The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges today informed Saint Paul’s College that reaffirmation of its accreditation had been denied, jeopardizing the school’s ability to offer federal financial aid to students, and to retain its current student body. In a release, Saint Paul’s President Eddie Moore expressed disappointment with the decision.

“To say we are disappointed is a terrible under-statement,” said Moore. “To have raised nearly $5 million in six months despite the challenges before us, and effected a managerial and strategic turn-around putting the College on a trajectory for a solid future was a team effort which resulted in a monumental achievement. If we can do this in half a year – imagine what we could do if allowed to continue reaffirmed.”

Saint Paul’s officials say an appeal of the decision will be forthcoming, but will assemble a team to assist students in the transfer process if they desire. The denial of reaffirmation was tied to a substantial lack of fiscal structure at the university, a structure that was reversed with the hiring of Dr. Moore and other key administrators last November.

The college is approximately $300,000 short of a $5 million fundraising goal it set last fall to demonstrate financial solvency to the accrediting body.

 

Dr. Eddie Moore Saint Paul's College