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) and Latin America. The COC has been a leader in defining and implementing the concept of “institutional effectiveness” in higher education and is known for having the most stringent requirements.
Why it is Important
Accreditation by a recognized regional accrediting association (such as SACS) is required of higher education institutions in order for them to be eligible to receive federal funding. Accreditation is important to higher education institutions because it permits our students to have access to federally-subsidized financial aid, allows our faculty to compete for federal research grants, and ensures that the courses and degrees our students receive will be recognized by other institutions.
Without accreditation status, Pitt Community College would not be eligible for any of the above. If PCC lost accreditation, the college would lose approximately 70% of its revenue and approximately 60% of its current students could not afford to attend. Accreditation by SACS indicates that the institution “has a purpose appropriate to higher education and has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish that purpose on a continuing basis. Accreditation evaluates whether an institution maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers and whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives.”
Steps of the Process
1. Preparation and self-examination: Pitt Community College created a written report of our accomplishments according to the standards set by the accreditation organization. 2. Peer review: Administrative and faculty peers conducted an intensive review of the prepared materials, written report, and general workings of Pitt Community College. 3. Visit and examination: A visit team, made up of peers and members of the public who volunteer their time because of a strong interest in the quality standards of higher education, visited Pitt Community College September 18-20, 2012 examining data and conducting interviews. 4. Judgment action made by accreditation organization: The COC reviewed the previous steps and affirmed accreditation status for Pitt Community College.
It was clear in the Exit Conference that the reviewers were very impressed with all the Pitt Community College employees and students they met, and the longer they stayed, the more they were persuaded that we had the talent and commitment to more than satisfy their requirements in virtually all areas of inquiry. Of the twenty-one core requirements, comprehensive standards, or federal requirements identified for further review last May, only one principle was targeted for further work, the match of faculty credentials to the courses they are teaching. Regarding the Career and Advising Plan (CAP) we proposed, the reviewers made many helpful suggestions for modification and expansion, including two recommendations regarding measurable goals and assessments tied to these specifics.
The Result
On July 10, 2013, a letter from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was received from the organization’s President that stated: “The following action regarding your institution was taken at the June 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees of SACS Commission on Colleges: The Commission on Colleges reaffirmed accreditation. No additional report was requested. Your institution’s next reaffirmation will take place in 2023 unless otherwise notified.” Our Journey to Reaccreditation has ended. Thanks to all who worked diligently and tirelessly to help PCC reach this very important goal. 8