The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools will be conducting districtwide evaluations April 22-25.
     The district is conducting campuswide mock reviews to further prepare for the SACS evaluation visit.
     The NE Campus conducted its mock trial March 27 while SE Campus participated in its mock trail, April 1. South Campus' mock trial is today and NW Campus will meet tomorrow. The May Owen Center is scheduled to meet Friday, April 4.
     Self-study documents are now available in print form on the campuses and on the Web at http://webreg.tccd.edu/Datatel/openweb/TCCMenuItems/SACS. The password is SACS. The report is divided into three sections: Compliance Audit Report 003, Strategic Focus Report: Technology 2003 and Looking to the Future: Summary Findings and Future Directions Alternative Self-Study.
     The mock trials serve as a preparation guide for TCCD when the SACS committee evaluates the district.
     Faculty members are advised to review the documents for extra preparation.
     Full-time and adjunct faculty have different advisories in order to prepare. For example, adjunct faculty are urged to have the following available: their department's 2002-2003 institutional effectiveness plan, an informational progress report for their department, a copy of their most recent instructional appraisal package, along with various other documentations.
     Full-time faculty are urged to have their 2002-2003 SOAP, an informational progress report on their SOAP goals, copies of final exams, TCCD's mission statement of visions and values and five-year institutional goals.
     TCC has undergone several self-studies in order to prepare and is now finishing preparation in the mock trails.
     Cheryl Roberts, department chair of English on NW Campus, said the mock trials serve as a guide to participants.
     "We try to ask questions we think they may be asked to prepare them for the real event," she said.
     Students can help by knowing TCC's mission statement and statement of values, located on campus in many TCC publications.
     SACS is responsible for the accreditation of colleges and universities in 11 states and in Latin America.
     TCCD, just as other higher institutions, must receive accreditation in order to remain a recognized college or university. Without the accreditation, students who graduate from the institutions would not have valid degrees.
     The reaffirmation is accomplished in two parts: a two-year self-study evaluating all aspects of the district according to the SACS criteria with a report of results and a visit by a SACS accreditation team to verify the institution's compliance with accreditation criteria.
     In June, the SACS accreditation team will submit its reports to the district for a response. September through October, the college responds to those reports and waits until December to be reaffirmed by the Commission on Colleges.