The Citadel has successfully met all the requirements for its once-a-decade reaccreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC. Reaccreditation certifies the institution’s academic quality and general legitimacy, grants access to Title IV financing and verifies the value of education that cadets and students receive.
“This reaccreditation confirms The Citadel’s commitment to leadership development,” said The Citadel President Gen. Glenn Walters, USMC (Ret.), ’79. “Thanks to the successful efforts of our provost, Dr. Selden and her team, this process has highlighted the rigorous standards we hold our cadets and students to, as well as the sound fiscal management of the college.”
The reaccreditation process began more than a year ago. The Citadel was required to provide SACSCOC copious data about financial operations, academic programs and faculty certifications, among many other sets of data. This was followed by an on-campus visit by accrediting members in March of 2024. The unanimous vote to recertify The Citadel took place at the SACSCOC meeting in Austin, Texas last week.
A primary focus for this year’s reaccreditation was improving and expanding advising in all forms. This includes ensuring that cadets, students and advisors have the correct information and proper resources to guarantee that students are graduating on time and are prepared to excel in their jobs after graduation. This initiative closely aligns with the college’s chosen QEP, or quality enhancement plan, of Advising Tomorrow’s Principled Leaders. The QEP played an integral role in the reaccreditation process, as all SACSCOC-accredited institutions are required to demonstrate how their QEP addresses student needs using data-driven approaches.
“Achieving accreditation is a major milestone for The Citadel and directly reflects the institution’s unwavering dedication to providing our cadets and students with an exceptional education,” said Sally Selden, Ph.D., SPHR, Provost of The Citadel. “Our accreditation from SACSCOC assures our students and their families that our academic programs are of the highest caliber and will prepare graduates to lead with distinction in their fields.”
Institutions accredited by SACSCOC must demonstrate compliance with the standards for accreditation as contained in The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, and with the policies and procedures of the Commission.
“We are so excited to receive a perfect score from SACSCOC, our institutional accrediting body. The work that has gone into this process has been challenging, but our entire campus stepped up and showed what everyone knows — The Citadel’s faculty and staff are dedicated to the success of our cadets and students,” said Karin Roof, The Citadel’s director of accreditation and assessment.
Additionally this year, The Citadel earned the prestigious position of Best Regional University in the South and was also named Best Public University in the South for the 14th consecutive year and Best Colleges for Veterans in the South for the seventh year by U.S. News & World Report. Other notable rankings can be found here.
About SACSCOC and accreditation
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the regional commission responsible for accrediting degree‐granting institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and some institutions in Latin America and other international sites approved by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. The SACSCOC Board of Trustees is the representative body of the member institutions also known as the College Delegate Assembly. To gain or maintain accreditation, an institution must comply with SACSCOC policies, procedures, and with all standards contained in the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement in the professional judgment of peer reviewers. SACSCOC’s institutional accreditation includes all degree levels regardless of location or mode of instruction.
Regional accreditation agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities. There are six regions of the United States which regional agencies oversee. Regional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through national or specialized accreditation agencies. National accreditation associations, like regional accreditors, accredit the institution as a whole. Specialized accreditation agencies accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.
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