NOVA Continues Decennial Reaffirmation Process

NOVA is in the midst of the reporting and review process for our decennial reaffirmation of our accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). No doubt, all are aware that Northern Virginia Community College is fully accredited by our regional association. Our official statement to that effect is posted on our website under a tab for “accreditation.” The statement and link are provided here:

“Northern Virginia Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate degree. Questions about the accreditation of Northern Virginia Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500 or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website.”

Our accreditation standing does not change during the reaffirmation process. NOVA’s regional accreditation is central to the ability of our students to transfer their courses to other colleges and universities and to their ability to receive federal and state financial aid to support their attendance at NOVA.

The reaffirmation process has multiple stages. Earlier this spring, an Off-Site Committee, made up of peers from community colleges in other SACSCOC states, was formed by SACSCOC Vice President Steve Sheeley. The college submitted a Compliance Certification Report, which responded to each of the “Principles of Accreditation” (see the attached 2018 Principles of Accreditation. Should you need assistance accessing this document, please contact SACSCOC at 404-679-4500. Many people at the college helped to write that extensive and detailed report, which was greatly appreciated. In April, the college received a report of preliminary findings from the Off-Site Committee.  Because this report is preliminary, it is not a public document. Out of about 72 items on which we reported, there were 12 items which the Off-Site Committee found were not adequately reported upon. The next step is for the college to write a “Focused Report” to add narrative, data and documentation to better explain those 12 items. Dr. Sheeley from SACSCOC met with the NOVA SACSCOC Leadership Team to further elaborate on the comments of the Off-Site Committee and guide us in what is needed in the Focused Report.

The SACSCOC reaffirmation process also requires the college to create a five-year Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) focused on improving student learning outcomes. Many employees across the college were involved in selecting the final QEP topic which focuses on two student learning outcomes related to writing skills. Specifically, NOVA’s QEP will (a) help students produce writing that is clear, effective and appropriate to the nature of the assignment and (b) help students produce writing that conveys an understanding of their identities, cultures and/or communities. By narrowly focusing the QEP on improving students’ writing skills and enhancing their understanding of identity, culture and communities, we will help the college achieve many aspects of our current Strategic Plan.  Presently, the QEP Implementation Team is making final adjustments to the QEP Action Plan. The final QEP document will be available to the college community no later than August 1, 2021.  If you have any questions about the QEP, please contact the co-chairs of the QEP Implementation Team: Dr. Nathan Carter, chief diversity, equity and diversity officer; and Jen Daniels, college pathway dean for English and LASS dean for Annandale Campus.

Both the Focused Report and the QEP will be submitted to SACSCOC by early September of this year.  The reports will be read by an On-Site Committee, again made up of peers from community colleges from other states represented within the SACSCOC and invited by Dr. Sheeley. This Committee will read all of our documents and then will visit the college October 25-28, 2021. Administrative Council members and other college leaders are in the process of planning the logistics to ensure that our On-Site Committee members have a comfortable and productive visit. Various members of the Committee will visit each of our campuses at some point during that week.

If you have questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Provost Pam Hilbert, philbert@nvcc.edu as NOVA’s SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison.

Submitted by:
Dr. Pam Hilbert, AN provost, PHilbert@nvcc.edu