Lumina Foundation Grant will Help SACSCOC Strengthen Higher Education Workforce Alignment

DECATUR, Ga. – The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has been awarded a $239,120 grant from the Lumina Foundation to support a multi-year initiative focused on strengthening the alignment between higher education programs and regional workforce needs across the accreditor’s membership.

The grant will support the development of a data-driven framework to help SACSCOC’s more than 780 member institutions better assess workforce priorities, identify gaps between labor market demand and academic offerings, and share effective practices for workforce-aligned education. The initiative will span the accreditor’s membership and include research, analysis, guidance development, and convenings that bring together higher education leaders, workforce planners, and economic development partners.

“This work reinforces our commitment to helping institutions ensure that students are prepared for meaningful careers and that programs are responsive to regional and state workforce needs,” said Dr. Stephen Pruitt, president of SACSCOC. “With Lumina Foundation’s support, we will provide practical tools, data, and collaborative opportunities that strengthen institutional planning and student outcomes.”

As part of the project, SACSCOC will:

• Conduct a comprehensive, state-by-state review of workforce priorities across SACSCOC membership
• Analyze alignment between workforce needs and programs offered by public institutions
• Develop actionable guidance and assessment tools for institutional workforce planning
• Establish a network of campus workforce development professionals
• Host an Education and Workforce Summit to share findings and foster collaboration

The initiative will also explore ways accreditors can recognize and incentivize strong workforce alignment, including sharing best practices and highlighting institutions that demonstrate effective engagement with workforce and economic development partners.

The grant period runs from February 2026 through February 2028, with key deliverables including state workforce reports, a regional synthesis analysis, a workforce development guidance framework, and a summit convening.

About Lumina Foundation

Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation committed to advancing learning and opportunity beyond high school for all Americans. Lumina works to increase the proportion of adults with degrees, certificates, and other high-quality credentials that lead to economic mobility.

About SACSCOC

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is an institutional accreditor for quality assurance in higher education. SACSCOC accredits institutions that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees, including those offered via distance and correspondence education, and direct assessment within these institutions. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among its members in the United States and international institutions of higher education approved by the SACSCOC Executive Council, Board of Trustees, and the Appeals Committee of the College Delegate Assembly.

The mission of SACSCOC is to assure the educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its member institutions.

Media Contact:
Eric Mann
Director of Public Information
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
emann@sacscoc.org  | 404-994-6576