FAMU's troubled N.Y. partner faces continued accreditation crisis

A New York City college that recently entered into an academic partnership with FAMU has, once again, been ordered  to “show cause” why it should not lose its accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) at its November annual meeting. 

MSCHE announced its actions against the financially troubled Metropolitan College of New York, following its November 25 annual meeting. The directive is the most severe sanction short of revocation, and compels the institution to demonstrate it meets essential standards despite significant instability or risk a loss of recognition that would threaten its eligibility for federal financial aid and its ability to operate.

The decision comes just weeks after FAMU entered into an academic partnership with MCNY in October, establishing a direct pathway for the college’s business graduates to pursue a master’s degree in logistics. The agreement was finalized during a period of acute vulnerability for the New York institution, which had agreed in late August to sell its primary Manhattan (main) campus to the City University of New York for $40 million, according to regulatory filings first reported by Bloomberg, a move seen as critical to addressing its deepening financial distress.

Proceeds from the intended sale are slated to pay down a significant portion of MCNY’s $67.4 million outstanding debt. The college agreed to sell the property last year as part of a forbearance agreement with its bondholders.

The timing of the partnership has raised questions due diligence and institutional alignment, linking FAMU with a financially precarious private college whose financial and academic standing remains under formal review.  Rattler Nation first report the issues with the NY college back in October.

Metropolitan College of New York is ranked among the lowest-performing colleges in the state of NY.

For now, MCNY remains accredited while on “show cause” status. It has been given a deadline to submit evidence demonstrating compliance with the commission’s requirements. A follow-up evaluation visit is expected next year.

Whether its partnership with FAMU moves forward as planned may now depend on how convincingly MCNY can make its case to remain accredited — and how willing FAMU is to continue to stand by an institution under severe financial and regulatory strain.