The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

University’s Accreditation Process Vital For Continued Federal Aid

Texas A&M University-San Antonio is currently undergoing the process to reaffirm its accreditation as a certified higher educational institution, which is important news for students. The regulating body that handles accreditation for Texas, as well as 10 other southern states, is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

According to William Bush, co-chair of the accreditation reaffirmation committee and a professor of history for A&M-San Antonio, regional accreditation is required in order to offer federal financial aid.

“If any university were to lose its accreditation, there is a good chance they would be unable to offer financial aid, which would cripple the university’s ability to function,” Bush said.

This review determines the eligibility for financial aid, which provides grants, loans and work-study programs for students. The total estimated cost of attendance at A&M-San Antonio for 2017- 2018 is $25,410 for students living on campus, $16,904 for students living at home with parents and $22,996 for those living off campus.

The value of a university’s accreditation affirms its value as a higher educational institution with the ability to grant associates, baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degrees.

“Accreditation is an evaluation of the quality of the university’s academic program and its co-curricular programs; its overall offerings to students,” Bush said. “It is a mark of the quality of the university that it is accredited.”

Reaffirming accreditation with the SACSCOC is a 3-step process which includes an off-site review, an on-site review and an evaluation of the reviews by the SACSCOC’s Board of Trustees. Recently, A&M-San Antonio was in the second stage of this process which is comprised of an on-site review to confirm that the university follows core requirements, comprehensive standards and federal requirements.

The on-site review began March 4 and lasted two days, during which a committee of 8-10 peer evaluators reviewed various factors which include the university’s quality enhancement plan, faculty competence, educational support and financial stability. On the third day, the committee submitted a written report stating the university’s areas of non-compliance.

“It was a successful evaluation,” Bush said.

The final step of this process will be a review of both on-site and off-site reports, as well as responses by A&M-San Antonio to those reports, by SACSCOC’s Board of Trustees. This will determine the university’s accreditation as a higher educational institution.

Results of the review will be released after the SACSCOC Board of Trustees meeting in December of 2019. Bush said we will have another evaluation in 5 years after which it will become a 10-year review process.

Click here for additional information about the Office of Provost SACSCOC Reaffirmation 2019

 

About the Author

Isaac Godoy
Isaac Godoy is a senior Communications major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio and an intern for the Mesquite Student Media. He is working to be an editor for political news reporting. Isaac likes to fish and loves to watch popular TV shows like Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead. He enjoys playing video games with friends on Xbox.

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