SACS Accreditation
SACS Final Report for Harding Academy May 11, 2007
Final SACS Document May 11, 2007 #1Final SACS Document May 11, 2007 #2
Final SACS Document May 11, 2007 #3
Final SACS Document May 11, 2007 #4
SACS reaccreditation study in progress this school year
Harding Academy’s secondary program has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1960. This statement is printed in Harding’s handbooks and public relations materials. Have you ever wondered why?
Southern Association of Colleges and School merged with the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement and is now known as SACS-CASI. It is one of nine regional accrediting agencies for colleges and schools. Next year, SACS-CASI will take in the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and will serve thirty states. Harding Academy will be in the eastern region of SACS-CASI.
Harding Academy’s secondary program is engaged this school year in a self-study. Mrs. Patti Copeland, academic supervisor, is the director of the study, and Dr. Marilyn Powell, retired Shelby County Schools educator, has been engaged as the facilitator. The process began back in the summer and will culminate with a visit by a peer review team this coming March. Every teacher, staff member, administrator, board member, student, parent, alumnus, and community member has a part to play in this study, and it is important that everyone be able to articulate the purpose of the study and the way it works.
In this year of self-study, Harding will be compiling notebooks of evidence to show that Harding meets all of the thirteen standards, as well as asking and answering these questions:
- What is Harding’s future (vision)?
- Who is Harding today (profile)?
- What is Harding’s plan for the future?
- What has Harding accomplished?
To get input for this study, a number of surveys were conducted early in the year among parents, students, teachers, administrators, alumni, and community people. In addition, a focus group of parents, students, teachers, and staff met to discuss the results of the surveys.
In March a peer review team, approved by SACS-CASI, will spend two days on campus validating the self-study and making recommendations. It is important to know that the evaluation process does not end with the visit of the peer review team, however. Because the intention is that schools always be in a cycle of continuous improvement, every year involves work on a self-study. After the visit, the cycle begins again. Harding is expected to update all four sections of the self-study every year. That means revising the school’s profile every year, looking at the school’s vision and mission every year, analyzing and recording the school’s progress on its improvement plan, and documenting compliance with standards.
SACS Links
Any questions about Harding's accreditation or self-study may be directed to Mrs. Patti Copeland, director of the study, copeland.patti@hardinglions.org.