SACS places FAMU on one-year probation

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) announced today that it will continue FAMU's accreditation and place the university on probation for a one-year period.

“It is important to emphasize that FAMU remains an accredited institution, even while under the probation sanction from SACSCOC,” said FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson. “We are committed to addressing the areas of concern, and ensuring that FAMU is compliant with all SACSCOC accreditation standards.  Our students will continue to receive a first-class education from FAMU.”

The decision from SACSCOC comes after a series of correspondence between SACSCOC and the university.  On June 25, 2012, SACSCOC sent a letter to FAMU seeking information regarding issues surfacing as a result of the November 19, 2011, hazing incident in Orlando. The areas of concern cited by SACSCOC were academic policies, student rights, control of finances, and institutional environment.

SACSCOC asked the university to document its policies governing student and non-student eligibility to participate in university-sanctioned activities, to provide information on pending investigations and to submit information about the policies in place to protect student safety when participating in university-sanctioned events.  

In July 2012, FAMU submitted a detailed report in response to the letter. On August 24, 2012, SACS confirmed receipt of the response and notified the university that its Committee on Compliance and Reports will review the material at its December 2012 meeting.

FAMU is expecting an official letter from SACSCOC within the next week, and a full report at some point in January 2013 to provide further details regarding the sanction. FAMU has, however, been working diligently to address the concerns expressed earlier by SACSCOC and has also put measures in place to bolster its anti-hazing efforts, including new policies, academic requirements and educational components.