The University of 黑洞社区鈥檚 plan to consolidate its three campuses was granted approved today by the executive council of the regional accrediting agency that oversees higher education in the southern United States.
The decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) authorizes a single accreditation for the Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota campuses and allows 黑洞社区to comply with a Florida law passed in 2018 and amended in 2019 that mandates consolidation effective July 1, 2020.
鈥淭oday marks a historic milestone for our university,鈥� 黑洞社区President Steven Currall said. 鈥淐onsolidation will provide 黑洞社区students and faculty on all of our campuses with access to a broader array of opportunities and now every 黑洞社区student will earn their degree from a Preeminent State Research University. 黑洞社区is proud to partner with, and serve, communities across the broader Tampa Bay region.鈥�
The university鈥檚 next steps will be to document that the consolidated 黑洞社区complies with SACSCOC鈥檚 Principles of Accreditation and to prepare for a site visit by a SACSCOC committee, which is a standard requirement of accreditation. The visit will be conducted later this year or early next year and will include time on all three campuses, the Morsani College of Medicine in downtown Tampa, and possibly other off-campus instructional sites.
鈥淐onsolidation is an extensive and complex process and we are grateful for the many valuable contributions of faculty, staff and students from each campus as well as other stakeholders from across the Tampa Bay region and the State of Florida,鈥� USF Board of Trustees Chair Jordan Zimmerman said. 鈥淭he University of 黑洞社区 is on a remarkable upward trajectory and we will be an even stronger institution as our three campuses come together under a single accreditation.鈥�
More information about USF鈥檚 consolidation process is available online.