SACS ACCREDITATION

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the regional accrediting agency that accredits Florida International University. SACS accredits the entire University not particular programs or functions within the University. University Accreditation Officer Douglas Wartzok Executive Vice Provost PC 526, Phone (305) 348-2151, Fax (305) 348-2994 The Accreditation Officer, serves as a liaison between the President and the SACS Commission on Colleges. He serves as the contact person for the Commission staff, helps units prepare SACS notifications of substantive change, coordinates SACS visiting committees, disseminates information about accreditation, and answers questions from the public and the university community. SACS REAFFIRMATION OF ACCREDITATION Every ten years a university's regional accreditation must be reaffirmed. FIU was first accredited by SACS in 1974, and reaffirmed in 1980, 1990, and 2000. Reaccreditation 2000: FIU SACS Self-Study. SACS CRITERIA FOR ACCREDITATION All FIU programs must maintain SACS accreditation standards contained in the SACS "Criteria for Accreditation" SACS NOTIFICATIONS SACS must be notified of substantive changes, especially the addition of a new doctoral degree, or when students can take 50% or more of degree curriculum off-campus or through distance learning. The President must send a notification letter to SACS six months in advance of the initiation of a program. Three months before the initiation a complete "Substantive Change Prospectus," must be sent to SACS. A discussion of this process and outlines of the notification letter and prospectus are detailed here.