Regent University Earns 10-Year Reaffirmation of Accreditation from SACSCOC
Regent University has earned a 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson, founder, chancellor and CEO of the university, made the announcement today.
“This is an incredible accomplishment for Regent University,” said Robertson. “The full 10-year accreditation is the highest level that a university can be awarded from SACSCOC. This achievement demonstrates the commitment of our faculty and staff to Regent’s mission of providing the very highest standards of academic excellence.”
This renewed accreditation comes on the heels of the university’s successful Strategic Growth Initiative, which included a significant expansion of high-quality, in-demand academic programs and significant revenue growth over five years. Regent’s student population grew from 5,900 students in 2014 to over 10,000, nearly doubling in size, due to focused investments in academic programs, enhanced student support systems, new faculty and enrollment marketing.
SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and in several international locations.
Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riano, executive vice president for Academic Affairs, said, “We are deeply grateful for the entire university team who worked for several years in preparation for the rigorous reaffirmation process, a process that included extensive applications and multiple on-and off-site visits and peer evaluations, in order to bring this outstanding achievement to Regent University. We are excited at the prospect of continuing to serve for many years to come as a destination of choice for thousands of students preparing to become Christian leaders to change the world.”
The extensive quality review process involves the submission of a Compliance Certification and a Quality Enhancement Plan, in addition to both on- and off-site reviews by SACSCOC peer evaluators. The criteria for accreditation includes over 70 standards assessing a wide spectrum of an institution’s mission, governance, academic and operational realities.
Regent first received full accreditation from SACSCOC in 1984. The next reaffirmation for the university will take place in 2029.
ABOUT REGENT UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1977, Regent University has nearly 11,000 students studying on its 70-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online around the world. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from a Christian perspective in 135+ program areas including business, communication and the arts, divinity, education, government, healthcare and nursing, law, leadership, and psychology. Currently, Regent University is ranked among top national universities by U.S. News & World Report and is one of only 23 universities nationally to receive an “A” rating for its comprehensive liberal arts core curriculum.
