The move came just days before university trustees were expected to interview finalists and possibly hire a permanent replacement for the job. Last July, James Ammons resigned as part of the fallout over the November 2011 hazing death of a drum major aboard a bus.
FAMU so far had attracted fewer than 30 candidates for the position.
But Solomon Badger, the chairman of the FAMU board, said the reason he suspended the search had to do with deadlines the university is under to answer questions about its accreditation.
In December, the university was placed on probation for a year by a regional accrediting organization. The university has one year to prove it is turning itself around, or it could have its accreditation revoked by the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges. If accreditation is revoked, students won’t be eligible for federal financial aid.
“This is neither a commentary on the quality of candidates, nor a questioning of the search process,” Badger said in a statement. “This is just a stark acknowledgment of the fact that FAMU’s accreditation is at risk.”
Badger added in a statement that it would be irresponsible to interrupt Interim President Larry Robinson’s work on getting the university off probation. FAMU must prepare a response for the accreditation agency by August and prepare for an intensive on-site visit in September.
“It would also be eminently unfair to bring in a new president as FAMU’s accreditation hangs in the balance,” Badger said.
