The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has designated Lufkin High School as an instructional site for Angelina College. Essentially, this designation will allow Lufkin High School the flexibility to offer more selections of college courses to all students taking dual credit courses. Students can take these courses at Lufkin High School with teachers who are also employed as adjunct instructors at Angelina College.
President of Angelina College, Michael Simon, said, “I value the strong relationship between Angelina College and Lufkin ISD. I appreciate how this authorization from SACSCOC will enable the college to deliver the full Associate of Arts in General Studies degree, the Level I Welding certificate, and the Level 1 Drafting and Design certificate to LISD students at the high school.”
With the designation from the SACSCOC, Lufkin High School can offer more college courses to all students and to create degree plans with the student in mind.
Charlotte Davis, Executive Director of the ECHS, said, “We are pleased Lufkin High School has been designated by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges(SACSCOC) as an Angelina College Instructional Site. The SACSCOC accreditation, which will strengthen our partnership with Angelina College, is intended to assure the public of the quality and integrity of higher education programs offered at Lufkin High School. As an approved Angelina College instructional site, we will be afforded more flexibility in the number and variety of dual credit courses offered to our students at Lufkin High School. These opportunities will be open to students who may be interested in academic coursework towards an Associate’s Degree or completion of a Level One Certificate such as Welding.”
LHS is the first High School in the region to be approved as an instructional site for the AA in General Studies program.
Lynn Torres, Lufkin ISD Superintendent, said, “No other entity in Angelina County serves students in this capacity from a high school campus location. Our teachers and staff have the experience and education to teach the courses required for an Angelina College Associates of Arts degree plan and Level I certificates. The hope is that all students will take college courses with support from our staff and teachers to increase their confidence in completing a certificate or degree. We are fortunate to live in a community with a community college that has the vision to help high school students succeed.”
“The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. The commission’s mission is the enhancement of educational quality throughout the region and it strives to improve the effectiveness of institutions by ensuring that institutions meet standards established by the higher education community that address the needs of society and students. The organization evaluates and accredits any universities and colleges in the region which grant degrees” (SACSCOC, 2018).