The Commission on Colleges and Universities

Yesterday, The Commission on Colleges and Universities team met at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, for our annual staff retreat — a day to connect, collaborate, and move forward together.

The retreat gave us an opportunity to recognize the organization's legacy and focus on what comes next: strengthening how we work together, embracing new ideas, and continuing to put Students First, Always.

Thank you to Agnes Scott College and President Leocadia I. Zak for hosting us on such a beautiful campus — and to our entire Commission team for the energy, ideas, and commitment they bring to this work every day.

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Annual Meeting!

We’re heading to Houston December 5–8 for Exploring New Frontiers in Accreditation — time for learning, conversation, connection, and ideas for navigating a rapidly changing higher education landscape.

Whether you’re new to accreditation or have years of experience, the Annual Meeting offers opportunities to gain practical knowledge, hear from institutional peers, explore emerging issues, and connect with colleagues from across The Commission’s membership.

📅 December 5–8, 2026
📍 George R. Brown Convention Center | Houston, Texas

Register today and join us as we explore what’s next.

https://sacscoc.org/annual-meeting/

You may notice a new name in your feed today.

As of September 1, we are publicly known as The Commission on Colleges and Universities. The Commission is the same organization, with the same staff, the same standards, and the same commitment to the institutions we serve — HBCUs, public and private institutions, community colleges, research universities, seminaries, and fully online institutions.

One important note for our member institutions: SACSCOC remains the name of your accreditation. Your accreditation continues to carry the SACSCOC seal, and you do not need to change your existing accreditation statements.

In the coming weeks, you'll see a brand new website, updated publications, social media, and more. It's an exciting time at The Commission!

Learn more about the new brand and what it means for your institution: https://sacscoc.org/introducing-the-commission/

This month's edition of the Torch Report highlights the launch of the SACSCOC Transfer Credit Consortium—a new voluntary, faculty-led initiative designed to improve the transfer of general education credit and help create clearer pathways to student success.

You'll also find updates on:
🔹 Our new Commission brand
🔹 The Workforce Initiative
🔹 Substantive Change approvals
🔹 Staff and member news
🔹 Opportunities to get involved in the 2026 Annual Meeting

Together, these stories reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting member institutions and putting Students First, Always.

📘 Read the July issue here: https://sacscoc.org/torch-report/

Students shouldn't have to start over just because they transferred to a new college or university.

Every year, students lose valuable college credit when they transfer between institutions — adding unnecessary time, expense, and frustration to earning a degree.

That's why SACSCOC is launching the Transfer Credit Consortium, a new voluntary, faculty-led initiative designed to help colleges and universities create clearer transfer pathways for general education courses.

The Consortium brings institutions together to reduce unnecessary credit loss while preserving what matters most:
🎓 Academic quality
👩‍🏫 Faculty leadership
🏛️ Institutional independence

When students can keep the credit they've already earned, they're better positioned to complete their degrees, enter the workforce sooner, and achieve their goals.

We look forward to working with our member institutions to build better pathways for student success.

📖 Learn more: https://sacscoc.org/news-and-events/sacscoc-launches-national-initiative-to-boost-transfer-of-credit-between-member-institutions/

Today, our Board of Trustees approved a new name and brand identity.

Beginning September 1, 2026, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) will become The Commission on Colleges and Universities.

While our name is changing, our commitment to educational quality, continuous improvement, and student success remains the same.

We are proud of our legacy and excited for the future.

Learn more here:

Introducing The Commission - SACSCOC Introducing our new name: The Commission on Colleges and Universities. On Thursday, June 11, 2026, our Board of Trustees approved a new name and brand identity: The Commission on Colleges and Universities. The new name reflects our commitment to innovation, educational quality, and student success.....

The June edition of The Torch Report is now available.

In this month's issue, SACSCOC President Dr. Stephen L. Pruitt discusses the release of the first draft of the revised Principles of Accreditation and why member engagement is critical as the review process moves forward.

You'll also find updates on:
-The AIM Negotiated Rulemaking process
-SACSCOC's new Office of New Member Services
-Workforce development initiatives
-Summer Institute 2026
-Institutional achievements from across our membership

Read the latest issue and learn how your voice can help shape what's next for accreditation.

Read it here: https://sacscoc.org/torch-report/