Stage One:

The academic program participates in its scheduled external accreditation as specified by its external accrediting body (self-study, external review/site visit and response) through completion. This includes, if necessary, notification to all U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agencies of any change in JMU’s institutional accreditation.

Included in the self-study, the program is responsible for representing accurately to the public and external accreditors its status and relationship with SACSCOC. The following statement must be used in its entirety.

James Madison University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of James Madison University 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).

Stage Two:

Using the Academic Program Review Checklist, the academic unit self-study committee verifies that all aspects of academic program review required by JMU have been met. If any conditions on the Academic Program Review Checklist are not met, the academic unit self-study committee will create a supplemental document addressing those specific areas that were not addressed in the initial external review.

Stage Three:

Within four weeks of receiving the team report, the self-study committee must submit all materials – including the APR Checklist –to the dean for review and approval and then the AUH will forward to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Curriculum. The external accreditation report, the APR Checklist, the JMU STAR Tool objectives and any supplemental documentation with other information required by JMU (if necessary) are reviewed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Curriculum. If the checklist is not submitted, a program will be marked as non-compliant with the University APR Guidelines.

Stage Four:

The offices of the Provost and the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Curriculum have the option to recommend review of a specific area(s) of need. If consultation is required, the reviewer(s) submits a written report addressing the charge issued by the Provost’s office.

Stage Five:

Within four weeks of receiving the accreditation team report, the academic unit head and program faculty develop a formal action plan for integrating the results of the accreditation external team report, APR supplement and, if applicable, a consultation report. The plan is submitted to the dean for review and input. When approved by the dean, it is submitted to the Office of the Provost.

Stage Six:

After receiving an acknowledgement that the report has been sent to the provost’s office, the AUH must revise the APR objective in the JMU STAR Tool to reflect these changes. Results of the actions must be included in the program’s annual report. Stage Six is an ongoing process, and the results should continue to be included in the annual report until the action plan is completed or other decisions are made in regard to the recommendations.

Stage Seven: 

A JMU-required accreditation mid-point report must be submitted to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Curriculum with on-going follow-up in the remaining years leading up to the next regularly scheduled accreditation.