This is the first of monthly updates on our reaffirmation for accreditation. UNCG is accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Accreditation is important to all of us as it ensures the general public and prospective students that we have meet quality standards for our academic programs and is a requirement for access to federal and state funding.
On September 1, 2023 the University submitted its report as the first step to be reaffirmed for accreditation by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This was a significant campus-wide effort – more than 75 faculty, staff, and administrators put in hundreds of hours of work over the past two years to develop this report. The report, called a Compliance Certification, explains UNC Greensboro’s continuous efforts to comply with SACSCOC standards and demonstrate the quality of the work we do. It covers most of the components necessary to be a successful higher education institution, including cohesive educational programs, qualified faculty, appropriate student support services, and sufficient resources. The Compliance Certification will be evaluated by a team of our peers this fall.
In January, UNCG will respond to questions from that review and submit a Quality Enhancement Plan. The Quality Enhancement Plan (or QEP) that the UNCG community selected last year relates to improving student success through programs that support students’ mental wellness. Called “Spartans Thrive,” this program provides students with an understanding of holistic wellness and campus-based support to help students achieve healthy balances across multiple wellness dimensions of their lives. It includes modules in the MAC Foundations courses, co-curricular opportunities as part of the Spartan Experience, and a peer mentoring program. More information will be shared about Spartans Thrive throughout this year and the duration of the program.
From March 18-21, 2024, UNCG will host an on-site visiting committee from SACSCOC. That team will tour our campus and off-campus sites where we also teach our programs, follow up on the results of our written report and additional requirements from the U.S. Department of Education, and conduct an in-depth review of our QEP. They will also meet with many people – faculty, staff, students, and administrators – to discuss the topics in the report. Any recommendations that they have for us will be shared at the end of that visit, and we’ll provide a response to those recommendations over the summer.
In December 2024 the Board of Trustees of SACSCOC will decide on UNCG’s accreditation status.
Between now and then we will provide updates and make sure that the campus is engaged in the process. If you have any questions about UNC Greensboro’s accreditation or the process, contact Jodi Pettazzoni, our liaison to SACSCOC, at jepettaz@uncg.edu.
