Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

More simply known as SACS-COC or the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, this accreditation organization is responsible for monitoring and accrediting post-secondary schools across the southern part of the United States. States under their jurisdiction include Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee as well as Florida. In addition to these states in the United States they also accredit higher learning schools in Latin America that provide degrees at the associate, bachelor or master level.

Full information on the history of the SACS- COC can be found on the agency website at http://www.sacscoc.org/, however this organization has been accrediting schools since 1895, making it one of the oldest accrediting agencies in the country. Currently located in Decatur, Georgia, the organization includes a College Delegate Assembly, which provides one voting representative from every school accredited by the organization. These representatives elect 77 commissioners which work to lead the organization and make changes to the accreditation process as needed. In addition to the College Delegate Assembly there is also an Executive Council that consists of one person from each of the 11 states included in the SACS- COC region as well as a public member and one chairperson. This group functions as the clarifiers and interpreters of any policies or procedures. The 13 members on the Executive Committee are elected by the 77 commissioners. This layered governing of the association ensures that all states and all accredited institutes have a say in changes to the standards, changes to the accreditation process as well as provide a wide range of individuals to participate in peer reviews.

The major function of the SACS- COC is to ensure that schools that are accredited follow the standards and high levels of educational programming indicated within the accreditation guidelines. Schools have to go through a rigorous accreditation process plus they also have to commit to reviews and ongoing and continuing self-evaluation and improvements of all educational programming. This constant monitoring of student outcomes and professional development by faculty, staff and administrators provide students with the understanding they are receiving the very best in education and that the programs offered by accredited schools meet specific, uniform and published standards. All the various standards, criteria and accreditation procedures are available to the public or to schools and interested students through the SACS- COC website.