Will SACS back off?

Will SAPC step up? 

It has been a long summer for the students, faculty, and the Laurinburg community, but St. Andrews Presbyterian College (SAPC) officials and a committee from the  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) will finally meet this week regarding the college’s appeal of an earlier decision to revoke their SACS accreditation. The revocation, if upheld, could be disastrous for the college–it would mean the loss of federal student aid like Pell Grants, loans, and other government-funded financial aid programs.   
After an extended probation, SACS decided to remove SAPC from membership on June 21, 2007. According to a public disclosure dated July 12,  SAPC fails to comply with Core Requirements 2.11.1 (Financial Resources) and Comprehensive Standards 3.10.1 (Financial Stability) and 3.10.4 (Control of Finances). The appeals hearing is scheduled to be held August 20,21, or 22. It is the last step in the Appeals Procedures of the College Delegate Assembly and Sanctions, Denial of Reaffirmation, and Removal from Membership.  SACS could decide the case merits further review and consideration in which case a final decision would come in December 2007. Until that final decision is made, St. Andrews remains accredited.  In the event that SACS upholds their initial decision and SAPC pursues legal action, the college will remain accreditated until a final court ruling. A best case scenario would be a favorable reconsideration by the SACS appeals committee, one that would permit SAPC’s accreditation to stand.
In a statement issued by the college on August 7, pledges totaling $3M (contingent upon a favorable decision by the appeals committee) have been recieved for this year. In addition, SAPC has recieved debt forgiveness up to $3M from its primary lender–the US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. This should greatly contribute to the college’s financial outlook. Whether SACS will consider these two important developments in this week’s appeals hearing is unknown.
Since June 27, 2007 the web discussion enveloping St. Andrews and SACS has included current students, parents, faculty, and staff as well as former ones and other significant individuals in higher education organizations. Most recently, George Leef of the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy and writers at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni have commented on the actions of SACS and the questionable benefits of accreditation. Other web sites that have featured the discussion include Inside Higher Ed, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Hopefully, by the end of the week, the SAPC community can breathe a little easier.