Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

FAU’S ACCREDITATION STATUS

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctorate degrees. Florida Atlantic University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Florida Atlantic University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Accreditation by SACSCOC signifies that the institution (1) has a mission appropriate to higher education, (2) has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission, and (3) maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees its offers, and that indicate whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives.

FAU’s SACSCOC accreditation is reaffirmed every ten years, with interim reports due every five years.  The university’s reaffirmation process includes reports demonstrating compliance with SACSCOC principles and standards and a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).  In addition to the reports, the reaffirmation process includes an extensive evaluation of compliance by an off-site peer review, an on-site peer review, and the final review by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. 

Significant Dates

• Initial Accreditation Date 01/01/1967
• Year of Most Recent Reaffirmation of Accreditation: 2013
• Year of Next Reaffirmation Decision:  2024
• Distance Learning Approved:  12/06/2002

SACSCOC Liaison

 

The SACSCOC liaison serves as a representative between the President and the SACS Commission on Colleges. She serves as the contact person for the commission staff, helps units prepare SACSCOC notifications of substantive change, coordinates SACSCOC visiting committees, disseminates information about accreditation, and answers questions from the public and the university community. All correspondence with SACSCOC on behalf of FAU must be submitted by the president or the SACSCOC liaison.

Individual contact with the SACSCOC about FAU’s accreditation status should occur only if there is evidence that appears to support significant noncompliance with a requirement or standard and must follow the Complaint Procedures Against SACSCOC or Its Accredited Institutions policy. 

Specialized and Professional Accreditation

In addition to institutional accreditation by SACSCOC, many of our colleges and distinct programs within our colleges are also accredited by discipline-specific organizations. For information about program-specific accreditation, please review FAU’s Consumer Information.