The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) completed its review of Austin Community College (ACC) this week and provided a positive overview of the current status of the College.

ACC will receive its official report from SACS in a few weeks, to be followed by official action regarding reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Commission on Colleges in December, 2004. An unofficial oral report of the SACS Special Committee to the ACC Executive Team on Friday, September 10, indicated that there will be no recommendations or suggestions regarding faculty credentials, and only one recommendation regarding board governance. Other recommendations from the September 2003 visit by SACS will also be acknowledged as having been addressed, with no additional recommendations to follow.

The SACS committee reviewed over 1400 faculty files, including 100% of the full-time faculty and over 90% of the adjunct faculty files. In its review, the SACS Committee was complimentary of the faculty credentials, and the current status of board governance at the College. The only recommendation which will be in the final report will recommend that the ACC Board develop a policy to address SACS Principle 3.2.5 which reads, Members of the governing board can be dismissed only for cause and by due process.

On behalf of ACC, college president Dr. Robert Aguero expressed appreciation to the SACS Special Committee (which consisted of community college faculty, administrators, and one Trustee) for their work, and acknowledged that ACC is a stronger institution as a result of its review and the actions which preceded it.