SUNO receives outstanding feedback on SACS accreditation visit

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) held its on-site visit of Southern University, New Orleans (SUNO) March 2-4, 2011. The on-site committee report, which the University just received on Thursday, May 5, indicates that SUNO is in compliance with all SACS standards with no recommendations for corrective action.

"I commend our team for a job well done in showing our commitment to academic excellence and accountability," said Victor Ukpolo, the chancellor of SUNO, who has served on SACS review teams. "To have complied with all 89 standards, including the core requirements, speaks volumes of our efforts at SUNO."

The SACSCOC on-site report commented on the University's hospitality, and noted that SUNO "has made a remarkable recovery since the Katrina disaster.

A major commitment has been made to ensure that the quality of course offerings, the teaching/learning processes and students'engagement in learning were sustained at a competitive level during the post-Katrina period."

Ron Mason Jr, the president of the Southern University System, expressed with satisfaction, "This is a remarkable feat. It is rare in higher education for any institution, even with all its facilities intact, to 'pitch a perfect game' by meeting all of the 89 SACS standards with no recommendations. Chancellor Ukpolo and this team of administrators, faculty, staff, and students deserve the highest commendation for attaining this achievement even while living with the severe devastation of Katrina."

The findings of the visiting committee represent a preliminary assessment of the institution at this time, and final action on the report rests with the Commission on Colleges. The final reaffirmation confirmation is anticipated by the SACS Commission on Colleges in December 2011.

A copy of the entire report can be obtained from the institution.