Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee Member Information

Thank you for agreeing to serve as a member of the Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee. This site contains materials to help you prepare for the work ahead and useful resources that will assist you as you begin your reviews. Before reading any further, make this webpage one of your Favorites, so that you can quickly and easily refer back to it when needed, this page is also available from your Cluster Home page.

Key Dates for Committee Members

By this dateYou Should:
February 16Receive an email from Shelia Luke that includes timelines, rosters, reading assignments, links to important documents (handbook, Principles of Accreditation (2024 edition), Resource Manual (2018 edition), and other logistical information.
After March 1 Receive Compliance Certifications from the institutions in your respective cluster
March 15Complete your input of comments into the SharePoint committee report for Institution #1 (if you have a cluster with 3 institutions).

March 20Complete your input of comments into the SharePoint committee report for Institution #1 (if you have a cluster with 2 institutions).
March 29Complete your input of comments into the SharePoint committee report for Institution #2 (if you have a cluster with 3 institutions).
April 11Complete your input of comments into the SharePoint committee report for the last institution in your cluster.
April 23 –
April 26		Attend Off-Site Review Committee Meeting virtually during your specified 2-day session
Schedule of Events

If you have issues accessing the compliance certification materials for institutions in your cluster by the indicated date, please notify the chair of your cluster and email Evaluators@sacscoc.org for assistance.

The sections that follow provide your with pertinent information related to your participation as a member of an Off-Site Reaffirmation CommitteeOffsite Resources

Meeting Logistics

The Off-Site Committee meeting will take place virtually. You will receive detailed information about connecting to the meeting as the date approaches. The meeting is scheduled to begin with a general session at 9:00 a.m. on Day 1, and conclude by 2:00 pm on Day 2. There is no travel associated with attending the meeting. However, you will need to complete and submit an expense voucher to receive the incidental expenses for meeting participation.

  1. Expense Voucher
  2. Information for Committee Members – (explains reimbursable expenses)
  3. Preliminary Schedule

Your Role as a Member of an Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee

  1. Ethical Obligations of Evaluators
  2. Handbook for Review Committees (In particular, please read Parts I and Part II (Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee)

Resources for Conducting Your Review

  1. Accrediting Organizations Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (reference for the review of Comprehensive Standard 14.4 Representation to other agencies)
  2. Analyzing a Case for Compliance (to assist with focusing and developing your analysis of the institution’s case for its compliance with each of the standards)
  3. Characteristics of Student Learning, A pamphlet produced by C-RAC, the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions
  4. Faculty Credential Guidelines (guidelines to be used when an institution relies exclusively on credentials to meet faculty teaching qualifications)
  5. Preparation of a Reviewer’s Analysis of An Institution’s Compliance Certification
  6. Links to the Principles of Accreditation and the Resource Manual:

Focus Area Training

Web-based Training Modules (Modules in the areas of Finance, Governance, Institutional Effectiveness, and Student Support Services. After viewing modules, your feedback is requested in a short survey)

Select Commission Policies and Guidelines

Related to multiple standards:

  1. Agreements Involving Joint and Dual Academic Awards
  2. Distance and Correspondence Education (policy statement and guidelines)
  3. Integrity and Institutional Obligations to SACSCOC
  4. Policies, Guidelines, Good Practices, and Position Statements: Definitions for Accreditation Purposes
  5. Quality and Integrity of Educational Credentials
  6. Separate Accreditation for Units of a Member Institution
  7. Unreported Substantive Change – (excerpt from Substantive Change Policy)

Related to a specific standard:

  1. Core Requirement 3.1.b: Documenting an Alternative Approach
  2. Core Requirement 5.1:Documenting an Alternative Approach
  3. Faculty Credential Guidelines (6.2.a) (guidelines to be used when an institution relies exclusively on credentials to meet faculty teaching qualifications)
  4. Institutional Obligations for Public Disclosure (10.3)
  5. Advertising and Student Recruitment (10.5)
  6. Credit Hours (10.7)
  7. Agreements Involving Joint and Dual Academic Awards (10.9)
  8. Complaint Procedures Against SACSCOC or Its Accredited Institutions (12.4)
  9. Accrediting Decisions of Other Agencies (14.4)
  10. Reaffirmation of Accreditation and Subsequent Reports (14.1, 14.3, 14.5.a, 14.5.b)

Writing Your Report

  1. Questions for Assessing the Quality of Writing
  2. Directions for Completion of the Report of the Reaffirmation Committee (guidelines directing committee members to specific sections of the Report of the Reaffirmation Committee to complete—especially important for the Chairs to review)
  3. Guidelines for Writing Comments for Committee Reports (guidelines on how to write up an evaluator’s analysis of a particular standard as applied)
  4. Off-Site Review Analysis Worksheet (Use this worksheet to draft your comments for the standards you are assigned to review.)
  5. Request for Justifying and Documenting Qualifications of Faculty (for use when the qualification of a faculty member has been questioned)

SharePoint Resource Documents

  1. SharePoint Online Training
  2. Quick Start Guide for SharePoint Online