The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools decided to remove
Knoxville College from membership in December because the college had
failed to comply with the association’s criteria related to adequate
financial resources, administrative processes and financial aid, said
James T. Rogers, executive director of the association.
“We don’t take this sort of action without a great deal of thought,” Rogers said.
Knoxville has appealed the decision, and retains its membership while the appeal is heard.
“While the college still has financial difficulties, we feel that
the progress that has been made over the past eighteen months or so was
adequate for the commission to have extended our probationary status,”
said Dr. Roland A. Harris Jr., president of Knoxville. “With a little
bit more time, even greater progress could have been made,” he said.
“We are not out here trying to stage a big fight or a media blitz,”
Harris said. “We want to demonstrate to the commission that the
decision should have been different and show an appeals commission that
progress has been made.”
Knoxville College, a historically Black college with an enrollment
of about 460 students, is affiliated with the United Presbyterian
Church. Its accreditation was probationary until the December meeting
of the accrediting board.
The accrediting agency’s Rogers said that the loss of accreditation
means “in general a loss of public confidence” as well as the loss of
all eligibility for federal financial aid funds.
