MUSC accreditation visit set for March 7- 9

MUSC will host on–site reviewers representing the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Below is a brief Q&A to help provide information about the purpose of the visit.

Q: What is SACSCOC, and why is it important?

A: SACSCOC is the university’s regional accrediting body, which determines, among other things, whether MUSC is authorized to offer federal financial aid to students.

Q. How often does reaffirmation of accreditation occur, and who is the MUSC contact?

A. Reaffirmation of MUSC’s accreditation by SACSCOC occurs every 10 years. Suzanne Thomas, Ph.D., is the MUSC liaison to SACSCOC.

Q: What is the purpose of the visit?

A: The on–site visit — March 7 to 9 — serves two purposes. First, reviewers will determine whether the university meets each of SACSCOC’s 103 standards through interviews with MUSC executive leadership, faculty, staff and students.

The reviewers have received substantial written documentation of MUSC’s compliance with these standards; the on–site visit rounds out this information with personal interactions. The reviewers will determine by the end of their visit whether MUSC is in compliance with all standards.SACSCOC standards reflect a broad range of expectations for institutions of higher education — including effective governance, appropriate stewardship of financial and physical resources, SACSCOC standards reflect a range of expectations for institutions of higher education, including effective governance, appropriate stewardship of financial and physical resources, adequate faculty and staff (all with appropriate qualifications), protection of academic freedom, sufficient faculty development opportunities, progress in MUSC’s research mission, evaluation of all employees, effective student support services, sufficient library resources and indications that the institution engages in continuous quality improvement through systematic evaluation of performance toward its mission.

The second role of the on–site reviewers is as consultants to MUSC regarding our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which is “Team Up for Better Health.” The QEP is a required element of SACSCOC accreditation. Still, even without this requirement for accreditation, MUSC would embrace the QEP initiative since it aligns perfectly with the goals of Imagine MUSC 2020, our institution’s strategy for the future. Team Up for Better Health is a set of activities and initiatives that will improve students’ practical, applied teamwork skills and thereby help our graduates be even more marketable to employers and more competitive for prestigious residencies and fellowships. Team Up for Better Health will also help improve the practice of effective teamwork across the clinical and research missions. The QEP reflects on MUSC’s values of collaboration and innovation, and advances the institution toward a shared vision of leading health innovation for the lives we touch.

The campus welcomes nine on–site reviewers on March 7. For more about the MUSC’s accreditation and to view the winning student videos promoting MUSC’s QEP: Team Up for Better Health, visit http://ip-v.mdc.musc.edu/qep/