Through the guidance of NC State’s Office of Assessment and Accreditation, the university recently completed another milestone in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaffirmation of accreditation process. This process ensures the university’s ability to continue to offer accredited degree and non-degree programs to all students.
This milestone centered on off-campus instructional site visits earlier this year and a campus visit in March. The NC State SACSCOC Steering Committee had been working on the reaffirmation review since May 2021.
NC State’s Self-study and Quality Enhancement Plan
The self-study report (Unity ID required to access the website) that NC State submitted in September 2023 was reviewed by a SACSCOC off-site committee last fall and the university was found out of compliance on five standards. The university submitted a focused report (Unity ID required to access) to SACSCOC in February that provided additional evidence of compliance for those five standards.
NC State’s next Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Packways: Learning by Doing, was also submitted in February. This QEP, which focuses on high-impact experiences, is part of a universitywide project focused on enhancing student learning and student success.
2024 SACSCOC Site Visits
A team of SACSCOC peer reviewers visited two of NC State’s off-campus instructional sites earlier this year. On February 22, they visited the Craven Community College, Havelock campus, which offers the B.S. in engineering. On March 25, they visited Central Piedmont Community College, which offers the Ed.D. in community college leadership.
A SACSCOC on-site committee visited NC State’s campus March 25-28. The visit entailed a review by the on-site committee to confirm compliance in the areas noted by the off-site committee in addition to a review of accreditation standards that are core requirements. Core requirements include student learning outcomes assessment, student and academic support services, faculty sufficiency, financial resources, admissions policies and practices, policies for awarding credit, distance education, curriculum standards, and federal and state responsibilities.
During the campus visit, the on-site committee met with various university stakeholders, including the UNC Board of Governors, NC State Board of Trustees, Chancellor Woodson, Provost Arden, faculty, staff and students. The committee also learned about NC State’s previous successes in implementing a QEP, and the means by which the university will achieve stated goals with the new QEP. Additionally, members of the committee met with individuals who have been helping with the development of the QEP over the last two years.
The campus visit concluded with an exit meeting attended by the chancellor, provost and NC State’s SACSCOC liaison. The on-site committee did not find any standards of accreditation out of compliance.
Next Steps
The hard work of the many faculty, staff and students who participated in the reaffirmation process by contributing evidence, writing narratives or participating in site visits is greatly appreciated. Moving forward, the Office of Assessment and Accreditation will review and incorporate the on-site committee’s feedback and guidance on the QEP throughout the implementation process.
An official SACSCOC report on NC State’s reaffirmation review is expected to be received after the organization’s annual December meeting. If anyone has questions about the reaffirmation process, they may contact assessment-and-accreditation@ncsu.edu.
