Commission on Colleges
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Questions Regarding the Status of
SHERMAN COLLEGE OF STRAIGHT CHIROPRACTIC
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Issued December 20, 2007, by the Commission on Colleges

The following publicly available information is provided by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Inc., concerning the accreditation of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. Information presented below is in accord with the Commission’s disclosure policy; staff of the Commission cannot comment further on questions specifically related to Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. The institution has reviewed this statement prior to public posting.

The Commission on Colleges’ action on Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic took place on December 10, 2007, and the institution’s next review is June 2008.

What is the accreditation status of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic? Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic is accredited by the Commission on Colleges; however, the institution was denied reaffirmation and placed on Warning for six months. The Commission’s accreditation includes all components of the institution—all programs, branch campuses, off-campus sites, and distance learning programs as reported to the Commission; thus, the Warning status applies to the entire institution. Prior to the institution’s next review by the Commission in June 2008, a Special Committee will conduct an on-site evaluation of its compliance with the Principles of Accreditation—the accreditation standards of the Commission.

What does Warning mean? Warning is a public sanction imposed by the Commission on Colleges following determination of significant non-compliance with the Core Requirements or the Comprehensive Standards of the Principles of Accreditation of the Commission, failure to make timely and significant progress toward correcting the deficiencies that led to the finding of non-compliance, or failure to comply with Commission policies and procedures. The maximum total time during one monitoring period that an institution may be on Warning is two years. For additional information about sanctions, see the Commission’s policy entitled “Sanctions, Denial of Reaffirmation, and Removal from Membership.”

Why was Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic denied reaffirmation of accreditation and placed on Warning? Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic was denied reaffirmation of accreditation and placed on Warning because the Commission determined that it failed to demonstrate compliance with Core Requirement 2.12 (Quality Enhancement Plan) of the Principles of Accreditation—the accreditation standards of the Commission. This standard expects an accredited institution to provide evidence that it has developed an acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan. . . .

What will happen in June 2008? The Commission will again consider the accreditation status of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic following review of a First Monitoring Report submitted by the institution addressing the area cited for non-compliance and the report of a Special Committee authorized to examine additional alleged non- compliance with the Principles of Accreditation. The Commission will have the following options: (1) reaffirm accreditation and remove the institution from Warning with or without an additional report; (2) deny reaffirmation of accreditation, continue accreditation, continue Warning and request an additional report; (3) deny reaffirmation of accreditation, continue accreditation, place the institution on Probation, authorize a Special Committee, and request an additional report; or (4) remove the institution from membership with the Commission on Colleges. . . . Commission staff will not speculate on what decision might be made by the Commission in June 2008. . . .