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.
October 10, 2024
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