Reaffirmation Process
Due in September 2016 is the compliance certification report, which is College of Charleston's (CofC) response to SACSCOC principles of accreditation, and an updated Institutional Summary Form. Six weeks prior to the on-site review, CofC must submit another updated Institutional Summary Form along with its QEP. It is at this time that the College also has an opportunity to submit, if necessary, a Focused Report to address any issues identified in the off-site review. A Focused Report is “essentially a mini-Compliance Certification report,” but only addresses the standards marked “Non-Compliance” or “Did Not Review” in the off-site review. Shortly following the on-site review, the College has an opportunity to respond to the findings in the Report of the Reaffirmation Committee. Also at this time CofC will submit the final version of its QEP to SACSCOC. The status of the College’s reaffirmation of accreditation will not be announced until the annual SACSCOC meeting is held in December 2017.
CofC submitted (October 2014) an Institutional Summary Form that provides SACSCOC with the following information:
- list of educational programs and degrees offered;
- identification of governance control;
- a brief history and institutional characteristics;
- a list of off-campus sites and distance-learning programs;
- accreditation status with other agencies; and
- CofC’s relationship with the U.S. Department of Education.
| Process | Description | Date |
| 1. Institutional Summary | The College prepares it's Institutional Summary Form | October 1, 2014 |
| 2. The Orientation Meeting | SACSCOC staff meet with CofC Leadership Team | December 9, 2014 |
| 3. Advisory Visit | The SACSCOC representative assigned to CofC may conduct an optional advisory visit as a follow-up to the orientation meeting |
May 24-25, 2016 |
| 4. Compliance Certification | CofC prepares and submits its Compliance Certification, relevant supporting documentation, and updated “Institutional Summary Form” to SACSCOC via Compliance Assist. |
September 12, 2016 |
| 5. Off-Site Review and Report | A SACSCOC Off-site Reaffirmation Committee remotely reviews CofC’s Compliance Certification and then meets to finalize the report of its findings. |
November 8-11, 2016 |
| 6. Review of the Report | SACSCOC forwards to CofC the report of the Off-site Reaffirmation Committee. |
Following Off-Site Review |
| 7. Materials for the Committee | SACSCOC sends the On-Site Reaffirmation Committee a copy of the Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee’s report. CofC submits: an updated Institutional Summary Form, Compliance Certification, catalog(s), written response to Third Party Comment (if applicable), QEP, and Focused Report (if necessary) via USB. |
Six weeks prior to On-Site Review |
| 8. On-Site Visit and Report | The On-Site Reaffirmation Committee visits CofC to evaluate the QEP; to review areas of non-compliance found by the Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee; and to review any areas of concern that may surface during the visit. The Committee submits its final report to SACSCOC, which forwards a copy to CofC. |
March 28-30, 2017 |
| 9. Response to the Visiting Committee Report | CofC prepares a response to the recommendations, if any, in the Report of the Reaffirmation Committee and submits it, along with a copy of the QEP, to SACSCOC. |
Following On-Site Visit |
| 10. Board of Trustees' Action | After reviewing the Report of the Reaffirmation Committee, the QEP, and CofC’s response, the SACSCOC Board of Trustees takes action on CofC’s reaffirmation. |
December 1-4, 2017 |