Four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including financially troubled Fisk University, had their accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) reaffirmed for another 10 years Tuesday.
The 77-member SACS board took the action during its winter meeting this week in Atlanta. In addition to Fisk, SACS reaffirmed accreditation for Florida A&M, Kentucky State and North Carolina Central universities.
SACS, which sets standards of performance for hundreds of colleges across the South, also removed two HBCUs-Alabama A & M and Florida Memorial universities – from warning status. In addition, SACS approved “substantive” program changes proposed by South Carolina State and Fayetteville State universities.
Texas Southern University, site of a financial scandal in its administration several years ago, had its accreditation continued by SACS for “good cause.” However, SACS officials placed the popular school on probation for six months, citing its continuing need to resolve several outstanding financial management issues.
FAMU president James H. Ammons cheered the SACS decision involving his North Florida school, one that nearly lost its standing with the group this time two years ago amid questions about its leadership and financial stability.
“Two years ago scathing financial audits hinted toward fiscal instability and uncertainty at FAMU,” Ammons said in a statement released late Tuesday. “We have met our challenges, completed the accrediting process and are focusing our energies on creating a 21st Century Learning Center second to none. We have been through some challenging times and it is ironic that at the SACS annual meeting this year we were the presenters this time, telling others how to weather the storm. I can truly say that achieving this milestone was a team effort and confirms the academic and administrative strength of the university,” said Ammons, who joined FAMU in 2007 as part of an effort to right the school’s fortunes. FAMU, a member of the SACS Commission on Colleges since 1935, was the first HBCU to become a member of SACS.
The SACS decision was especially great news for Fisk, a small, private college whose star among HBCUs has dimmed somewhat during much of this decade because of heavy turnover of its leadership, falling enrollment and declining financial support.
