The dean told the Board of Visitors on May 2 that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) evaluates whether an institution follows its own published policies and that the board’s primary role is governance, including mission oversight and chief‑executive evaluation.

In a short briefing, Dean Bob Vareschi explained SACSCOC’s focus on documentation: accreditors check whether the college has clear policies, follows them, and records evidence of compliance. He summarized the governing‑board expectations SACSCOC commonly reviews: mission oversight, periodic evaluation of the chief executive, the board’s role in conflict‑of‑interest disclosure, and the distinction between policymaking (board role) and operational execution (administration and faculty).

Vareschi said VMI is preparing an institutional accreditation report (drafting to continue through fall 2026) and that staff have already developed an initial draft and a second draft is planned. He told trustees there was no immediate indication of noncompliance by the board but that the accreditor could request interviews with board members or staff during an on‑site review.

Why it matters: Accreditation affects federal financial-aid eligibility, program standing and institutional reputation. The dean’s briefing was intended to clarify board responsibilities and the documentation the accreditors will review so trustees know what materials and processes SACSCOC may ask to inspect.

Board follow-up: Trustees were told to expect further engagement as the accreditation report is finalized and to be available to accreditors if interviews are requested during the site visit.