Office of SACS Reaffirmation

Welcome to Winthrop University’s SACS Reaffirmation website.  The purpose of the site is to provide information on Winthrop’s preparation for its 2011 reaffirmation of accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Winthrop University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, and specialist degrees.  Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Winthrop University.  However the Commission is to be contacted only if there is evidence that appears to support an institution’s significant non-compliance with a requirement or standard.
 
Winthrop received initial regional accreditation in 1923.  Accreditation by the Commission on Colleges signifies that the institution (1) has a mission appropriate to higher education, (2) has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission, and (3) maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers, and that indicate whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives.
 
To broaden and deepen awareness of the University’s initiatives and the rationale for them, Winthrop annually publishes and disseminates widely to on- and off-campus stakeholders, its Strategic Values and updated Annual Initiatives in a brochure known as the Vision of Distinction.  During 2009-10, Winthrop will focus on the following accreditation initiatives outlined in the Vision of Distinction.   

• To build on its record of nationally recognized quality and value while ensuring the continued availability of the distinctive Winthrop Experience for students of the future, Winthrop in 2009-10 will: 
  • Continue to institutionalize processes to ensure ongoing compliance with accreditation standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS);
  • Complete the SACS Compliance Report, including identification and appropriate documentation demonstrating compliance with core requirements, comprehensive standards, and federal requirements;
  • Identify the topic and scope of an institutional “Quality Enhancement Plan” consistent with SACS protocols, utilizing Winthrop’s existing dynamic planning process and principles of continuous quality improvement to inform that activity.

Important Notice:

This site will be updated frequently with important resources and information related to the SACS reaffirmation process. Please make sure to bookmark this site (CTRL+ B or right-click on page), as it will be the pipeline through which the SACS team will communicate instructions and distribute vital documents to the Winthrop community.