Accreditation
TSTC Harlingen, TSTC Marshall, TSTC Waco, and
TSTC West Texas are each accredited independently by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The SACS Commission
on Colleges is the recognized regional accrediting body for institutions
of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s,
and/or doctoral degrees.
Accreditation is the result of thorough and careful
evaluation of the educational quality of an institution. It signifies
that the institution has a purpose appropriate to higher education
and has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish
its purpose on a continuing basis. Accreditation is vitally important
for a number of reasons, such as recognition of academic credits
for transfer and participation in federal financial aid programs.
Every ten years, accredited colleges go through
a multi-year process of reaffirmation of accreditation. This process
begins with a college self-study that involves many faculty and
staff throughout the institution. College personnel assess the extent
to which the institution is in compliance with specific core requirements,
comprehensive standards, and federal regulations. And each college
develops a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) which addresses one or
more issues that contribute to institutional improvement, describing
a carefully designed and focused course of action on a well-defined
topic or issue(s) related to enhancing student learning. In addition,
educators from other institutions of higher education conduct an
on-site visit to assess the college’s educational strengths
and weaknesses. This committee’s written report helps the
college improve its programs and refine its QEP, and it provides
the basis on which SACS decides to grant, continue, reaffirm, or
withdraw accreditation; the college’s response to the report
is also considered. Reaffirmation of accreditation follows if SACS
is confident that the college has the resources, programs, and services
sufficient to accomplish its purpose.
TSTC’s reaffirmation dates are as follows:
- 2005 - TSTC Harlingen
- 2005 - TSTC West Texas
- 2007 - TSTC Marshall
- 2013 - TSTC Waco
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