Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Commission on Colleges

INSTITUTIONAL SUMMARY FORM PREPARED FOR COMMISSION REVIEWS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Name of Institution Reinhardt University

Name, Title, Phone number, and email address of Accreditation Liaison

Mark A. Roberts, Provost, 770-720-5503, mar@reinhardt.edu

Name, Title, Phone number, and email address of Technical Support person for the Compliance Certification

Huitt Rabel, Marketing Multimedia Specialist, 770-720-9147, whr@reinhardt.edu

IMPORTANT: 

Accreditation Activity (check one):

Submitted at the time of Reaffirmation Orientation

   Submitted with Compliance Certification for Reaffirmation

Submitted with Materials for an On-Site Reaffirmation Review

Submitted with Compliance Certification for Fifth-Year Interim Report

Submitted with Compliance Certification for Initial Candidacy/Accreditation Review

Submitted with Merger/Consolidations/Acquisitions

Submitted with Application for Level Change

Submission date of this completed document:  09/11/17

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

1.   Level of offerings (Check all that apply)

Diploma or certificate program(s) requiring less than one year beyond Grade 1

Diploma or certificate program(s) of at least two but fewer than four years of work beyond Grade 12

  Associate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 60 semester hours or the equivalent  designed for transfer to a baccalaureate institution

Associate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 60 semester hours or the equivalent not designed for transfer

  Four or five-year baccalaureate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 120 semester hours or the equivalent

Professional degree program(s)

  Master's degree program(s)

Work beyond the master's level but not at the doctoral level (such as Specialist Education

Doctoral degree program(s)

Other (Specify)

 

2.   Types of Undergraduate Programs (Check all that apply)

Occupational certificate or diploma program(s)

Occupational degree program(s)

Two-year programs designed for transfer to a baccalaureate institution

  Liberal Arts and General

 Teacher Preparatory

 Professional

Other (Specify)

 

GOVERNANCE CONTROL

Check the appropriate governance control for the institution:

 Private (check one)

 Independent, not-for-profit

Name of corporation OR

Name of religious affiliation and control: United Methodist Church 

Independent, for-profit *

If publicly traded, name of parent company:

Public state * (check one)

Not part of a state system, institution has own independent board

Part of a state system, system board serves as governing boar

Part of a state system, system board is super governing board

Part of a state system, institution has own independent board

*  If an institution is part of a state system or a corporate structure, a description of the system operation must be submitted as part of the Compliance Certification for the decennial review. See Commission policy “Reaffirmation of Accreditation and Subsequent Reports” for additional direction.”

 

INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION  FOR REVIEWERS

Directions:  Please address the following and attach the information to this form.

1.  History and Characteristics

Provide a brief history of the institution, a description of its current mission, an indication of its geographic service area, and a description of the composition of the student population.  Include a description of any unusual or distinctive features of the institution and a description of the admissions policies (open, selective, etc.).  If appropriate, indicate those institutions that are considered peers.  Please limit this section to one-half page.

Reinhardt University is a private four-year institution of higher education affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Its Main Campus is located in Waleska, Georgia on approximately 540 acres of land in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains. It was founded in 1884 as a primary school to provide basic instruction in the liberal arts. It added programs to train teachers and ministers. The academy gradually evolved into a privately supported two year college and was accredited to offer associate degrees as a Level I institution by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1953. In 1994, the Commission on Colleges accredited Reinhardt as a Level II institution, and that same year, the school awarded the first bachelor’s degrees in business administration. Additional degree programs were added over the years. On June 1, 2010, Reinhardt College became Reinhardt University. As a comprehensive university firmly grounded in the liberal arts, Reinhardt University offers instruction to men and women in a Christian environment in Waleska and other nearby locations.

Reinhardt University is committed to students who desire a small, caring community dedicated to personalized attention. It seeks students who are academically prepared and motivated to pursue a challenging educational experience. The University serves a population of traditional and non-traditional age students both as residents and commuters. The University is also committed to meeting the needs of a diverse student population including those students with distinctive learning needs. The educational program emphasizes the study of the liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies within the University’s historic commitment to the United Methodist faith and tradition.

Reinhardt University enrolled 1484 students in the Fall Semester of 2016, including 1374 undergraduates and 110 graduate students.  The University draws heavily from the local community and surrounding areas. The hometown for the overwhelming majority of the student body is within 50 miles of Waleska and about 30% of the traditional undergraduate students come from Cherokee county. Approximately 700 students live in on campus residence halls while the remaining students are commuters to Waleska or other instructional sites.

Reinhardt considers its peers the following colleges and universities: Columbia College (SC), Converse College (SC), Lenoir-Rhyne University (NC), Mars Hill University (NC), Pfeiffer University (NC), Queens University of Charlotte (NC), Shorter University (GA), Tennessee Wesleyan College (TN), Warren Wilson College (NC), and Young Harris College (GA).

2.  List of Degrees

List all degrees currently offered (A. S., B.A., B.S., M.A., Ph.D., for examples) and the majors or concentrations within those degrees, as well as all certificates and diplomas.  For each credential offered, indicate the number of graduates in the academic year previous to submitting this report.  Indicate term dates.

Major	Degree	Number of 2016-17 Graduates (July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017)
Biology (Concentrations: Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental and Pre- Pharmacy; Pre-Physical Therapy; Pre-Veterinary, Pre-Field Biology)	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	19
Biology Education	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	0
Business Administration (online)	Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)	0
Business Administration (Concentrations: Accounting, Marketing, Management, and General Business)	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	55
Business Administration	Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)	18
Communication & Media Studies (Concentrations: Digital Storytelling and Strategic Communication)	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)	10
Criminal Justice (online)	Bachelor of Criminal Justice (B.C.J.)	29
Criminal Justice	Associate of Science (A.S.)	3
Digital Media Arts	Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A)	0
Early Childhood Education	Bachelor of Arts (B.S.)	10
Early Childhood Education	Master of Education (M.Ed.)	0
Early Childhood Education	Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)	25
English (Concentrations: English Literature; Creative Writing)	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)	7
English Language Arts Education	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	0
Graphic Design	Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)	9
Health Care Administration (online)	Bachelor of Healthcare Administration (B.H.A.)	16
History	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)	5
Interdisciplinary Studies	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)	4
Liberal Arts	Associate of Arts (A.A)	3
Mathematics (Concentrations: Quantitative Science; Cybersecurity)	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	5
Mathematics Education	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	1
Middle Grades Education	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	3
Music (Conducting, Music Education, and Piano Pedagogy)	Master of Music (M.M.)	6
Music Education	Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.)	9
Musical Theatre	Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)	3
Organizational Management & Leadership	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)	26
Performance	Bachelor of Music (B.M.)	4
Political Science	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	2
Pre-Education	Associate of Science (A.S.)	0
Pre-Nursing	Associate of Science (A.S.)	3
Psychology	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	7
Public Administration	Master of Public Administration (M.P.A)	5
Religion	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)	3
Sacred Music	Bachelor of Music (B.M.)	1
Sociology (Criminal Justice, Cultural Diversity, Social Services)	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	9
Sport Studies	Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	33
Studio Art	Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A)	0
Theatre	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)	2
World Cultures and Languages (Concentrations: Spanish)	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)	0

 

3.  Off-Campus Instructional Locations and Branch Campuses

List all locations where 50% or more credit hours toward a degree, diploma, or certificate can be obtained primarily through traditional classroom instruction. Report those locations in accord with the Commission’s definitions and the directions as specified below.

Off-campus instructional sites—a site located geographically apart from the main campus at which the institution offers 50% or more of its credit hours for a diploma, certificate, or degree.  This includes high schools where courses are offered as part of dual enrollment.  For each site, provide the information below. The list should include only those sites reported and approved by SACSCOC.  Listing unapproved sites below does not constitute reporting them to SACSCOC. In such cases when an institution has initiated an off-campus instructional site as described above without prior approval by SACSCOC, a prospectus for approval should be submitted immediately to SACSCOC.

Name of Site	Physical Address (street, city, state, country) Do not include PO Boxes.	Date Approved by SACSCOC	Date Implemented by the institution	Educational programs offered  (specific degrees, certificates, diplomas) with 50%  or more credits hours offered at each site	Is the site currently active? (At any time during the past 5 years, have students been enrolled and courses offered? If not, indicate the date of most recent activity.)
North Metro	6280 Post Road Cumming, Georgia 30040			Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Early Childhood Education	Yes
Chattahoochee Technical College- Woodstock	8371 Main Street Woodstock, GA 30188			Master in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and Leadership, Associate of Criminal Justice	Yes

Institutions with off-campus instructional sites at which the institution offers 25-49% credit hours for a diploma, certificate, or degree—including high schools where courses are offered as dual enrollment—are required to notify SACSCOC in advance of initiating the site.  For each site, provide the information below.

 

 

 

Name of Site (Indicate if site is currently active or inactive.  If inactive, date of last course offerings and date of projected reopening	Physical Address (street, city, state, country) Do not include PO Boxes.	Date Notified SACSCOC by SACSCOC	Date Implemented by the institution	Educational programs offered  (specific degrees, certificates, diplomas) with 25-49% credit hours offered at each site	Is the site currently active? (At any time during the past 5 years, have students been enrolled and courses offered? If not, indicate the date of most recent activity.)
Cartersville, GA	The Resource Center 1 North Gilmer Street Cartersville, GA 30120			Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and Leadership	Yes

Branch campus—an instructional site located geographically apart and independent of the main campus of the institution.  A location is independent of the main campus if the location is (1) permanent in nature, (2) offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential, (3) has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization, and (4) has its own budgetary and hiring authority. The list should include only those branch campuses reported and approved by SACSCOC.  Listing unapproved branch campuses below does not constitute reporting them to SACSCOC.  A prospectus for an unapproved branch campuses should be submitted immediately to SACSCOC.

Name of Branch Campus	Physical Address (street, city, state, country) Do not include PO Boxes.	Date Approved by SACSCOC	Date Implemented by the institution	Educational programs (specific degrees, certificates, diplomas) with 50%  or more credits hours offered at the branch campus	Is the campus currently active? (At any time during  the past 5 years, have students been enrolled and courses offered? If not, indicate the date of most recent activity.)
N/A

4.  Distance and Correspondence Education

Provide an initial date of approval for your institution to offer distance education. Provide a list of credit-bearing educational programs (degrees, certificates, and diplomas) where 50% or more of the credit hours are delivered through distance education modes.  For each educational program, indicate whether the program is delivered using synchronous or asynchronous technology, or both.  For each educational program that uses distance education technology to deliver the program at a specific site (e.g., a synchronous program using interactive videoconferencing), indicate the program offered at each location where students receive the transmitted program.  Please limit this description to one page, if possible.

On July 30, 2013, Reinhardt University received approval from SACSCOC to offer educational programs that have 50% or more of the credit hours delivered online. Currently, Reinhardt offers three 100% online programs:

1. Bachelor of Business Administration
2. Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
3. Bachelor of Healthcare Administration

Each program uses both synchronous and asynchronous technology and students are able to complete 100% of the coursework online.

5.  Accreditation

(1) List all agencies that currently accredit the institution and any of its programs and indicate the date of the last review by each.

Reinhardt University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate and master’s degree programs. Last reaffirmation review: 2008.

The School of Performing Arts is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).  Last review: 2011.

In addition, Reinhardt University is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to recommend certification in early childhood education, middle grades education, secondary English language arts education, secondary biology education, secondary mathematics education, and music education. The most recent review dates for the programs offered by the Price School of Education were Oct 26-28, 2014 for the M.A.T. in early childhood program and Oct 24-27, 2010 for the Bachelor of Science programs in early childhood education, middle grades education, secondary biology education, music education, and English language arts education.   The secondary mathematics education was not reviewed yet since there were no degrees conferred in that program.

The newly proposed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) to be launched in January 2018 received initial approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing on May 24, 2017. SACSCOC review of the prospectus for this program is pending.

 

(2)  If SACS Commission on Colleges is not your primary accreditor for access to USDOE Title IV funding, identify which accrediting agency serves that purpose.

N/A

(3) List any USDOE recognized agency (national and programmatic) that has terminated the institution’s accreditation (include the date, reason, and copy of the letter of termination) or list any agency from which the institution has voluntarily withdrawn (include copy of letter to agency from institution).

N/A

(4) Describe any sanctions applied or negative actions taken by any USDOE-recognized accrediting agency (national, programmatic, SACSCOC) during the two years previous to the submission of this report. Include a copy of the letter from the USDOE to the institution.

N/A

6.  Relationship to the U.S. Department of Education

Indicate any limitations, suspensions, or termination by the U.S. Department of Education in regard to student financial aid or other financial aid programs during the previous three years.  Report if on reimbursement or any other exceptional status in regard to federal or state financial aid.

Reinhardt University is in good standing with the U.S. Department of Education.