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Commencement 2025
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SACSCOC Reaffirmation

SACSCOC Reaffirmation

Clark Atlanta University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctorate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Clark Atlanta University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Welcome

Welcome to Clark Atlanta University University’s SACSCOC reaffirmation website. Reaffirmation of accreditation is an essential multiyear process that involves each unit of the university to review itself and its processes against the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation with ethical integrity and showcase our commitment to our core mission of instruction, research and service. It is our institutional report card as well as our opportunity to discover how we can improve through honest assessment of our programs, services and processes. This systematic self-study and review required by SACSCOC ensures that CAU continues to enhance its educational quality.  

It is important for the entire campus to approach the reaffirmation process as a high priority. Our success depends on the collective dedication to this important endeavor in time, effort and resources.  I thank those involved in both large and small ways, and I look forward to working together as we move forward to ensure that CAU will continue to be an outstanding university.

Lauren V. Lopez, Ph.D.
Vice President, Office of Planning, Accreditation and Institutional Research/SACSCOC Institutional Accreditation Liaison

Purpose of this Web Site

The purpose of this website is to help CAU faculty, staff, students, and administrators understand the requirements of accreditation so that we can respond effectively for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in 2026. In order to keep you abreast of our efforts this site will be updated on a regular basis with important resources and information related to the SACSCOC reaffirmation process.

For questions or inquiries about the SACSCOC reaffirmation process, please contact:

Dr. Lauren V. Lopez, Vice President of Planning, Accreditation, and Institutional Research/SACSCOC Institutional Accreditation Liaison, Ext. 8061

Dr. Calvin L. Brown, Sr. Associate Provost and Chief of Staff for Academic Affairs, Ext. 6042
 

Changes since the last Reaffirmation

The reaffirmation process has changed since our 2016 SACSCOC visit. Since then, particularly with the adoption of the 2024 edition of the Principles pf Accreditation, the reaffirmation process has continued to shift toward a more integrated and outcomes-driven approach. Key updates include:

  •  Stronger emphasis on equity and student success, with institutions expected to demonstrate how they support diverse student populations and close equity gaps.
  • Greater alignment between strategic planning, budgeting and assessment, reinforcing the importance of data-informed decision-making.
  • Increased expectation for transparency and accountability, particularly in how institutions us data to evaluate effectiveness and communicate results.
  • Refined and clarified standards, reducing redundancy and improving clarity to support more consistent interpretation and application across institutions.

These changes reflect SACSCOC’s ongoing commitment to fostering institutional quality and effectiveness through a more holistic and mission-driven framework.

CAU Reaffirmation Overview

Reaffirmation Teams & Responsibilities

CAU’s Leadership Team: The Leadership Team ensures the University community is well served and informed throughout reaffirmation process. The efforts of the Team members as Subject Matter Experts will center on the completion and production of both major documents: the Compliance Certification Report (CCR), and a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).

Team responsibilities:

  1. Review SACSCOC Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation and Handbook for Institutions Seeking Reaffirmation as well as other pertinent materials (e.g., templates, tables and policies) required for the preparation of the Compliance Certification Report (CCR), and review CAU Quality Enhancement Plan required for the preparation of the QEP
  2. To provide oversight and guidance in the preparation of the required reaffirmation documents
  3. Assist CCR working team members in responding to the standards and preparing a brief narrative and gathering samples of support evidence documents relevant to the assigned standards in their respective area
  4. Update the Executive Cabinet on the progress of their respective standards
  5. Review and provide feedback for necessary revisions of the reaffirmation documents on a continual basis
  6. Final approval of the CCR and QEP documents prior to submission
  7. Meet with the SACSCOC on-site reviewers in Spring 2016


CAU’s Compliance Certification Report (CCR) Team:  The CCR Team is a major component of the 2016 SACSCOC reaffirmation process. The members of the team will create sub-teams and engage in assembling the extensive documentation needed for CCR and addressing all standards of the Principles of Accreditation and that has institution-wide impact.

Team responsibilities:

  1. Review SACSCOC Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation and Handbook for Institutions Seeking Reaffirmation as well as other pertinent materials (e.g., templates, tables and policies) required for the preparation of the Compliance Certification Report (CCR)
  2. Meet with Leadership Team member (Subject Matter Expert) to work on the assigned standards
  3. Gather evidence and documentation required for each standard (See Attached)
  4. Develop a brief narrative report and cite support evidence documents (See Attached)
  5. Submit narrative report to OPAR by due dates


CAU’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Team: The QEP Team is a major component of the 2016 SACSCOC reaffirmation process. The members of the QEP Team will focus on a course of action that will result in developing a five-year project to enhance student learning and/or the learning environment.  The program will be aligned with the mission, vision, and strategic plan of the University.

Team responsibilities:

  1. Review CAU Quality Enhancement Plan required for the preparation of the QEP
  2. Develop criteria for exploring and selecting QEP topics for CAU
  3. Conduct stakeholder surveys, literature review on empirical data, and best practices
  4. Narrow topic ideas using rubric
  5. Call for concept papers and evaluate concept papers using rubric
  6. Request and evaluate full proposals and make recommendation to Leadership Team
  7. Prepare QEP for submission (A realistic operational plan for implementation, maintenance of effort, and completion of the QEP)


Other Ancillary Teams:

  • Resource Team
  • Writing Team
  • Technical/Web Support
  • On-site Hospitality Team
Compliance Certification Report (CCR)

In the Compliance Certification Report, we will present a clear and compelling case for compliance with each of the standards based on analysis of reliable, relevant and representative supporting data. Members of the Compliance Team will gather documentation from each administrative and academic unit. This collaborative effort will need everyone’s help and assistance to assure our success. 

The CCR follows a standard format that includes a narrative statement with links to supporting documents, but it’s up to us to “make the case” for compliance based on CAU’s mission, vision and strategic plan. We will prepare and submit our report in electronic format.

Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) will describe a focused, well-defined activity to be undertaken by Clark Atlanta University over a five year period and that addresses a topic or issue related to enhancing student learning. The QEP process ensures broad participation throughout the University in the identification and selection of a topic. After the reaffirmation process, CAU will oversee the implementation of the QEP and will report its full impact on the University in the next Fifth-Year Interim Report.

Our new QEP will be a forward-looking document describing changes the university will implement to improve student learning outcomes in a particular area.  The topic, based on our strategic plan and institutional program reviews, will be chosen after soliciting from constituents across the university.