UMW maintains state accreditation

BY VICTORIA MOORE
The University of Mary Washington’s accreditation was reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) at the Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia on Dec. 10, 2013. According to SACS-COC’s website, their mission is to guarantee educational quality in its member institutions.
UMW was accredited for the first time in 1930. Accreditation requires a large review every ten years, with a smaller review during the fifth year. Provost Jonathan Levin explained that the reaffirmation of accreditation means that other institutions can trust that the degrees UMW gives represent what they claim they do.
This makes it possible for credits earned at UMW to be transferable to other universities.
“Accreditation is the gold standard for assessing and acknowledging the quality of education offered by an institution. Reaffirmation means that we continue to be recognized for the high quality of what we do,” said Levin.
“Knowing that UMW is accredited makes me feel like I can get a degree here,” said junior Chase Wilkinson.
Reaffirmation involves reviewing the university’s operation. All programs are constantly under assessment at UMW. SACS-COC reviews how the university assesses the programs and how UMW uses the results of the assessments to improve the programs. The high standards of accreditation insure that the University provides a high quality of education.
“Going to an accredited university makes me feel honored [knowing] that I’m in a community that achieves high standards,” said freshman Abbie Mathews.
UMW’s continual efforts to achieve high standards play a large role in their ability to meet the requirements for reaffirmation of accreditation.
“Students should feel good that SACS-COC—our Southern regional accreditor—has reaffirmed our accreditation,” said Levin. “It is a reflection of all the hard work the entire UMW community puts into making Mary Wash a real gem among public liberal arts colleges and universities.”