Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC), Applications Files

Abstract

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-COC) serves as the regional accrediting body for postsecondary academic institutions in the southeastern United States. Regionally accredited institutions generally recognize course work, academic programs, and transfer credits from other similarly accredited colleges and universities. Beginning with its inception as the first branch campus of the University of South Florida (USF) in July 1965, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg's academic programs received full recognition under the umbrella of the colleges and academic divisions of the USF Tampa campus. Changes in legislation and a memorandum of delegation between USF and USF St. Petersburg have since provided for increased autonomy in academic, curricular, and fiscal matters. After hiring a substantial number of new faculty and creating distinct colleges and programs of distinction at USF St. Petersburg, members of the campus community compiled and submitted an application to SACS-COC seeking separate accreditation of academic programs. The materials in this collection represent an archival copy of the SACS-COC application that campus administrators sent to the SACS office in Atlanta, Georgia. Since the submission of the 2004 application and 2006 compliance certification, USFSP has received separate accreditation within the USF System.