U.S. Department of Education’s Accrediting Body for Southern States Grants FSC Unconditional Reaffirmation

LAKELAND, Fla. (Dec. 9, 2008) — The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) announced today that it has reaffirmed, unconditionally, the accreditation of Florida Southern College. An unconditional reaffirmation is the highest form of reaccreditation that a college can attain.

Every 10 years, FSC participates in a rigorous evaluation by SACS of all facets of College operations, including overall institutional effectiveness in fulfilling its mission; academic program content and quality; faculty credentials and teaching excellence; learning resources and services, including library holdings and technology; breadth and quality of student support services; administrative governance; staff credentials and performance; demonstrated financial stability and sound financial practices; physical resources, including learning and student life facilities; collegiate athletic operations and compliance; and campus safety.

“The entire Florida Southern College community is proud to have received a qualified endorsement from this highly respected accrediting agency,” said FSC president Dr. Anne Kerr. “Our SACS reaccreditation is a testament to the College’s success in achieving its mission to prepare students to make positive and important contributions to our world. I greatly appreciate our outstanding faculty and staff and dedicated Board of Trustees for ensuring that Florida Southern College provides an excellent collegiate experience and continues on its upward trajectory.”

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the regional body responsible for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in 11 Southern states. Accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, the Commission’s mission is the enhancement of educational quality, and the SACS reaccreditation process is designed to ensure that colleges meet nationally recognized standards. Colleges and universities must be accredited by a regional accrediting commission to receive federal funding.

One of the outcomes of the accreditation process was the creation of SAGA, the College’s innovative, broad-based learning program. SAGA—Student Awareness Generates Action—is a campus wide, collaborative initiative for the study of important societal issues designed to prepare students to lead lives as contributing global citizens. The theme for this school year is hunger and poverty, which has been incorporated into academic classes, Convocation, and student activities.

FSC was first accredited by SACS in 1935.

FSC’s reaccreditation was announced at the Commission on Colleges’ annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. For more information on the Commission on Colleges and the reaccreditation process, visit www.sacscoc.org or call 404-679-4500.