Accreditation

The Shaw University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate, baccalaureate, and masters degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Shaw University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling 404-679- 4500, or by using information available on SACSCOCS website (www.sacscoc.org).

The Shaw University Divinity School is accredited by The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada [10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15275-113: Telephone number (412-788-6505 or 800-367-8250)] to award the Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts in Christian Education, and Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degrees.

The Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The Teacher Education program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and is approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). The following programs are accredited and approved:

Elementary Education – undergraduate initial license
Birth – Kindergarten – undergraduate initial license
Graduate Level Program – Early Childhood Education

2024-2025 CAEP Annual Report (PDF)

2023-2024 CAEP Annual Report (PDF)

The SACSCOC Leadership Team consists of Executive Cabinet members, Deans, Department Heads and Directors who will oversee the 2022 reaffirmation accreditation process by providing guidance, direction, and resources to committee members responsible for preparing the Compliance Reports. The SACSCOC liaison, with recommendations and support provided by the Leadership Team and its respective members, will submit the Compliance Certification Report to the President for approval and submission to SACSCOC as a part of the reaffirmation process.

Shaw University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the masters and baccalaureate degrees. Shaw University is currently preparing for the 2022 reaffirmation of accreditation. Reaffirmation occurs every 10 years, with a fifth-year interim report due in between.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, a regional accrediting commission, is a voluntary association of degree-granting institutions located in the southeastern region of the United States that elect to engage in a self-regulatory process of quality assurance. That process expects accredited members to comply with standards in the areas of mission, institutional effectiveness and student learning, governance, curriculum and educational programs, faculty, academic and student support and financial and physical resources, and to comply with the policies of SACSCOC. The Principles of Accreditation, SACSCOC standards for accreditation, focuses on student learning and the institution’s capacity and resources to fulfill its mission.

Reaffirmation of accreditation is a process which ensures that member institutions maintain continuing compliance with Commission policies and the Principles of Accreditation – the accreditation standards of the membership. It involves a collective analysis and judgment by the institution’s internal constituencies and informed review of peers external to the institution, and a reasoned decision by the elected members of the SACSCOC Board of Trustees.

Timeline

Shaw University is a Track B, Level III Institution. Below are the timelines of events and deadlines in preparing the SACSCOC 10-year Reaffirmation for Accreditation Reports.

Timeline table coming soon!

Certification Committees

Shaw University is engaged in the SACSCOC 2022 Reaffirmation of Accreditation process, which includes compliance with the Principles of Accreditation encompassing integrity, core requirements, standards, and federal requirements. The university must develop a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) focusing on student learning outcomes and success. Various committees, comprising administrators, faculty, and staff, are responsible for addressing and documenting compliance with 72 standards across 14 sections, ensuring thorough preparation and adherence to accreditation guidelines.

Learn more about the Certification Committee

Shaw University adheres to SACSCOC policies to ensure accurate, timely, and clear information about its operations, mission, and student outcomes. The university’s catalog outlines institutional responsibilities and student expectations, ensuring transparency in print and electronic communications. Additionally, Shaw University provides detailed information on locations, programs, and measures of student achievement, maintaining valid documentation for program excellence and learning outcomes.

 Shaw University Accreditation Disclosure

Substantive change is a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution. The reporting and review of substantive change ensures that the scope of the program offered by the institution, as well as the structure of the organization of the institution, have undergone appropriate review by SACSCOC.

The Shaw University Substantive Change procedure (along with the policy) is intended to provide clear guidance of the criteria under which proposed substantive changes will be reviewed and approved at multiple levels within the university. This policy and procedure will promote institution-wide awareness of the internal timeframe required for the review, approval and reporting of proposed substantive changes to assure that the regional accrediting body for Shaw University, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), receives timely notification of proposed substantive changes before such changes are implemented at Shaw University.

Click HERE to view the Shaw University’s Substantive Change Policy,  Substantive Change Crosswalk and SACSCOC Substantive Change Policy.