Campus Questions: What is SACS?

SACS, which stands for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting education institutions in the Southern states, including North Carolina. The SACS Commission on Colleges is responsible for degree-granting higher education institutions.

According to the SACS web site, accreditation “means that the institution has (1) a mission appropriate to higher education, (2) resources, programs and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain its mission, (3) clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers, and that it is (4) successful in achieving its stated objectives. Accreditation is a statement of the institution’s continuing commitment to integrity and its capacity to provide effective programs and services based on agreed-upon accreditation standards.”

Meredith faculty and staff members have been hearing a lot about SACS in recent months because Meredith is in the midst of the reacreditation process. This effort began in 2007-08 and will continue through 2010.

Regional accreditation is very important to an institution’s reputation and well-being. An inability to gain SACS reaffirmation would have serious ramifications on the College’s academic standing, and could negatively impact enrollment and financial support.

While the SACS process involves many members of the Meredith community, two committees are leading the process. These are the SACS Leadership Team, which is also functioning as the compliance committee, and the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Team. The QEP is one of 12 core requirements of SACS accreditation.

Members of the SACS Leadership Team are President Maureen Hartford (chair), Sue Kearney (vice chair), Allen Page, Bill Wade, Jean Jackson, Deborah Tippett, Ellen Goode, Laura Davidson and Pam Steinke.

The QEP Team members are Ann Gleason (co-chair), Mark O’Dekirk (co-chair), Deborah Tippett (liaison to the Leadership Team), Pam Steinke, Erin Lindquist, Jill Triana, Tim Hendrix, Andrea Irby, Toni Parker and Kelly Roberts.

Reaccreditation is also an opportunity for schools to review and improve their students’ educational experience.

“The SACS process is something that we are doing to enhance what Meredith is offering its students, and a way to enhance outcomes for the students,” Kearney said.

Look for regular updates on the SACS process in upcoming issues of “In A Nutshell.” For more information, visit www.sacscoc.org.

Editor’s Note: “Campus Questions” is an occasional “In A Nutshell” feature that will help educate the campus community about procedures and programs at Meredith. If you have a “Campus Question” send it to allenme@meredith.edu for consideration for a future issue.

Sustainability Spotlight: Office of Admissions
By Melyssa Allen

The efforts made by the Office of Admissions to improve sustainability were on display during Meredith’s September 12 Senior Visitation Day.

The event’s theme, “Maximize Your Resources,” was an extension of the College’s campus theme. Organizers designed the visitation day theme to encourage prospective students to do so in everyday life, as well as at Meredith College.

Visitation Day programs were printed on recycled paper and the office re-used paper already in stock to print other materials. After the event, remaining materials that could be re-used were saved for future use or recycled. Paper evaluations used in previous years were replaced with an online evaluation. The give-away item for each prospective student was a Meredith journal filled with recycled paper and a pencil made from recycled materials.

Admissions staff worked with the Dining Hall to “green” breakfast and lunch. At both meals, corn-based paper goods, plates made of sugar cane and cups made of recycled materials were used. The use of water bottles was also discontinued. Locally grown vegetables were served at lunch. After lunch, guests put their plates in a trash bin to be composted. The Dining Hall staff set out signs so guests would be aware of the composting system.

“Students and parents were incredibly receptive to the initiatives our staff implemented, and I think it set a wonderful standard for events to come,” said Director of Admissions Cristan Trahey. “We took a lot of pride in what we presented.”

Trahey said the admissions staff plans to continue these sustainability efforts at future events and hopes to find ways to expand on them.

Senior Visitation Day attracted 165 guests, including 77 prospective students and 88 other guests. Forty percent of the prospects submitted applications that day.

The Office of Admissions has also made environmentally friendly changes to its daily operations. These include the following:

• Staff members’ desktop computers use smart power strips that turn off all peripherals when the computer shuts down and prevents residual seeping of electricity from machines that are turned off;
• Using locally and organically grown flowers in the office during the growing season;
• Adding a dedicated tray to reuse paper in the office’s second floor printer;
• Recycling all paper that cannot be reused; and
• Using web-based applications to send email correspondence and manage event registrations, thereby cutting down on the use of paper.

“Our internal efforts within the Office of Admissions were inspired by staff who are committed to these practices in their own lives, but also by the hiring of Laura Fieselman,” Trahey said. “The staff walked away from her presentation at the opening conference ready to do something, however large or small, to address sustainability issues on campus.”

Editor’s Note: The Sustainability Spotlight will be a regular feature in “In A Nutshell.” Faculty and staff members who have sustainability efforts to share may email them to allenme@meredith.edu for consideration for a future issue.

< page 1 page 3 >