Compliance Certification  

Expectations

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools requires that institutions, as part of the review process for reaffirmation of accreditation, submit a Compliance Certification. This document, signed by the institution's chief executive officer and accreditation liaison, results from the compliance audit that an institution conducts for each of the requirements included in the Principles of Accreditation: The Foundations for Quality Enhancement.

Below is an excerpt, regarding levels of institutional compliance, from Handbook for Reaffirmation of Accreditation produced by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and distributed during an orientation in Atlanta in June 2003:

As part of the Compliance Certification, the institution is required to record its judgment of the extent of its compliance with each aspect of      each Core Requirement and Comprehensive Standard.  The institution has three alternatives in describing its determination:

Compliance:   The institution concludes that it complies with all aspects of the requirement or standard and supports this judgment in a narrative response supported by documentation.

Partial Compliance:  The institution judges that it complies with some but not all aspects of the requirement or standard and supports this judgment in a narrative response supported by documentation and justifying its claim of partial compliance, an explanation for its partial non-compliance, and a detailed action plan for bringing the institution into compliance that includes a list of documents to be presented to support compliance and a date for completing the plan.

Non-Compliance:  The institution determines that it does not comply with any aspect of the requirement or standard and provides a thorough explanation for its non-compliance and a detailed action plan for bringing the institution into compliance that includes a list of documents to be presented to support compliance and a date for completion of the plan.  

An Off-Site Peer Review Committee appointed by SACS Commission staff reviews the Compliance Certification and supporting documentation. This Committee includes reviewers in the following areas and roles: chair, institutional effectiveness, educational program, faculty, and learning/student support services. The Off-Site Committee identifies issues and provides direction and suggestions for consideration by the On-Site Peer Review Committee.

The On-Site Peer Review Committee assesses the institution's compliance with the core requirements and the standards; determines the acceptability of the Quality Enhancement Plan; provides a committee report on the institution's compliance with the Principles of Accreditation; and provides analysis and advice to the institution regarding its Quality Enhancement Plan. Normally, the On-Site Committee includes a minimum of five reviewers in the following areas and roles: chair, institutional effectiveness, educational program, faculty, and learning/student support services.