Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Institutional Self-Study Records

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

Copyright for materials authored or otherwise produced as official business of James Madison University is retained by James Madison University. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more information, contact the Special Collections Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Institutional Self-Study Records, UA 0043, 1961-1992, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
0.66 cubic feet 2 boxes
Creator:
Madison College and James Madison University
Abstract:
The SACS Institutional Self-Study Records contain documents related to James Madison University's accreditation process, administered by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, from 1961-1992.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Institutional Self-Study Records, UA 0043, 1961-1992, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The SACS Institutional Self-Study Records contain documents related to the accreditation process administered by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, from 1961-1992. Topics of the self-study evaluation include educational programs, faculty and educational support services, administrative processes, financial resources, and institutional policies, among other topics.

The majority of the reports were prepared for the 1961 Self-Study, submitted during the tenure of President G. Tyler Miller. The 1961 departmental and committee reports cover topics such as university and departmental objectives, faculty and staff listings, details of the facilities and departmental resources, course offerings, and program evaluations. These reports form the basis of the final report, the "Summary Report of the Self-Evaluation Study, 1961" (1:1), submitted to the SACS evaluating body. The collection also contains SACS manuals and responses to recommendations made to by the SACS reaffirmation committee.

Biographical / historical:

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), now the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and School Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), is a regional accreditation agency for degree-granting higher education institutions. JMU was issued its first "institutional report card" by SACS in 1927, and continues to require SACSCOC accreditation in order to award baccalaureate, masters and doctorate degrees. SACSCOC requires that academic institutions renew or reaffirm their accreditation every ten years. As part of the reaffirmation process, JMU undertakes a comprehensive self-study that demonstrates that the university is in compliance with the SACSCOC criteria for accreditation, evaluates all aspects of the university, and recommends a future course of action. The university submits a "Fifth Year Interim Report" in between self-study reports.

Acquisition information:
Self-Study Reports from 1961 and 1981 were present in the cage at the time of founding.
Processing information:

Self-Study documents were minimally processed in 1992, and assigned Collection Number SE 92-0929, Department and Committee Self-Study Reports, 1961-2007.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged chronologically and alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard