Is Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Legit?

In another thread, someone mentioned Jacksonville State. It's accredited by "The Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools." Is this the legit RA accredeting agency, or some off the wall accrediting place?

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22448

 

SACS is a regional accrediting agency in the U.S., and very much legitimate.

 

Thank you!

 

SACS is legit - trivia note: quite a few of the military's schools (Ft. Knox for example) are accredited by them.

In fact, they appear to run a tighter ship than NCA.

 

Re: Re: Is Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Legit?

How so?

 

Re: Re: Is Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Legit?

I think you meant IMO or IMHO rather than "in fact."

But then again, that's just my opinion.

 

The list of regional accreditors is here.

The CHEA web site is where one may also look-up a given institution and/or its programs and determine if it's accredited by a USDE- and/or CHEA-approved agency; and if Jacksonville State is queried there, one gets this... which answers all questions and settles all bets.

People should use the CHEA database, as well as the USDE database, more. I link to both in my signature, below.

Actually, I think Jim's use of the phrase "appear to" pretty much adequately injects either true opinion status, or at least a close-enough-for-government-work relative thereof.

And I don't think it's unreasonable to characterize SACS (along with WASC, as long as we're talking about it) as being a bit more rigid in some areas; or NCA as being a bit more lax in some areas. Those certainly are their respective reputations. I'm not saying that NCA's standards fall below what we have come to expect from any of the regional accreditors; or that SACS or WASC are so rigid that they can't be worked with, or anything like that; but history seems to suggest that some regional accreditors are a little easier to work with than others; or that some are willing to accredit things that others might hesitate to accredit. Several people around here have charged that it's easier, overall, to be accredited by NCA. I don't know if that's true, mind you... but I'm just saying it's been alleged.

If your point, Phd2B, is that those kinds of things are just rumor, then fine. Maybe they are. In fact (and I use, deliberately, here, "in fact" and not "IMHO" or "IMO"), I think it would be great if it turned out that they are! But their reputations precede them... for whatever that's worth...

...and I think that's all Jim was referring to.

 

"close-enough-for-government-work"

I love this expression and offer the following example of how to determine "close-enough-for-government-work":

Measure with a micrometer, mark with a crayon, and cut with a chainsaw.

 

Re: Re: Re: Is Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Legit?

SACS seems to be willing to "discipline" institutions that do not meet the standard - there have been several articles in the CHE regarding this.

NCA appears to be viewed less respectfully. UoP and DeVry applied for RA NOT in their home states, but from their NCA campuses - as I understand it.

 

Re: Re: Re: Is Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Legit?

You might want to focus on "value added" posts a bit more

 

Re: Re: Is Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Legit?

The use of “in fact” and “appears to be” in Jim’s sentence appeared to be a bit misleading judging by Robb’s follows on question, “How so?”

The “value added” was in the form of clarifying two misconstrued statements.

 

JU used to be Jacksonville State but they changed their name a few years ago.

I lived in Jacksonville for 4 years and JU is a VERY well respected school. I consider getting my MBA from them.

 

Randell,

The Jacksonville State in question is in Alabama and is from a link that I posted. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, there is also a Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL. I only wanted to clarify for the sake of the thread.

Hope your PhD program is going well.

Kindest Regards,

Kevin

 

Kevin,

Your correct. I have lived in Jacksonville, Florida and JU has always been Jacksonville University. They have never changed their name. But I will agree, it is a well respected school.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Is Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Legit?

I wouldn't say that NCA as being seen as less respectfully. NCA accredits Duke, Drake, and my Alma Mater -- OU. Why would you make that assessment?

NCA does have more rules that apply to distance ed, which is why a lot of distance institutions apply with them. AMU for instance applied for SACS and was denied. They then moved their entire headquarters from Manassas VA to somewhere in West VA to apply with NCA. They did so for the DE part of it, not because NCA is easier or less respectful.

 

Ooops, I thought they had a name change in the '60's. Thanks for the correction.

 

SACS accredits AIU as well, which is the same as UOP, Devry, Capella etc..

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges

A slight correction, Duke is not accredited by the NCA, but by the SACS.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges

Correct, I realized this just after I posted it, but was too lazy to edit!

 

Here is a list of NCACS schools: http://www.ncahlc.org/index.php?institution=&state=ANY&submit=Search&form_submitted=TRUE&option=com_directory

You will notice that some great schools are in there such as Michigan, Coloroado, and Indiana State Universities.