Summary of Purpose and Process

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is one of six regional associations for the accreditation of higher education institutions and is MCC’s accrediting agency. Accreditation of an institution by the Commission on Colleges signifies the institution has a purpose appropriate to higher education and has resources, programs and services sufficient to accomplish that purpose on a continuing basis. Accreditation evaluates whether an institution maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers and whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives.

In summary, the philosophy and process presented in the Principles are based on the expectation that accredited institutions will have made a commitment to:

• Comply with the Core Requirements and Comprehensive Standards contained in the Principles and the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges.
• Enhance the quality of its educational programs.
• Focus on student learning.
• Ensure a “culture of integrity” in all its operations.
• Recognize the centrality of peer review to the effectiveness of the accreditation process.

Source: Handbook for Reaffirmation of Accreditation. Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 2003.