The Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) approved Pfeiffer University’s decennial reaffirmation at its December 2023 meeting.

SACSCOC is an institutional accreditor for higher education institutions, typically those in the Southern states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Latin America.

Likening the reaffirmation to a “seal of approval,” Pfeiffer President Scott Bullard noted that “over the course of more than a year, the accreditors examined every aspect of Pfeiffer’s practices – from the curriculum and quality of the faculty to audited financial statements for the last few fiscal years. This reaffirmation is the result of a great deal of hard work by Pfeiffer faculty, staff, alumni and other supporters. I am especially grateful for the work of Provost Danny Mynatt and the team he assembled to write and edit reports and to ensure that visitors to campus felt welcomed and had access to any piece of information that they needed in order to make decisions about the quality and integrity of our operations.”

Pfeiffer’s reaffirmation is the culmination of a multi-year process that began in 2021. Initial documentation was submitted in September 2022 and then the university hosted a visiting committee on campus in March 2023. Final documentation was completed in July 2023 before the SACSCOC official reaffirmation was reported this month.

“This process involves all sections of the university, both academic and non-academic, and virtually everyone on campus had some part in the process. The SACSCOC Reaffirmation is an exciting milestone as the Board’s decision is a validation of our commitment to quality and excellence in a Pfeiffer education,” said Pfeiffer University Provost Dr. Daniel Mynatt.

SACSCOC provides oversight of institutions on behalf of the federal government, and in order to remain eligible to accept federal financial aid, federal grants, and most other external funding, institutions of higher education must be accredited. The mission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is to assure the educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its member institutions.

Reaffirmation of accreditation is required every 10 years and involves off-site and on-site reviews based on a set of core requirements, comprehensive standards and federal requirements as laid out in SACSCOC’s Principles of Accreditation, which includes more than 70 standards.

The review also requires the development of a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) targeted at improving student learning and supporting the University’s mission. Accreditation requires the University to conduct a comprehensive compliance audit, which includes an assessment of all programs and courses offered by the institution.

The University’s next reaffirmation will occur in 2032.