Reaffirmation of UHD’s SACSCOC Accreditation 2026
What is Happening?
University of Houston - Downtown’s (UHD) most recent Compliance Certificate Report
was presented to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
(SACSCOC) in September 2025. The offsite committee requested additional information
for five standards. UHD provided the additional supporting evidence through a focused
report in January 2026. In March 2026, a SACSCOC On-Site Review Team visited UHD to
review all evidence and fully assess the university’s compliance with the principles
of accreditation.
Preliminary Committee Findings
The On-Site Committee evaluated UHD against the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation
and reviewed our newly launched Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) during their onsite
visit from March 2-5, 2026. The committee then submitted its finalized report on March
24, 2026. The preliminary report supports UHD’s case for compliance and includes no
recommendations for continued institutional focus. The findings of the SACSCOC On-Site
Committee represents a preliminary assessment of the institution at this time; final
action on the report rests with the SACSCOC Board of Trustees.
Next Steps in the Accreditation Process
The SACSCOC Board of Trustees will review all accumulated documentation and issue
its final, official decision regarding UHD's affirmation at its scheduled meeting
in December 2026.
Qualified, effective faculty members are essential to carrying out the mission of
the institution and ensuring the quality and integrity of its academic programs. The
tradition of shared governance within American higher education recognizes the importance
of both faculty and administrative involvement in the approval of educational programs.
Because student learning is central to the institution’s mission and educational degrees,
the faculty is responsible for directing the learning enterprise, including overseeing
and coordinating educational programs to ensure that each contains essential curricular
components, has appropriate content and pedagogy, and maintains discipline currency.
Achievement of the institution’s mission with respect to teaching, research, and service
requires a critical mass of qualified full-time faculty to provide direction and oversight
of the academic programs. Due to this significant role, it is imperative that an effective
system of evaluation be in place for all faculty members that addresses the institution’s
obligations to foster intellectual freedom of faculty to teach, serve, research, and
publish. 6.2a: For each of its educational programs, the institution justifies and documents
the qualifications of its faculty members. (Faculty qualifications) The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, ed. College
Delegate Assembly (Decatur: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission
on Colleges, 2017 edition)Continuing the Work
Our QEP, Transferable Skills for the 21st Century, is one example of this continuing
work. The initiative is moving forward with strong momentum, and students are demonstrating
interest in developing transferable skills that support success in the workplace and
beyond. Student participation, experiences, and outcome data will guide the initiative's
continued evolution and improvement.Faculty Credentials