1.4.1 Regional Accreditation

Nicholls State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master and specialist degrees. Contact The Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call (404) 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Nicholls State University.

Any and all official university publications describing the accreditation status of Nicholls State University with SACSCOC must be printed exactly as stated above. Questions regarding this statement are to be addressed to the university Nicholls SACSCOC Liaison.

1.4.2 Substantive Change

Nicholls State University maintains compliance with the SACSCOC policy through timely notification and reporting on areas of substantive change.

Background:

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) defines a substantive change as a “significant modification or expansion in the nature and scope of an accredited institution.” Activities included as substantive change are outlined in the SACSCOC policy statement, “Substantive Change Policy and Procedures”, found on the SACSCOC website.

Nicholls State University is required to notify SACSCOC of changes in accordance with the substantive change policy and, when required, seek approval prior to the initiation of changes. This policy and procedure is intended to ensure that all substantive changes are reported to the Commission in a timely fashion.

The Nicholls SACSCOC liaison is charged with reviewing the Substantive Change policy on a semi-annual basis and presenting changes to the President’s Cabinet, University Council, and Academic Council as necessary.

While certain changes require only notification prior to implementation, other changes require approval prior to implementation of the change (as per SACSCOC policy revised June 2021).

Procedure:

Any unit initiating a substantive change for Nicholls State University must notify the Nicholls SACSCOC Liaison immediately upon consideration of the change. Generally, this notification should occur 9-12 months in advance of the proposed change, but varies according to SACSCOC published policy. The Nicholls SACSCOC Liaison will review the proposal to determine if it falls within the substantive change list provided by SACSCOC and provide the unit with a description of SACSCOC substantive change procedures that must be followed.

All administration is responsible for notifying the Nicholls SACSCOC Liaison of proposed changes and for implementation of this policy. Questions about whether a change is considered “substantive” should be directed to the Nicholls SACSCOC Liaison.

Documentation required for the proposed change to be considered and time frames for contacting SACSCOC are outlined in the SACSCOC policy, “Substantive Change Policy and Procedures”.

Correspondence with SACSCOC regarding substantive change is to be submitted by the President, or designee, of Nicholls State University through the Nicholls SACSCOC Liaison and Vice President of the unit initiating the change.

1.4.3 Other Accreditations

Specific college and departmental accreditations are listed on the University’s web page.

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