August 9, 2021
Following a two-year collaborative process involving the entire campus community, East Central Community College in Decatur has chosen a financial literacy initiative known as Dollars and Sense as its Quality Enhancement Plan topic as it prepares for 10-Year Reaffirmation of Accreditation.
Beginning with the Fall 2021 Semester, ECCC will offer practical and applicable financial-oriented content to first-time college students, concentrating on options for paying for college through the completion of student educational pathways, as well as strategies for lifelong economic well-being.
Delivered through the freshman orientation course LLS 1312 Warrior Path to Success with credits counting toward graduation, the goal of Dollars and Sense is to prepare students for their college journey and beyond with real-world knowledge gained in an engaging setting with personalized attention.
“Over the course of two years, ECCC administrators, faculty, and staff analyzed data and research, brainstormed, solicited student feedback, and participated in conversations centered around ways to advance the educational experience for its students,” said ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory. “This collaborative work resulted in three possible QEP topics. After carefully considering the input and recommendations of college councils and committees, student and employee survey responses, and student focus groups, Financial Literacy was chosen as ECCC’s 2022 SACSCOC Reaffirmation QEP topic.”
The name of the QEP—Dollars and Sense—was chosen by vote of the entire campus community.
“The QEP must reflect and affirm a commitment to enhance overall institutional quality and effectiveness by focusing on an issue that ECCC considers important to improving student learning outcomes and student success,” explained Gregory. “We believe our focus on Financial Literacy the next five years through the Dollars and Sense QEP will do just that.”
The Quality Enhancement Plan, or QEP, is an integral component of SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) reaffirmation of accreditation and is derived from the college’s ongoing comprehensive planning and evaluation processes.
SACSCOC requires its member institutions to develop a five-year QEP in order to be reaffirmed for accreditation at the institution’s 10-year review. East Central Community College is in the process of its 10th-Year Compliance Certification for Reaffirmation of Accreditation, with an On-Site Peer Review scheduled for September 2021 and an announcement of ECCC’s accreditation status expected in December 2022.
SACSCOC is the recognized regional accrediting body in the 11 U.S. Southern states of 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. In order to maintain accreditation, an institution must comply with the standards and requirements in The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement and with SACSCOC policies and procedures.
Reaffirmation of accreditation occurs every 10 years.
East Central Community College is accredited by SACSCOC to award the Associate Degree. Questions about the accreditation of East Central Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).
