Perry elected to SACS Commission on Colleges

Emma Bradford Perry

Emma Bradford Perry, professor and dean of libraries, Southern University, Baton Rouge was recently elected to the Commission on Colleges for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, (SACS). In the 95-year history of the Commission on Colleges, she is the first librarian to serve as a commissioner. There are 77 commissioners - mostly college and university presidents/chancellors - representing 800 institutions in the Southeastern part of the United States.

The Commission on Colleges has the responsibility of determining policy, reviewing proposed dues changes, reviewing and making decisions regarding accreditations of institution plus any other modifications in the standards of the commission. As a commissioner, she will serve a three-year term.

The SACS Commission on Colleges is the recognized regional accrediting body in the 11 U.S. Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) and in Latin America for those institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees. The Commission on Colleges is the representative body of the College Delegate Assembly and is charged with carrying out the accreditation process.

To gain or maintain accreditation with the Commission on Colleges, an institution must comply with the standards contained in the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement and with the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges. The Commission on Colleges applies the requirements of its principles to all applicant, candidate, and member institutions, regardless of type of institution (public, private for-profit, private not-for-profit).