By Mike Cavaliere

T he Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) voted to reaffirm Georgia College & State University’s accreditation for the next 10 years at its annual meeting earlier this month. The reaffirmation was unconditional, with no findings or follow-up recommendations cited.

“Earning SACSCOC accreditation is a mark of distinction for universities in this country, signaling that the schools which have met these rigorous national standards have a true commitment to student success,” said Georgia College President Cathy Cox. “This reaffirmation serves as a badge of honor to all Bobcat faculty and staff, whose unwavering commitment to hands-on learning and career-readiness are preparing students to become our next generation of industry leaders and innovators.”

Cox added that SACSOC accreditation is the “ultimate consumer protection marker for students and their families.”

“It assures them that what we offer meets the highest standards of faculty quality, student-focused operations and financial stability,” she said. “It is an arduous process, but truly a full-team effort focused on quality.” 

Representatives from Georgia College were also invited to give a presentation on the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), titled Bobcats First, at the annual meeting. The plan focuses on the critical area of student mental health. During the presentation, Vice President for Student Life Dan Nadler, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Holley Roberts, Assistant Vice President for Student Health and Wellbeing Emily Jarvis and Director of Institutional Effectiveness Cara Smith outlined several projects and initiatives that aim to expand support services on campus to help students thrive — including counseling workshops and trainings, exercise events, peer advocate programs and more.

“The goal of this five-year QEP plan is to offer students multiple support touchpoints throughout their time at Georgia College,” Nadler said. “While some elements are built into existing initiatives where participation is required — like Week of Welcome orientation events for first-year students — others are new and entirely voluntary. It’s a holistic approach that aims to develop all four domains of student wellbeing: emotional, physical, social and intellectual.”

Learn more about Georgia College’s various accreditations online.