The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. The Commission’s mission is the enhancement of educational quality throughout the region, and it strives to improve the effectiveness of institutions by ensuring that institutions meet standards established by the higher education community that address the needs of society and students.
SACSCOC serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the diverse institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and other international sites approved by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees. The Commission also accepts applications from other international institutions of higher education.
Mission Statement: The mission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is to assure the educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its member institutions.
Core Values: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has six core values. They are: Integrity, Continuous Quality Improvement, Peer Review/Self-regulation, Accountability, Student Learning, Transparency
Vision Statement: To serve as the premier model for shaping and ensuring the quality of higher education throughout the world.
Accreditation by the SACSCOC signifies that the institution (1) a mission appropriate to higher education, (2) resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain its mission, (3) clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers, and that it is (4) successful in assessing its achievement of these objectives and demonstrating improvements. Accreditation by SACSCOC is a statement of the institution’s continuing commitment to integrity and its capacity to provide effective programs and services based on agreed-upon accreditation standards. From the SACSCOC website.
DSU’s Accreditation and Reaffirmation Status
Delta State University was initially accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1930. DSU was last reaffirmed by SACSCOC in 2014 and is scheduled for its next reaffirmation review in 2024. Renewal of SACSCOC accreditation involves a multi-year process guided by the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement and by the policies and procedures of the SACSCOC.
SACSCOC requirements touch all aspects of DSU’s academic and non-academic departments. The process is guided by a leadership team, but is interactive in nature by including involvement with all departments and colleges/schools. The process of documenting the reaffirmation report and the QEP plan is vital to DSU’s accreditation.
Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement: This official document outlines the Core Requirements, Comprehensive Standards, and Federal Requirements with which DSU must comply and provide evidence of compliance.
Associate Provost of Academic Affairs
Kent Wyatt Hall 228
Cleveland, MS 38733
Phone: (662) 846-4873
For data request, visit our info request form.
