Higher Education Community Celebrates University of The Bahamas’ Advancement to Accreditation Candidacy

12^th December 2025

Faculty, staff and students of University of The Bahamas (UB) as well as champions and supporters of higher education, are congratulating UB on attaining accreditation candidacy with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

SACSCOC made the announcement this week at its Annual General Meeting held at the Music City Centre in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. Nicolette Bethel, chair of UB’s Academic Senate, one of the governance bodies of the institution, called this new phase a significant achievement.

“This milestone recognises UB’s commitment to academic excellence, institutional integrity, and continuous improvement,” noted Dr. Bethel, a veteran faculty member. “Accreditation candidacy is a significant step toward full accreditation as the University strives to set and meet rigorous standards for quality in governance, teaching, learning, and student success.”

UB’s Student Government Association (SGA) also expressed excitement and pride.

“This moment truly reflects the hard work, dedication and vision of our entire university community. For students, it means greater academic opportunities, stronger recognition of our degrees, and increased confidence in the value of the work we put in every day,” noted Vice President of the SGA, Destiny Neely. “Students are at the heart of this institution, and milestones like this empower us, motivate us, and reinforce that our university is growing with us and for us. We are excited for what this progress means for current and future UB students.”

UB is seeking international accreditation with SACSCOC and national accreditation with the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB). It has prioritized student success-focused excellence and a culture of continuous improvement.

SACSCOC President Dr. Stephen Pruitt has congratulated UB on earning accreditation candidacy. UB continues to demonstrate proficiency in core areas of institutional effectiveness on its journey towards full accreditation, according to Dr. Pruitt. Some 783 institutions are members of SACSCOC.

“So, what this signals to your campus and to the country of The Bahamas is the University of The Bahamas has made very specific decisions to value the education of their students. When we talk about how to get to candidacy, it really is a little bit of a microcosm of what it means to be fully accredited,” explained Dr. Pruitt.

“So, you can’t get to candidacy if you haven’t shown proficiency in things like governance, finance, student support. Once you get into membership, it’s where you are fully showing that the degree that you’re bestowing on the students that walk across your stage means something.”

He underscored a clear call to action.

“Students first, always,” said Dr. Pruitt. “That’s always got to be the first thing. Continue the hard work and the focus, ensuring that what you’re doing is not just to meet compliance, but to actually rise to excellence.”

The university will continue to work closely with SACSCOC to demonstrate compliance with standards of operational efficiency, accountability and institutional excellence. The next step in UB’s accreditation journey is to submit a compliance certificate and host the SACSCOC accreditation committee for a visit.

The broader higher education landscape in The Bahamas has been steadily aligning with international standards of excellence and rigour. The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), which recently secured full accreditation from the Council on Occupational Education, also praised UB on this landmark achievement.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors and the entire BTVI community, we proudly extend heartfelt congratulations to the University of The Bahamas on achieving Candidacy Status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC),” BTVI posted in a public note on social media. “A tremendous milestone and a powerful step forward for tertiary education in The Bahamas.”

UB’s momentum is building. This fall, student enrolment climbed to approximately 5,200, one of the university’s highest on record, with UB North in Grand Bahama rebounding to pre-Hurricane Dorian numbers. UB also marked another milestone with the largest group ever of 12 exchange students from Norway, Denmark, Spain, Germany, France, and Sweden studying in various academic disciplines at the Oakes Field Campus.