Among regional higher education accrediting actions taken earlier this month, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ (SACS) Commission on Colleges has released Texas Southern University from a probation that had been attached to the school’s accreditation status dating to December 2007. The move lifts the Houston-based historically Black institution out of the probation that resulted from financial problems.
Texas Southern University officials say they expect to be formally notified of being released from the SACS probation in a letter scheduled to arrive after July 1. The Chronicle of Higher Education has reported that the university had completed its fourth monitoring report this month to demonstrate its compliance with the Principles of Accreditation and was removed from probation.
“Throughout this entire process, the university has continued to move forward on its academic programs and administrative functions to bring improvements to the University. Passing this hurdle is a clear affirmation of the positive changes that are taking place at the institution,” said TSU President John Rudley in a statement.
The university is on schedule for its regular reaccreditation program, and no other financial reviews are required, school officials note. The reaccreditation review in 2011, which takes place every 10 years, examines the university’s academic programs.
In other SACS actions, Saint Paul’s College in Virginia and Concordia College in Alabama, two historically Black schools, were put on probation. The commission’s notification statements with reasons for recent actions will be released later this week, according to the Chronicle.
