Accreditation Updates
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Knoxville College TRACS (Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools) Accreditation team, It's official! I am proud to announce we just completed step three, the application submittal on our steps to accreditation journey with TRACS.
We are now pending application review to demonstrate compliance with each Institutional Eligibility Requirement (IER’s). This process can take some time, but we are committed and continue to take the right steps towards securing accreditation in the near future.
The journey continues….
Step 3 - Steps Toward Accreditation - Application Review Committee Procedures and Determination
a. The Application Review Committee (ARC) will conduct an initial review of the Application materials. Financial information and documentation are reviewed by the TRACS Vice President of Finance.
b. The ARC makes one of the following determinations regarding the institution’s application. The institution will be notified of the ARC’s determination automatically via the TRACS portal.
• Approve the institution’s application - At this point, the institution is considered an “Applicant” institution and may begin the Self-Study Proposal process.
• Defer the institution’s application - If the institution’s application is deferred, the application will be reverted to the institution with staff comments citing areas that need to be clarified and any additional documentation that is needed. If the application is initially deferred by the ARC, the institution will be allowed no more Steps Toward Accreditation - page 8 of 16 than two additional opportunities to submit clarifying information and/or additional documentation. If the application is not approved after two subsequent submissions, the application will be denied.
• Deny the institution’s application - If the institution’s application is denied, the institution will be informed of the reason(s) for the denial. If the application is denied, the institution may reapply after one year.
NOTE: Submitting an application does not guarantee the institution will achieve “Applicant” status and be permitted to move toward Candidacy.
TRACS: Steps To Accreditation
✓ Step One | Initial Inquiry |
✓ Step Two | Application Orientation - overview of IER and suggested documentation |
✓ Step Three | Submit Application -demonstrate compliance with IERs |
Step Four | Safe-Study Proposal |
Step Five | Self-Study |
Step Six | Evaluation Team Visit & Response |
Step Seven | Accreditation Commission Appearance |
Step Eight | Candidacy! |
What Is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a systematic and ongoing process that provides a recognized and objective assessment of an institution's quality, competence, and adherence to established standards. It plays a vital role in ensuring and promoting excellence and accountability in various sectors, benefiting both the institutions being accredited and the constituents they serve.