College Leaders Focus on Upcoming SACS Visit


August 15, 2013

新澳门六合彩开奖记录 leaders discussed the importance of the college鈥檚 upcoming re-accreditation process Thursday, telling faculty and staff that everyone is 鈥渁ll in鈥� to make it a success.

The subject was the focus of the annual Welcome Back event at the King Center for the Performing Arts, which marks the start of the Fall Term.

SACS booth
Those attending could learn more about the SACS process from Dr. Jayne Gorham, VP, Planning & Assessment, on the left, and Dr. Dedra Sibley, Director, Institutional Advancement.

The faculty and staff gathered heard from Eastern Florida President, Dr. Jim Richey, who praised their work in transforming the college into an institution that now offers four-year Bachelor鈥檚 Degrees. He also thanked them for maintaining the college's top national reputation as the institution grows.

鈥淚 want you to know the public strongly supports our new efforts to offer more educational opportunities to students. I hear that support wherever I go along the Space Coast and throughout Central Florida,鈥� he said.

The college鈥檚 next big step is the October visit by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or SACS, accreditation committee to evaluate Eastern Florida鈥檚 academic standards and practices, he said.

Richey urged everyone to make the evaluation a success, saying 鈥渨e鈥檙e all in together.鈥�

新澳门六合彩开奖记录 Executive Team
The Eastern Florida Executive team is "All In." Pictured from left to right are Linda Miedema, Jim Richey, John Dietrich and Rich Laird.

Dr. Linda Miedema, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Learning Officer, explained that accreditation tells students they can expect the best in higher education.

That includes 鈥渜ualified teachers working to improve student achievement, access to a rich, diverse and sound curriculum, the ability to transfer credits to other schools and greater access to financial aid,鈥� she said.

Others talked about a critical component of accreditation 鈥� the college鈥檚 Quality Enhancement Plan, or QEP, which is designed to improve student performance.

Welcome Back t-shirts

Dr. Ramona Smith, an associate professor of biology and a leader in QEP development, said the plan uses a combination of academic and other skills 鈥渢o ensure success in college and the workplace.鈥�

She said all employees should be familiar with the plan鈥檚 goals, which are available on the college鈥檚 website at easternflorida.edu/go/qep.

The SACS committee will visit the Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne and Palm Bay campuses and meet with faculty, staff and students Oct. 21-24.