Thursday, December 15, 2016

Nota Bene: Accreditation Meeting Helps Conclude Successful Year

Earlier this month, I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the 121st Annual Meeting of our accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The theme of this year’s meeting, held December 3-6, was “Higher Education at the Crossroads: Pathways to Equity and Excellence.”

The meeting addressed various higher education accreditation practices and offered much topical discussion on the development and implementation of activities that enhance teaching and learning and support administrative operations. Dynamic speakers, peer-led sessions, engaging exhibitors, and numerous networking opportunities were also highlights of the conference.

Our own Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees member Dr. Linda Thomas-Glover moderated a President’s Day session featuring CNN Political Analyst Dr. Larry Sabato. I had the distinct pleasure of visiting with Dr. Sabato, a native of Norfolk and the Founder and Director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Overall, the meeting served as a wonderful conclusion to our very productive year with SACSCOC. As you know, Virginia Wesleyan received its 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation with no recommendations and no required follow-up reports—an incredible vote of confidence in our institution. And as I shared yesterday, the College was recently approved as a Level III institution, enabling us to add master’s degrees to our academic program.

Special thanks to each of you, our broader Virginia Wesleyan College community, for your daily work on behalf of this outstanding College and our students. Your efforts make Virginia Wesleyan shine bright, as a beacon for the liberal arts in the 21st century.