On behalf of Northeast State Community College and the Tennessee Board of Regents, thank you for your commitment to the peer-review accreditation process, which serves to improve our colleges' programs and services and strengthens higher education in the United States. Accreditation through self-regulation is born from a philosophy that a free people should "govern themselves through a representative, flexible, and responsive system." (SACSCOC 2018 Principles). Northeast State is grateful for a peer-review accreditation process that stimulates evaluation and improvement within, provides us with an external and professional assessment of our institution's effectiveness, and provides an assurance of quality to our stakeholders.

Northeast State's history and evolution is reflective of the changing educational needs of its five-county service area. In partnership with the community, the College serves to improve the quality of life for residents of the Northeast Tennessee region. Northeast State is a comprehensive two-year community college operating under the governance of the Tennessee Board of Regents. The College offers university parallel programs designed for students desiring to transfer to another college or university, career programs for students planning to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, and continuing education and community service programs for professional growth and personal enrichment to the citizens of Carter, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties.

As you learn more about Northeast State, I believe you will find that the faculty and staff have created a welcoming and supportive learning environment for our students and the communities we serve. Also, I believe you will find a commitment to best practices and excellence throughout the College, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to continuous quality improvement. There is much more I could tell you about Northeast State, but you will learn all about it as you read through our accreditation compliance report and when you visit our campus and speak to the students, faculty and staff.

I believe you will be impressed!