SACS Regional Accreditation

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the regional accrediting agency that accredits Florida International University. SACS accredits the entire University not particular programs or functions within the University.

University Accreditation Officer
Douglas Wartzok
Executive Vice Provost
PC 526, Phone (305) 348-2151, Fax (305) 348-2994

The Accreditation Officer, serves as a liaison between the President and the SACS Commission on Colleges. He serves as the contact person for the Commission staff, helps units prepare SACS notifications of substantive change, coordinates SACS visiting committees, disseminates information about accreditation, and answers questions from the public and the university community.

SACS- Regional Accreditation

Florida International University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees. SACS reaffirmed FIU's accreditation on December 5, 2000. For information about the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, or the accreditation process go to the SACS web site. For more information about the two-year, FIU self-study for reaffirmation of accreditation go to: Reaccreditation 2000: FIU SACS Self-Study. The University maintains the standards specified by the SACS "Criteria for Accreditation" and notifies SACS of any substantive changes.

SACS Notifications

SACS must be notified of substantive changes, especially the addition of a new doctoral degree, or when students can take 50% or more of degree curriculum off-campus or through distance learning. The President must send a notification letter to SACS six months in advance of the initiation of a program. Three months before the initiation a complete "Substantive Change Prospectus," must be sent to SACS. A discussion of this process and outlines of the notification letter and prospectus are detailed here.