Chipola College Accreditation Reaffirmed for Ten Years

10/24/08

Chipola College president Dr. Gene Prough has been notified that the college’s accreditation has been reaffirmed by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
No additional follow-up report was requested. "This means we are reaffirmed through 2018," said Dr. Prough. "Our hard work has paid off. I very much appreciate the effort of every employee in accomplishing this task. Now we can focus on our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and increasing student persistence and success at Chipola."
The letter from SACS President Dr. Belle Wheelan asked that the college submit a one-page summary of its QEP to be posted as an example on the SACS website. This summary was submitted in August. The QEP, a five-year plan addressing an issue at the college, is now required as part of the reaffirmation process.
Dr. Sarah Clemmons, Executive Vice-President for Instruction and Student Services, said, "We are elated that no follow-up reports are required, and that SACS officials are pleased with our QEP."
Chipola’s QEP Learning to Persist will be featured at the SACS Annual Meeting in San Antonio in December. Dr. Cherry Ward, Faculty QEP Chair, and Gail Hartzog, Associate Dean of Development and Planning, will make presentations about Chipola’s reaffirmation process and explain the development of the QEP.
Clemmons said Chipola’s Title III project has already allowed the college to make a good start on achieving the QEP goals of helping students persist in college and remaining continuously enrolled until they graduate. She said one important component of Chipola’s QEP is providing professional development activities to help faculty and staff deal with today’s students. Other components teach students to make better decisions and help them take advantage of tutoring and academic support so they will achieve their academic and career goals.
Chipola College was founded in 1947 to provide the first two years of college and workforce programs for residents of its five-county district. The college has maintained continuous accreditation with SACS since 1957. Chipola is now accredited as a Level II institution because it has been authorized to offer several Bachelor’s degrees, including six Bachelor of Science in Education degrees, a Bachelor Business Management degree with three majors, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN).