SACS Reaccreditation Process Yields Multiple Benefits -- Mason Gazette

April 2002

Major Benefits of the SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation

Center for Teaching Excellence
Research program for undergraduates
Space for students to study 24/7
Study leave for junior faculty
Intercampus shuttle system
Comprehensive safety plan
Facilities master plan
Basis for Phi Beta Kappa application
Continuing Education and Alumni Affairs link
Traditions Committee
Improved administration of graduate student credentials
Improved continuing education function
Completed assessment program
Improved record keeping regarding faculty
Proof of credentials required to offer faculty employment

SACS Reaccreditation Process Yields Multiple Benefits

The process to reaffirm accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) resulted in more than continued eligibility for federal student aid and research grants and continued recognition of the university's credits and degrees by other institutions. The two-year self-study in preparation for the accreditation review spawned more than a half dozen new initiatives, Linda Schwartzstein, vice provost for academic affairs and director of the self-study, reported to the Board of Visitors in January.

Some of the initiatives were well under way even before the SACS review team made its site visit a year ago, says Schwartzstein. Some administrative improvements also came about because of the deadlines imposed through the process or specific SACS requirements.

"In some cases, we just had to document more completely what we were doing," Schwartzstein says. She notes that most of the recommendations in the self-study have been accomplished or are under way. Those that aren't have been stymied primarily because of budget cuts.

Schwartzstein says it's likely that many of the new programs would not have been undertaken without the self-study. "The self-study gave community support to these recommendations since faculty, staff, students, and even some alumni participated in the surveys and focus groups. Getting consensus really gave credibility to the recommendations."

For example, the Center for Teaching Excellence headed by Lori Fathe was established last fall in direct response to a self-study recommendation to "recognize, establish, and support university activities devoted to the study and improvement of learning." The competitive research program for undergraduates, now administered through Fathe's office, was recommended by the self-study and is now in its fifth semester. "It's a phenomenal program for an institution of this size," says Fathe, who notes that the number of applications for the 15 slots available continues to increase.

A recommendation for space for students to study and use computers on a 24/7 basis was answered by having SUB I on the Fairfax Campus open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During exam periods, the Johnson Center and selected computer labs are also open 24 hours a day. In addition, the Mason Express Shuttle between the Fairfax and Prince William Campuses begun last fall was instituted in response to another recommendation as a way of uniting the campuses, improving communication, and making travel between them easier.

The Traditions Committee was recommended to establish more links and closer ties between the university and alumni. In its first year, the committee held a contest to select a university alma mater and also instituted an official class ring for students and alumni. The committee's next project involves "fostering a culture that makes the honor code an important part of university life," committee member Traci Claar says.

Other actions undertaken as a result of the reaccreditation process are more administrative in nature, but no less important. The self-study committee recommended procedures to ensure that graduate student files have complete transcripts, and the SACS review team noted that some faculty members' files were incomplete or inconsistent. The Provost's Office has since adopted policies to improve record keeping and verify credentials before a faculty member is offered employment.

The self-study also served as a resource for the university's application to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society for a campus chapter. "Without the SACS report, it would have been a daunting task to get that material together. What we gave to Phi Beta Kappa was a hefty report," says Marion Deshmukh, History and Art History, who chairs the committee coordinating the application.