Sacs Approves Chipola College For 5 Year Accreditation
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has informed Chipola College of its approval of the institution's Fifth-Year Interim Report. This means the college has been found in compliance with all Core Requirements, Comprehensive Standards, and Federal Requirements addressed in the report. Chipola College is fully accredited under SACSCOC until 2029.
“We are proud to announce the reaffirmation of accreditation from SACS. This is great news as it is a testament to the exceptional education students receive at Chipola College,” said Chipola President Dr. Sarah Clemmons. “On a daily basis, our faculty, staff and administrators work together to focus on the future of our students and of the college. The positive outcome of this fifth-year report is a direct result of diligence and consistency of quality maintained over time.”
Chipola submitted its Fifth-Year Report to SACS in 2018, five years after the college’s last reaffirmation of accreditation in 2013. The college included a QEP Impact Report on the success of its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). A Chipola committee developed the five-year plan entitled “GPS – Set Goals, Define Purpose, Achieve Success.” The overall goal was to enable students to make informed decisions regarding their career goals and related educational pathways.
To achieve its goal, the college developed and implemented a two-credit course, SLS 1401, Career and Life Planning, that first-time in college, A.A. degree-seeking students will take during their initial semester of enrollment. Additionally, the college added a full-time career advisor to assist students as they navigate their career and future plans. Through self-assessments and career exploratory assignments, students will attain the following outcomes: Assess their personal skills, interests and values related to career options, research the viability of career options, establish career goals and formulate educational plans to help them attain their goals.
Chipola College officials have learned a great deal from the QEP process. The college anticipates a decrease in the number of students who are undecided about their college majors once they have completed the Career and Life Planning course. Institutional data such as numbers of students declaring or changing majors, along with results of student assignment and reflective evaluations provide the formative and summative data for the overall comprehensive assessment of the QEP.
By enabling students to make informed decisions regarding their career goals and educational pathways, the QEP will help ensure that Chipola College effectively carries out its mission of providing access to quality learning opportunities toward degrees and certificates and facilitates the economic, social and cultural development of the college’s service area.