Coahoma receives nod in preliminary reaccreditation review

While accreditation evaluations are voluntary, Coahoma Community College meets all comprehensive standards set by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accredits degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. SACSCOC is one of the six most widely accepted accrediting bodies in the United States.

Coahoma Community College has completed a four-year preparation process for reaffirmation by submitting its Compliance Certification Report for an off-site review, a follow-up Focus Report, and an on-site review. The College's on-site virtual review was held during the week of September 22-24, 2020. The on-site review gives other community colleges and SACSCOC staff a final look at how the College addressed the standards, including those set by the U.S. Department of Education.

Coahoma Community College President Dr. Valmadge T. Towner views the report of approval as an unbiased, reliable indication that the College is operating efficiently and with educational integrity.

"Having accreditation with SACSCOC is proof that the College is a competent deliverer of educational services to the public," said Towner. "With successful reaffirmation, the College is also eligible to receive assistance from the federal government in the form of financial and programmatic resources."

"Coahoma opened in 1949 and received its first accreditation in 1975. We are fortunate to have great people who worked tirelessly to help the College become reaffirmed. I am appreciative to our board of trustees, our QEP team, Mrs. Margaret Dixon and her team, as well as the leadership team for the College for the work exerted over past years in preparation for our reaffirmation visit. I am equally grateful to all of our faculty, staff, and students who also partnered our institutional teams over the past years."

According to Margaret Dixon, the College's accreditation liaison and director of Research, Assessment, and Strategic Initiatives, Coahoma received a 93 percent compliance rate for the 70 standards the College had to address by providing narrative and supporting documentation.

The College successfully aced its review of the 17 core requirements, earning 100 percent approval in an examination of integrity, institutional mission, degree-granting authority, coursework for degrees, continuous operation, governing board characteristics, the chief executive officer, full-time faculty, institutional planning, student achievement, program content, program length, general education core requirements, library and learning information/resources, student support services, financial resources, and financial documents.

Failing to meet any of the 17 core requirements can result in probation and/or removal of the College's accredited status, says Dixon. She believes reaffirmation is vital to the institution's growth.

"This critical process gives Coahoma an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive self-study to evaluate just to name a few, the quality of its administrative, educational, and support services provided to our students and staff," Dixon explained.

"Coahoma Community College is looking forward to maintaining its compliance status by continuing to operate according to all of its policies and procedures and by continuing to evaluate the effectiveness of its education and services for quality assurance…The Fifth-Year Interim Report will be due in five years or 2025 to address the 17 core requirements mentioned above."

Coahoma can expect its next reaffirmation visit in 2030.

"The future is bright for Tiger Nation. May the transformation begin for the next ten years," added Towner.