Task Force Charter

The SACSCOC Accreditation Task Force for the merger of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio will be tasked with obtaining approval of the merger from SACSCOC via its substantive change approval process. The Accreditation Task Force will oversee the gathering and alignment on requirements needed for SACSCOC accreditation, prospectus writing, delivery of key documents to SACSCOC, new entity mission development, and SACSCOC’s substantive change site visit prep. This includes the initiation and management of topic-specific working groups, attesting that the working groups are efficient, effective, and diligent in obtaining pertinent data and information needed for the accreditation process.

Two task forces will lead the accreditation processes, overseeing essential planning and application submissions. The full integration process will take three to five years.

Task Force Updates

Members are presenting our new, combined mission statement through each institution's shared governance process and continually developing the prospectus for approval by the UT System Board of Regents and SACSCOC’s Board of Trustees.

Task Force Members

Task Force Co-Chairs

Heather Shipley, PhD

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs - UTSA

Kasey Neece-Fielder, EdD

Associate Vice President for Strategic Planning and Assessment - UTSA

Jacqueline Mok, PhD

Vice President for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs - UTHSA


Task Force Work

Areas of Responsibility

  • Mission Development Process
  • SACSCOC-Required Documents
  • SACSCOC Prospectus
  • SACSCOC Site Visit

SACSCOC Timeline

Fall 2024

Notification Letter to SACSCOC initiating the merger

February 2025

Prospectus approved by UTS BOR

March 2025

Submit prospectus to SACSCOC

June 2025

SACSCOC June Board meeting & vote to approve prospectus

Summer 2025

If the prospectus is approved, integration activities can begin

Fall 2025

Documentation for Substantive Change Committee Report for the Merger submitted to SACSCOC

Late 2025

Substantive Change Committee conducts site visit and issue findings

Spring 2026

Submission of Site Visit Following-Up Report to SACSCOC to address findings

June 2026

SACSCOC BOT reviews Substantive Change Committee Report and the UTSA response to Substantive Change Committee Report

SACSCOC BOT provides notification of any compliance issues identified following the merger