SACSCOC 2014 Highlights - ProctorFree

SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) 2014 was a momentous conference set in an incredible facility. The ProctorFree team has had a chance to reflect and wants to share some of the highlights with you.

The What:

From SACS themselves,

“The 2014 SACSCOC Annual Meeting program will feature plenary
and concurrent sessions, workshops, group discussions, panels,
and Commission staff perspectives. Special activities will include
Presidents’ Day, the Educational Excellence Exposition, a Resource
Room, a Cyber Café, and networking luncheons. All sessions will
be held at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville.”

The Why:

Simply put, accreditation is what makes the degree you have worth anything.  Schools get accreditation then have to remain in compliance. It’s the equivalent of peer-review, but instead the level of a journal, it’s the level of a college or university. This matters because these accreditation folks are looking at online programs with an eye toward identity verification.

The Who:

The keynotes included Margaret Spellings former US Secretary of Education and President of the George W. Bush Foundation, Cameron Evans, the National and Chief Technology officer at Microsoft, and the State of the Commission address was given by Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, the president of SACSCOC.

The Where:

SACSCOC 2014 took place in Nashville, Tennessee at the newly opened Music City Center. This convention center is huge, high-tech, and even has a garden on the roof to reclaim rain water for the building’s usage.

The When:

SACSCOC took place December 6-9.

Next year:

Next year SACSCOC will be taking place in Houston, Texas on December 5-8. Hope to see you there!