2026 SACSCOC Summer Institute

July 19-22, 2026 | Atlanta, Georgia | Hilton Atlanta

Higher education is at an inflection point. Institutions are navigating the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, growing pressure to demonstrate student success, evolving accreditation standards, an ever-increasing demand to connect academic programs to workforce needs, and intensifying expectations to demonstrate institutional value and relevance.

This year’s Summer Institute is where campus leaders, faculty, administrators, and assessment professionals come together to turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s best practices.

This is not a conference about theory.  It is a working conference. Every session is designed to send you back to your institution with frameworks, strategies, and tools you can implement.

Who Should Attend

  • Higher education professionals who drive institutional quality and student success
  • Academic department chairs, deans, provosts, and senior administrators
  • Institutional effectiveness and assessment professionals
  • Enrollment management and student affairs leaders
  • Accreditation liaisons
  • Workforce development staff

Why YOU Should Attend

The Summer Institute is built on the belief that the most powerful professional development happens when practitioners share what works. Sessions are led by institutions that have achieved measurable success on their campuses, as well as by recognized leaders and experts in their respective fields.

You will leave with:

  • Concrete, actionable strategies you can implement on your campus
  • Peer connections with colleagues facing the same challenges
  • Exposure to perspectives and practices from across the field
  • The knowledge to contribute meaningfully to your institution’s most important work
Registration Opens Soon

Contact Us:

SACSCOC Meeting Planning Office

institute@sacscoc.org

More Details

A Message from Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt, SACSCOC President

For many years, the SACSCOC Summer Institute has served as a valuable opportunity for institutions to come together, share ideas, and deepen their understanding of accreditation and institutional effectiveness. Those conversations remain important, but this year we are approaching the Institute with a slightly different lens.

Rather than focusing primarily on explaining processes or interpreting standards, especially as we expect new standards in December, this year’s Institute is intentionally designed to spotlight best practices that institutions are using right now to navigate a rapidly changing higher education landscape. Our goal is to become a center of best practice in higher education by creating a working environment where participants leave not just with information, but with practical strategies, tools, and ideas they can bring back to their campuses.

Higher education is facing significant shifts from artificial intelligence and evolving workforce expectations to new ways of thinking about student success and institutional value. This year’s Summer Institute reflects that reality. It is designed to bring together leaders and practitioners who are doing meaningful work in these areas and to provide a space where institutions can learn from one another’s experiences and innovations.

In short, while past Institutes have helped institutions understand what accreditation requires, this year’s Institute focuses on how institutions are advancing their missions and strengthening student success in a time of rapid change.

Be Bold; Stay Gold.
Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt
SACSCOC President

Registration Fees

Summer Institute Registration Fee – $1,000:
The Institute registration fee includes all sessions held July 20 – July 22, 2026.  (buffet breakfast for three days (Monday-Wednesday), buffet lunch for two days (Monday, Tuesday), and refreshment breaks daily are included in the registration fee). Check payments must be received within 30 days of registering for the Institute.

Sunday, July 19, Optional Pre-Institute Session – $30:
Pre-Institute Session: Accreditation 101 | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM (advance registration required) This session is designed for individuals new to accreditation and SACSCOC. General topics will include a short history and philosophy of accreditation in the United States and with SACSCOC, SACSCOC governing structure, comprehensive reviews (i.e., Reaffirmation, the Fifth-Year Interim Review, and the role of peer evaluation), introduction to SACSCOC resources, and key Commission policies. The session will include several small group activities, time for Q&A, and a refreshment break.

Cancellation Policy
If you have registered for the Institute but are unable to attend, please cancel your registration online or notify SACSCOC via email (institute@sacscoc.org) as soon as possible. Please indicate if the cancellation is for all events or for the Pre-Institute session(s) only. Refund requests will be honored minus a $100 processing fee if cancellations are submitted by June 18, 2026. After June 18, 2026, all fees will be non-refundable.

If you paid by credit card, the funds will immediately be returned to your card. If you paid by check, a refund check will be processed immediately following the Institute.

In the event of inclement weather, SACSCOC will provide registrants a copy of all materials distributed at registration upon request. Refunds will not be granted.

Please be aware that cancelling your conference registration does not automatically cancel your hotel reservation. To cancel your hotel reservation(s), please do so online using the hotel acknowledgement number received from passkey via email or by contacting Connections Housing at 404-842-0000

Transfer Registration
Substitutions can be requested by sending an email to institute@sacscoc.org, providing the name of the currently registered person and the full contact information for the replacement person, including full name, title, email, work address, and phone number. Once the substitution is completed, confirmation of the change will be sent via email.

For substitution requests after July 16, please visit the registration check-in counter onsite.

If you have any questions, please contact institute@sacscoc.org.

Explore Session Themes

Sessions are organized around four themes that reflect some of the most pressing opportunities in higher education today. Attendees are encouraged to build their own schedule across any combination of sessions based on their interests and institutional needs.

Session Theme 1: AI in Higher Education

From institution-wide adoption strategies to AI’s role in assessment and accreditation, this theme focuses on practical implementation and real-world application.

Session Theme 2: Student Retention and Success

Every percentage point of retention represents real students and real institutional resources. This session theme delivers evidence-based strategies for keeping students enrolled and on track, including a dedicated session on how adults learn.

Session Theme 3: Assessment Practices

Assessment done well goes far beyond compliance. It measures institutional progress and informs decision-making. This theme helps both newcomers and veterans build meaningful assessment practices that go beyond a compliance checkbox.

Session Theme 4: Workforce and Institutional Mission

Institutions that connect their academic programs to community and employer needs strengthen their mission and their enrollment. This theme offers both strategic frameworks and real-world case studies.

Also Featured: Accreditation Essentials

Two additional sessions address critical SACSCOC compliance topics that affect institutions across the membership:

  • Substantive Change
  • Writing Narratives for SACSCOC Reports

View the Schedule

Advance registration is required for all sessions.

Sunday, July 19, 2026

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Check-In
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM Pre-Institute Session: Accreditation 101 (advance registration required)

Monday, July 20, 2026 and Tuesday, July 21, 2026

7:00 AM – 4:30 PM Registration Check-In
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Participant Breakfast
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Morning Breakout Sessions (advance registration required)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Participant Luncheon
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Afternoon Breakout Sessions (advance registration required)

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Participant Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Information Sessions with SACSCOC Vice Presidents

We anticipate opening registration for the Summer Institute no later than the week of March 30, 2026.

Hotel and Travel

Connections Housing is the only official housing bureau associated with and authorized to conduct transactions for SACSCOC. While other companies may contact you offering accommodations for your travel, they are not affiliated with SACSCOC. Entering into financial agreements with these companies can have costly consequences. SACSCOC is not connected in any way with other companies claiming to represent or provide hotel services.

Hotel Reservations:
Hotel reservations at the group rate can only be made after you have registered for the Institute. To secure your hotel reservation once you have completed the registration process, click the button, “Select Hotel.”

If you do not book your hotel during the online registration process, you can use the hotel reservation link from your confirmation email. Participants registering as part of a group should make their reservations using the housing link provided in their individual registration confirmation page. You may also make reservations by contacting Connections Housing at 404-842-0000.

Hilton Atlanta Hotel Information:
The Hilton Atlanta is located at 255 Courtland St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303.

The standard room rate is $219 per night, plus applicable state and local taxes.

Hotel reservations must be made by June 16, 2026 in order to receive the group rate.

If you have any questions regarding your reservation, please contact Connections Housing at SACSCOC@ConnectionsHousing.com or 404-842-0000.

Transportation to/from Hilton Atlanta: 

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is 11 miles from Hilton Atlanta: Click HERE for rideshare pick-ups, taxis, and ground transportation options.

Hilton Atlanta Driving Directions/Parking: For driving directions to the hotel, visit the Hilton Atlanta website.

Self-Parking: $40 Per Day | Valet Parking: $60 Per Day

Parking fees do not include tax, which is additional: In/out privileges for overnight guests only; Day guests per entry.

Volunteer at the Summer Institute

Want a behind-the-scenes look at how the Institute comes together? Volunteering at SACSCOC events is a fun, enlightening way to connect with colleagues, support the participant experience, and learn how the magic happens.

Volunteer roles may include:

    • Assisting with registration and attendee questions

    • Supporting presenters and session rooms

    • Serving as greeters or wayfinders

    • Helping event staff keep things running smoothly

We’re building a general volunteer interest pool for future SACSCOC events, including the 2026 Summer Institute, and we’ll reach out as opportunities become available.

👉 Interested in volunteering? Complete the Volunteer Interest Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/volpool

If you have any questions, please contact Meeting Planning Office at institute@sacscoc.org

Things to Do

Onsite activities and available dining options during your stay at Hilton Atlanta:
Click here for onsite activities.
Click here for onsite dining options.

Looking for additional places to visit!
Click here for more things to do while in Atlanta.

FAQs

1. Who can attend the Institute?

Due to the space limitations for the Institute, this program is limited to our member, candidate, and applicant institutions, as well as our state system offices.

2. What if I don’t select enough sessions for a full agenda? Am I eligible for a discounted registration fee?

A full agenda includes six hours of sessions on Monday, July 20, and six hours on Tuesday, July 21. You will be asked to select both a morning and an afternoon session for each day. Please ensure you do not select the same session more than once.

The registration fee covers a full agenda. If you choose not to create a full agenda at the time of registration, a discounted registration fee will not be provided.

There is no guarantee that seats will be available for the sessions once onsite. Therefore, it is recommended that you complete your registration with a full agenda in advance.

3. When will I receive registration confirmation?

Confirmations are sent automatically via email after your conference registration has been completed. If you do not receive a confirmation number, you are not registered. Be certain to check your spam email if there appears to be a delay.

When registering multiple attendees, please have each person’s email address and contact information.

4. If paying the conference registration fee by check, what address should I use?

If paying for your conference registration by check, make checks payable to SACSCOC. Please include a copy of your online confirmation with you registration fee, and send to:

SACSCOC
Attn: Summer Institute
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, GA 30033

5. How can I modify my registration? 

To modify your registration, use the link provided in the confirmation email received when the registration was completed. You may also go to the registration website and click the “Already Registered” link located at the bottom of the page. You will need your confirmation number to access the registration.

6. How do I cancel my registration and receive a refund? 

Refund requests will be honored minus a $100 processing fee if cancellations are submitted by June 18, 2026. After June 18, 2026, all fees will be non-refundable.

Please refer to the Registration Fees page for additional details.

7. Will there be an opportunity to register for the Institute after registration closes?

Yes. Once we reach capacity, registration will close. Requests for late registration will only be honored if and when cancellations are received. In order to be added to a waitlist, please click on the registration link and enter your contact information. Should space become available, someone from the  SACSCOC Meeting Planning Office will contact you.

Those who are granted late registration will be notified no later than Thursday, July 10, 2025. No on-site registration will be available. Late registration does not guarantee hotel availability.

8. I have registered for the Institute, but am unable to attend. May I send someone in my place?

Substitutions can be requested by sending an email to institute@sacscoc.org, providing the name of the currently registered person and the full contact information for the replacement person, including, full name, title, email, work address, and phone number. Once the substitution is completed, confirmation of the change will be sent via email.

For substitution requests after July 16, please visit the registration check-in counter onsite.

If you have any questions, please contact institute@sacscoc.org.

9. What is the SACSCOC Federal I.D. Number? 

The SACSCOC Federal I.D. No. is 32-0261810.

10. Is there a cut-off date for booking hotel reservations?

Yes. Hotel reservations must be made by June 16, 2026, to receive the group rate.

Check payments for hotel reservations (only) should be mailed to: Connections Housing, 990 Peachtree Industrial Blvd; PO Box 1408, Suwanee, GA 30024-9998.

11. Can hotel reservations be made prior to registering for the conference?

No. Hotel reservations at the group rate can only be made after you have registered for the Institute. To secure your hotel reservation once you have completed the registration, click the button “Select Hotel.”

If you do not book your hotel during the online registration process, you can use the hotel reservation link provided in your confirmation email. Participants registering as part of a group should make their reservations using the housing link provided in their individual registration confirmation pages. You may also make reservations by contacting Connections Housing at 404.842.0000.

12. When will I receive my hotel confirmation?

You will receive your hotel acknowledgement via email from Passkey immediately after each reservation booking, modification, and/or cancellation. Please note, this is not your hotel confirmation. Your hotel confirmation will not be available until after hotel reservations in Passkey have been forwarded to the hotel. Please contact Connections Housing at 404.842.0000 for additional questions regarding your hotel confirmation.

13. Will meals be provided?

Yes. Buffet breakfast for three days (Monday-Wednesday), buffet lunch for two days (Monday, Tuesday), and refreshment breaks daily are included in the registration fee.

14. What parking is available at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center?

Valet, $60 daily | On-Site Self Parking, $40 daily

15. What should I wear to the Institute?

Business casual attire is recommended. Attendees are urged to wear comfortable shoes. Attendees should also bring a jacket because meetings rooms tend to be cool.

16. How can I request special assistance?

If you have special needs (mobility, auditory, etc.), including dietary restrictions/allergies, please specify your needs on the online conference registration form. You may also email us at institute@sacscoc.org. We ask that all requests be received by June 10, 2026.

If you need to request special assistance while at the Institute, please see a SACSCOC staff member at Registration Check-In.

17. Can guests attend the Summer Institute?

No. Guests are not allowed to attend sessions or meal functions.

Future Summer Institute Locations

  • July 19 – 22, 2026, Hilton Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
  • July 18 – 21, 2027, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, LA
  • July 23 – 26, 2028, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, GA

Materials from Previous Summer Institutes