Southwest Receives SACS Re-Accreditation

For more information, contact:
Brenda J. Rayner
901-333-4247
bjrayner@southwest.tn.edu

Southwest received re-accreditation confirmation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees. SACS is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. The "English as a Second Language" (ESL) program is included in the scope of that accreditation.

"We were very confident that we would receive full accreditation," stated Southwest President Nathan Essex. "This accreditation visit was one of the finest that I have experienced since Southwest was created. [SACS] Team members indicated that this was one of the easiest reviews based on our thorough preparation and the quality of our programs. They were anxious to carry information gathered from their visit back to their own institutions."

The mission of Southwest is to provide the citizens of Shelby and Fayette counties and the surrounding Mid-South region with a high quality and affordable post-secondary education that prepares them for associate degrees, future educational opportunities, and successful employment. The college promotes student success in a supportive teaching and learning environment designed to raise educational levels, promote work readiness skills, enhance career advancement, prepare for university transfer, and enrich personal lives.