Coleman said a lower enrollment could ultimately prove beneficial at a time when the university is seeking stability. Campus leaders are developing a long-range plan to address financial and management missteps and lagging graduation rates.
At one point during the session, Perry called for a conservator to replace the university's governing board, but he backed away after learning that plan could jeopardize TSU's accreditation.
The loss of accreditation would diminish the value of degrees from TSU and would cause the federal government to stop providing financial aid to students. Nearly two-thirds of the university's students receive need-based Pell grants.
"The current notoriety of the university does seem to be a source of concern," said Paula Roe, scholarship programs coordinator for Project GRAD, which works with 5,000 Houston high-school students. "Academically able African-American students really do have lots of options, and they are courted. They are obviously making other selections, and I think that's to the detriment of TSU and the Houston community."
Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com
--Associated Press
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