Every ten years, all accredited institutions of higher education in the southern
United States are required to renew their status by demonstrating they continue
to meet the accreditation standards of the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools’ (SACS) Commission on Colleges (COC). In 2001, the COC adopted
new processes that significantly changed both the philosophy and format of
the new reaffirmation process. Reaffirmation under the new Principles
of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement requires completion
of two distinct initiatives: the Compliance Certification review and the development
of a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). TSTC Harlingen is currently engaged in
the development of the QEP, and will complete the project in 2005. The QEP
link at the top of this page provides an overview of the college's focus and
objectives.
This site is part of the College’s reaffirmation undertaking and
is intended,
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the accrediting
body for more than 12,000 public and private educational institutions, from
kindergarten through university level, in 11 states of the Southeastern
United States and Latin America. Member institutions regularly perform comprehensive
self-evaluations to assist them in planning for improvement and to assure
the public of their overall quality. SACS is only one of six such regional
accrediting organizations in the U.S. recognized by the U.S. Department
of Education. Member institutions are accredited through one of SACS’ three
commissions: the Commission on Colleges, the Commission on Secondary and
Middle Schools, and the Commission on Elementary and Middle Schools. In
preparing for reaffirmation, TSTC Harlingen works with and through the Commission
on Colleges (COC), the representative body of the College Delegate Assembly,
which is charged with carrying out the accreditation process.
The SACS Reaffirmation process under the Principles of Accreditation:
Foundations for Quality Enhancement serves three distinct, but equally
important purposes. First, the compliance audit and Compliance Certification
report give TSTC Harlingen the opportunity to be introspective and truly
analyze our institution and its performance. TSTC Harlingen has always
been
strongly committed to the processes of continual quality improvement and
regular analysis of our performance so that we can in turn provide
excellence in
instruction and the delivery of services to a very unique population of
students. However, this reaffirmation process only complements and
enhances
our regular cycles of assessment, evaluation, budgeting, and planning
in that it encourages the institution to reflect on a decade’s
worth of trends, changes, improvements, and issues which affected the
college. This periodic
examination of the quality and effectiveness of our programs and the use
of our resources assures present and future generations of students
and
the public that they can be assured they will receive the best technical
education available in Texas.
Secondly, formulating and implementing a quality enhancement plan (QEP)
guarantees that TSTC actively seeks out creative and comprehensive says
to improve student learning, no matter how effective current practices
and performance may be. Whereas the Compliance Certification encourages
a realistic assessment of the effectiveness of TSTC Harlingen’s current
methods, the QEP raises the possibilities for institution-wide rejuvenation
that challenges us to be innovative and raise the bar on the manner in
which we define our excellence.
Finally, the reaffirmation process, and full SACS reaccreditation that
follows, demonstrates "to students, parents, legislators, the armed forces,
and the general public whose tax dollars support our operations" that
TSTC Harlingen is indeed fulfilling its intended purpose (mission).
Accreditation
is an absolutely essential designation of TSTC Harlingen’s standing
within, and our contribution to, the nation’s postsecondary educational
system.
January 22, 2003: SACS Orientation meeting for Class of 2005, Track
A
February 3, 2004: Staff advisory telephone conference
March 15, 2004: Submission of Compliance Certification and documentation
May 17-19, 2004: Review by Off-Site Peer Review Committee
June 2004: Staff conference calls with leadership team to convey
preliminary findings determined by the Off-Site Peer Review Committee
August 13, 2004: Submission of Quality Enhancement Plan and Focused
Report regarding findings by the Off-Site Peer Review Committee
October 11-12: On-Site Peer Review
Five months after Onsite Peer Review: Institutional response to
the report of the Reaffirmation site review Committee due
June 21-23, 2005: Review by the Commission on Colleges to determine
reaffirmation of accreditation.
