Accreditation and Affiliations
Roanoke College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate degrees. If you have questions about the accreditation of Roanoke College please contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, (404) 679-4500, (www.sacscoc.org).
We provide the Commission’s contact information to (1) to learn about the accreditation status of the institution, (2) to file a third-party comment at the time of the institution’s decennial review, or (3) to file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement. Note that normal inquiries about the institution, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to Roanoke College and not to the Commission’s office.
Roanoke is a member of the College Entrance Examination Board, the National Commission on Accreditation, the Association of American Colleges, and the Association of Virginia Colleges. It is on the list of approved colleges of the American Chemical Society and the American Association of University Women. The Business Administration program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs. The Education Program is approved by the Virginia Department of Education and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Roanoke College Substantive Change Policy
As an accredited institution, Roanoke College is required to notify the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) of any significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of our operations. Member institutions, like us, are required to notify SACSCOC of changes in accordance with the substantive change policy and, when required, seek approval prior to the initiation of changes.
SACSCOC Defines a Substantive Change as:
• Any change in the established mission or objectives of the institution
• Any change in legal status, form of control, or ownership of the institution
• The addition of courses or programs that represent a significant departure, either in content or method of delivery, from those that were offered when the institution was last evaluated
• The addition of courses or programs of study at a degree or credential level different from that which is included in the institution’s current accreditation or reaffirmation
• A change from clock hours to credit hours
• A substantial increase in the number of clock or credit hours awarded for successful completion of a program
• The establishment of an additional location geographically apart from the main campus at which the institution offers at least 50% of an educational program.
• The establishment of a branch campus
• Closing a program, off-campus site, branch campus or institution
• Entering into a collaborative academic arrangement that includes only the initiation of a dual or joint academic program with another institution
• Acquiring another institution or a program or location of another institution
• Adding a permanent location at a site where the institution is conducting a teach-out program for a closed institution
• Entering into a contract by which an entity not eligible for Title IV funding offers 25% or more of one or more of the accredited institution’s programs
Procedures
All administrative departments, academic programs, and governance committees are required to notify the Dean’s Office of any possible or anticipated substantive changes in a timely manner. Some substantive changes cannot be implemented without prior approval and require additional documentation or a prospectus six months prior to implementing the change. The Dean’s Office will review and report any substantive changes to SACSCOC through the College’s SACSCOC Liaison. It is the responsibility and commitment of Roanoke College through its SACSCOC Liaison to report all substantive changes based on the commission’s policy and follow all procedures and timelines as outlined in the commission’s policy statement.
In addition, it is the responsibility of the SACSCOC Liaison to inform and periodically remind administrative departments, academic program, and governance committee chairs of the substantive change policy with updates when appropriate.
Publishing the College’s Substantive Change Policy
This policy will be posted electronically along with other similar policies and will be reviewed annually for updates.
Documenting Substantive Change
All substantive change activity will be documented by the SACSCOC Liaison through a data set maintained by the SACSCOC Liaison.
Policy Approval
This policy was reviewed and approved by the Roanoke College Cabinet on February 24, 2020.
Lutheran Affiliation (ELCA)
Roanoke is proud of its distinguished heritage as America’s second oldest Lutheran college. As an institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Roanoke College is committed to the common calling of ELCA schools as articulated in the network’s “Rooted and Open” document.
Never sectarian in its outlook, the College does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants on the basis of race, color, gender, creed, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, or political affiliation in administering its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Religion and College Life
As a college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Roanoke stands for a steady and consistent cultivation of religious life and strives to develop in its students an understanding of a person’s ethical and spiritual responsibilities in society.
The religious life program is under the direction of the Dean of the Chapel, who is an ordained Lutheran pastor. In addition, Jewish, Baptist and Roman Catholic campus ministers help provide a variety of religious activities.
The Center for Spiritual Life and Campus Ministry is a gathering place for student fellowship, informal conversation, and dialogue groups over moral and theological issues that affect both the students and the society in which they live.
The opportunities for worship on campus include an informal service of Holy Communion on Wednesday evenings in Antrim Chapel and special services on festivals ad holy days. On Sunday, students are encouraged to worship in the local congregation of their choice. Roman Catholic Mass is offered every Sunday in Antrim Chapel.
Faculty
Through Roanoke’s faculty of approximately 150 full-time members, students can discover and connect multiple areas of study and find experiential learning and career-related opportunities. Over 95 percent of our tenure-track faculty hold the earned doctorate or the highest degree in their area of expertise. Faculty members are active scholars who often involve students in undergraduate research collaborations.
Close advising and mentoring relationships between the faculty and students are common. An advisor is assigned to newly enrolled freshmen or transfer students during the summer pre-registration process. After declaring a major students are assigned to faculty advisors in their department.