With reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the university reaffirms its commitment to high-quality education.
COMMERCE, TX, December 20, 2024—East Texas A&M University has once again earned its seal of excellence, receiving full reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) this December. SACSCOC sets the standard for quality education among colleges and universities across the southern United States and beyond.
To achieve reaccreditation, East Texas A&M demonstrated its commitment to effective leadership, high-quality educational programs and robust student support services.
Why SACSCOC accreditation matters
Accreditation holds significant value for students, faculty and the entire East Texas A&M community. Alison Soeder, the university’s director of Institutional Effectiveness, emphasized its importance.
“Reaffirmation shares that our students are receiving a high-quality education,” Soeder said. “That covers all the areas, from our mission, our faculty, our educational programs, our policies and procedures, and our distance education sites. It covers everything that our institution does for our students.”
Accreditation also ensures that:
- East Texas A&M remains eligible for federal financial aid.
- Students can transfer credits to other universities.
- Employers and graduate schools recognize and respect East Texas A&M degrees.
A collaborative, campus-wide effort
Soeder and Dr. Ricky Dobbs, senior vice provost, led the two-year reaccreditation process, which required extensive collaboration among administrators, faculty, staff and students across numerous campus departments.
“I am very grateful for all the help and support we received from across campus during our journey to reaffirmation,” Dobbs said.
“It was truly a team effort,” Soeder added. “Bringing all of them together and working to achieve that final product definitely took a village.”
The result? A comprehensive 440-page report that effectively tells East Texas A&M’s story. Additionally, a peer review committee—comprised of experts from other institutions—visited campus to interview students and staff and assess East Texas A&M’s processes firsthand.
New initiatives: strategic plan and student career focus
Reaccreditation also sparked initiatives aimed at enhancing student success. As part of the reaccreditation process, East Texas A&M refreshed its strategic plan, outlining goals that will guide the university’s mission to transform lives over the next five years.
Additionally, the university developed a new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) focused on preparing students for their careers. Integrated into classrooms and student services, the QEP, Foundation for Your Future, helps students choose a path, prepare for the workforce, and launch their careers after graduation.
Looking ahead: continuous compliance and growth
Reaccreditation may last 10 years, but the work doesn’t stop here. East Texas A&M’s commitment to “continuous compliance” ensures ongoing progress.
“My office, Institutional Effectiveness, will continually work with subject matter experts on campus to ensure information and data are updated so we’re capturing any changes or improvements in those areas,” Soeder said. “That way, when it’s time to tell our story next time, for the Fifth Year Interim Report, we have a lot of that basic work done.”
Pride in excellence and the Lion community
Soeder reflected on the accomplishment of reaccreditation with pride in East Texas A&M and its vibrant community.
“I’m incredibly proud of our students, incredibly proud of the institution and what we’re doing here,” Soeder said. “We have a lot to offer.”
Dobbs agreed. “Reaffirmation is about telling our story to peers, and we have a great story to tell—of transformed lives and dedicated faculty and staff.”
With its SACSCOC reaccreditation secured, East Texas A&M continues to pave the way for student success, maintaining its reputation as a leader in quality education.
