The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-COC) accredits virtually all colleges and universities in the southern region of the United States. SACS is a voluntary organization of member schools, and college and university representatives to the SACS Commission on Colleges determine the standards, procedures, and timing of accreditation and reaffirmation of accreditation. The Commission requires that all colleges and universities reaffirm their accreditation review every 10 years. For William & Mary, the schedule is as follows:

• AY 2003-204: Develop arrangements for Processes of Institutional Effectiveness
• June 14, 2004: SACS Orientation with President and College representatives
• September 9, 2005: Compliance Certification Due
• November 7-10, 2005: Off-Site Peer Review Conducted
• February, 2006 (circa): Quality Enhancement Plan Due
• April 25-27, 2006: On-Site Peer Review (two day visit)
• December 1-3, 2006: Review by Commission on Colleges

A Note from David Aday, Director, SACS Project

I want to take a moment to introduce myself and to give you my point of view on the SACS review process. I've been at the College for 25 years. I am a professor of sociology, and I've chaired the department. In addition, I am affiliated with the American Studies Program and served as interim director of the Program for four years. I am a criminologist by training and inclination, and I have recently broadened my research interests to a field called "regulatory theory." Scholars in the field are interested in the range of social control arrangements, from laws to administrative regulations to certification and accreditation.

I am impressed with the reasoning that underlies the new SACS review process. It reflects some of the best and most recent scholarship in regulatory theory. I am committed to making this as painless and as useful as possible. We are challenged to think somewhat more deeply about the way we do our work, both administrative and academic. I look forward to working with you over the next few years.

Thanks in advance for your help and support.