What is SACSCOC?
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is proud to announce it has successfully completed its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Fifth-Year Interim Committee Review, receiving a completely clean audit, full compliance across all reviewed standards with no follow-up reports, no referrals, and no additional monitoring required. It will formally go to the SACSCOC Board of Trustees in June for approval.
The SACSCOC Fifth-Year Interim Review is a rigorous evaluation that takes place midway through an institution’s 10-year accreditation cycle. The review assesses continued compliance with key accreditation standards and evaluates the progress and effectiveness of the institution’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a long-term initiative designed to improve student learning and success.
During the review, SACSCOC evaluated NCWU’s compliance with 22 specific core requirements and standards, including areas such as faculty qualifications and adequacy, student achievement, academic program quality, student support services, distance education policies, transparency, and institutional effectiveness.
In addition, NCWU submitted its Quality Enhancement Plan Impact Report, which was reviewed and accepted by the SACSCOC committee. “Dr. Daniel Elias (Associate Professor of Environmental Science/Program Coordinator, Environmental Science) provided extraordinary leadership in preparing NCWU’s Quality Enhancement Plan,” said Dr. Joe Lane, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Contributions & Recognitions
“This is an extraordinary milestone for North Carolina Wesleyan University,” said Dr. Evan D. Duff, President of NCWU. “Successfully completing the SACSCOC Fifth-Year Interim Review with a completely clean audit is a tremendous accomplishment and a powerful affirmation of the quality, integrity, and dedication that defines Wesleyan. Our faculty and staff don’t simply prepare for accreditation, they live our standards every day, ensuring our students receive an exceptional educational experience.”
A clean Fifth-Year Interim Review is an achievement reached by only a small percentage of institutions, making the outcome a significant validation of NCWU’s commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.
The successful review reflects the work of the University’s Institutional Effectiveness team, along with strong collaboration across academic and administrative departments.
Dr. Duff specifically recognized the leadership of Dr. Jarrod Kelly, Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation, and Scott Marsigli, Institutional Effectiveness Analyst and Administrative Assessment Coordinator, who played key roles in coordinating the review process and preparing the comprehensive report submitted to SACSCOC. The Provost’s Office was also acknowledged for its coordination and oversight to ensure academic programs and student outcomes were thoroughly documented and aligned with accreditation expectations.
In reflection, Dr. Jarrod Kelly shares, “Having the SACSCOC Review Committee raise zero questions or concerns about our report speaks to the dedication and commitment of faculty and staff, particularly the team who spent over a year working on the report. To my knowledge, NCWU has never had a completely clean review with no committee findings. I believe that this reflects positively on our approach since our last reaffirmation to better educate and inform the campus community about the goals and importance of accreditation processes for maintaining quality and building a culture of continuous improvement.”
“This accomplishment is a reflection of the collective excellence of our entire campus community,” Dr. Duff added. “It reinforces that North Carolina Wesleyan University is not only meeting expectations, but we are exceeding them. We are on strong footing as we continue toward our next full reaffirmation, and I could not be prouder of the team that makes this institution so special.”
NC Wesleyan remains committed to providing a high-quality educational experience that supports student success, strengthens academic programs, and serves the broader community with integrity and purpose.
