The future of the private, historically Black institution Paine College in Augusta, Georgia is uncertain following a federal judge’s court ruling on its regional accreditation status last week.
Despite the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. on Oct. 11 that affirmed the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges’ (SACSCOC) right to revoke Paine’s accreditation in 2016, Paine president Dr. Jerry L. Hardee has vowed to seek a new accrediting agency and appeal the court’s decision within 30 days.
“Paine College is accredited. Paine College is accredited. Paine College is accredited,” Hardee stressed during a news conference earlier this week.
His goal is for Paine College to be accredited by both SACSCOC and the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).
Hardee added that, in two weeks, Paine officials plan to meet with a TRACS accreditation committee in Dallas, Texas to determine whether the college can proceed with its accreditation application.
TRACS awarded the college “applicant” status on August 1, and the status is effective for a period of five years, according to Helene Carter, assistant vice president of institutional advancement at Paine College.
“We’ve been pursuing this for quite some time,” Carter said. “This did not just start. This is not one of those reactionary things. We have been pursuing membership with Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools now for about 18 months or more.”
