SACSCOC provides accreditation for higher education institutions across the Southeast that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degrees.The University of Alabama at Birmingham has received a reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 

SACSCOC provides accreditation for higher education institutions across the Southeast that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degrees. The successful reaffirmation is a public affirmation of UAB’s quality, integrity and mission fulfillment.

“Reaffirmation of our accreditation reflects the unwavering commitment of our faculty to academic excellence and the strength of the programs they deliver,” said Janet Woodruff-Borden, senior vice president of Academic Affairs and UAB provost. “I want to thank the Steering Committee members and our entire faculty for upholding these rigorous standards and providing world-class learning experiences that shape our students’ lives and future careers.”

For institutions to gain or maintain their accreditation, they must fulfill the standards set in the association’s foundations for quality enhancement. SACSCOC requires all accredited institutions to undergo a reaffirmation every 10 years to ensure the institution continues to be in full compliance with SACSCOC principles of accreditation. 

The reaffirmation process spans nearly three years and includes three major phases:

• Phase 1: Internal committees evaluate UAB’s compliance with SACSCOC standards and submit compliance certification documents for an off-site review.
• Phase 2: UAB prepares a quality enhancement plan and additional documentation as needed for an on-site review.
• Phase 3: Additional responses and/or documentation are submitted for SACSCOC Board of Trustees review.

The quality enhancement plan is an integral component of the reaffirmation of accreditation process and is derived from an institution’s ongoing comprehensive planning and evaluation processes. It reflects and affirms a commitment to enhance overall institutional quality and effectiveness by focusing on an issue that the institution considers important to improving student learning outcomes and/or student success. 

UAB’s QEP, The City is Our Classroom, recognizes the important role UAB holds in the city of Birmingham, and the powerful learning that can occur as students engage with their community. The QEP topic was identified through a comprehensive development and evaluation process, arose out of institutional planning, and incorporated the input of a wide range of constituents.

“We are proud to celebrate our SACSCOC accreditation, which is further evidence of our institution’s continued commitment to providing all students with a world-class education that prepares them for real-world success,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “This reaffirmation reflects the dedication of university leadership and the SACSCOC Steering Committee, whose collaboration led to a successful review. I offer my sincerest thanks to Provost Woodruff-Borden, her team and all involved in this important process.”

The Steering Committee for UAB’s reaffirmation process included Katrina Mintz, Ph.D., associate vice provost of Assessment, Accreditation and Academic planning; Catherine Daniélou, Ph.D., senior associate dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs; Michael Sloane, Ph.D., associate professor; Chris Minnix, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Blazer Core program; Alison Chapman, Ph.D., professor; Mary Wallace, Ph.D., assistant vice president for Student Experience; Jeff Graveline, Ph.D., associate dean for Research and Scholarly Communication; Stephanie Mullins, vice president for Finance; Greg Parsons, Associate Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer; Cynthia Terry, university registrar; Lilian Mina, Ph.D., associate professor; Scott Philips, Ph.D., QEP director and vice provost for Innovative Teaching and Academic Engagement; and recently retired Eva Lewis, Ph.D. and Joe March, Ph.D. 

UAB’s next SACSCOC accreditation reaffirmation cycle will culminate in 2035.