Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
To be accredited, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requires compliance with Section 7 Institutional Planning and Effectiveness and Section 8-Student which are defined by SACSCOC as follows:
The institution engages in ongoing, comprehensive, and integrated research-based planning
and evaluation processes that (a) focus on institutional quality and effectiveness
and (b) incorporate a systematic review of institutional goals and outcomes consistent
with its mission.
The institution has a QEP that:
- has a topic identified through its ongoing, comprehensive planning and evaluation processes;
- has broad based support of institutional constituencies;
- focuses on improving specific student learning outcomes and/or student success;
- commits resources to initiate, implement, and complete the QEP; and
- includes a plan to assess achievement.
The institution identifies expected outcomes of its administrative support services
and demonstrates the extent to which the outcomes are achieved.
The institution identifies, evaluates, and publishes goals and outcomes for student
achievement appropriate to the institution’s mission, the nature of the students it
serves, and the kinds of programs offered. The institution uses multiple measures
to document student achievement.
The institution identifies expected outcomes, assesses the extent to which it achieves these outcomes, and provides evidence of seeking improvement based on analysis of the results in the areas below:
- Student learning outcomes for each of its educational programs. (Student outcomes: educational programs)
- Student learning outcomes for collegiate-level general education competencies of its undergraduate degree programs. (Student outcomes: general education)
- Academic and student support services that support student success. (Student outcomes: academic and student services)
Currently, RC is accredited by SACSCOC. Accreditation signifies that the institution:
- has a mission appropriate to higher education,
- has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission,and
- 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 itsstated objectives (Handbook for Institutions Seeking Reaffirmation, SACS Commission on Colleges, February 2020 edition).