Overview

Accreditation is a process of external review used by the higher education community to assure quality and promote ongoing improvement. Since 1965, the University of South Florida’s institutional accreditor has been the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Our accreditation with SACSCOC is reaffirmed on a 10- year cycle. USF is due for reaffirmation of accreditation in December 2025.

A USF Accreditation Steering Committee will be established to coordinate and oversee the development of documents required by SACSCOC and to ensure a successful site visit during the spring of 2025.

Preparation by the Institution

SACSCOC requires three distinct sets of documents, all due no later than September 9, 2024.

1. Compliance Certification Report - a report documenting USF’s compliance with the Principles of Accreditation (View Compliance Certification document)

2. Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) - a brief overview/executive summary of the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) (View Quality Enhancement Plan document)

3. Institutional Summary Form and Substantive Change history

In addition, an institutional response to the site visit report prepared by the Reaffirmation On-Site Committee may also be required. If so, it will be due five months after the site visit.

Review by the Commission on Colleges

USF will be reviewed first by an Off-Site Reaffirmation Committee who provides a report to the On-Site Reaffirmation Committee, who then then conducts a focused evaluation at the campuses and provides a report to the SACSCOC Board of Trustees for review and action on reaffirmation of accreditation.

1. The Off-Site Reaffirmation Review

2. The On-Site Reaffirmation Review

3. Review by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees

Timeline

Open

Project Status (Access Required)

LOW RISK
MEDIUM RISK
HIGH RISK
EXTREME RISK

High Level Risks

Project Level Risks

Additional Documentation

SACSCOC Documentation

Open

 

USF Documentation

• SACSCOC 2025 Reaffirmation Documentation