The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, has completed its review of Chowan University’s Fifth-Year Interim Report with no additional reports to follow up on. The report, addressing 17 standards and including a Quality Enhancement Plan, or QEP, Impact Report, showed that Chowan University is in full compliance with all 17 standards.

“This is the second time since Chowan’s reaffirmation in 2009 that the university has been reviewed by SACSCOC,” explained Chowan University Provost Dr. Danny Moore. “In both instances, we did not have to provide a follow-up report. As a SACSCOC reviewer, I can attest that this is a rare experience for any institution.”

In addition, SACSCOC fully accepted Chowan’s QEP Impact Report stating, “The institution has adequately described the initial goals and intended outcomes of its QEP, focusing on improving critical thinking…The Chowan Critical Thinking Program is a very ambitious approach to improve critical thinking among the institution’s students.” The report also attested to Chowan’s improvement in students’ use of critical thinking elements over the past four year period.

“Seven years ago, we identified a deficiency among our students in their ability to think clearly and critically, and the Chowan Critical Thinking Program was developed as our QEP to address this issue,” stated Dr. Keith Reich, Chair of the Department of Religion and author of Chowan’s QEP Impact Report. “A positive response to the QEP report reinforces my opinion that Chowan University students are growing in their grasp of critical thinking. If our students can master these critical thinking skills, they will be more employable and much better prepared for any career they choose to pursue.”

SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in eleven Southern states. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the many diverse member institutions. The mission of SACSCOC is to assure the educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its member institutions and focuses on six core values – integrity, continuous quality improvement, peer review/self-regulation, accountability, student learning and transparency.