Dribble of info

This dribble of information tells students, parents and taxpayers next to nothing about the institutions accredited, and illustrates the problems that make accreditation a useless exercise.

A first step in the direction of transparency would be to make all the documents and work papers available on-line.

The only problem with this is that for one-hundred years the accrediting guilds have been assuring the public that all is well, and consequently, the states and the public have grown complaisant and lazy. For this reason, these words still ring true: Caveat emptor.

Glen S. McGhee, Dir., at Florida Higher Education Accountability Project, at 8:10 am EDT on June 27, 2007

St. Andrews ought to be applauded not dis-accredited

From what I can tell from just reading the article, the leadership of St. Andrews ought to be applauded not punished for their bold, strategic actions. The strategy they are pursuing is exactly what they should be doing and is exactly the type of strategy that would be executed and rewarded in the corporate sector. It also sounds like they are succeeding. Boosting student enrollment is essential for small colleges. Larger enrollments will provide more tuition revenue as well as graduate more future donors. Their fundraising campaign sounds relatively impressive for an institution their size and stature. Their success in boosting enrollment should be evidence that they’ll be able to handle the increased debt service. If only Antioch College had followed a similar strategy, they wouldn’t be shutting down.

The move by the accrediting body, if upheld, will completely undermine the strategy and very likely destroy St. Andrews.

A larger question is what are the key variables used by accrediting agencies and do they still make sense today? Afterall, Antioch did not lose their accreditation.

John S, at 11:20 am EDT on June 27, 2007

Plenty of public info!

If Glen McGhee wants accountability information about the FAMU situation, all he has to do is ask. After all, the Sunshine Laws in the Sunshine State make more information available about public institutions of higher learning in Florida than possibly anywhere else.

If that is too much work, he could read the Tallahassee Democrat’s ongoing, detailed coverage of the financial situation at FAMU.

Florida Reader, at 1:55 pm EDT on June 27, 2007

Cost of enrollment

Larry is correct in pointing out that enrollment increases do not necessarily translate into dollar-for-dollar net gains, but I question his connection between enrollment and academic standards. New programs typically attract a new cohort, and not necessarily one that is less well-prepared. Re-positioning the institution in this way, or via in any number of other programmatic, aesthetic, or strategic initiatives can effectively increase the pool of well-qualified applicants. The only institutions that resort to lowering standards simply to increase enrollment are those that are sufficiently desperate to stay in business that they sacrifice their integrity in the name of survival. Rare though it is, I applaud those colleges whose mission have either been fulfilled, or are no longer relevant and they choose to close their doors. Antioch may represent such a case, but I would not presume to have enough of its circumstances to offer an informed decision.

Russell Kitchner, H.E. consultant, at 4:50 pm EDT on June 27, 2007

Mr. Kitchner, As to a connection between enrollment and academic standards. I seriously doubt that there is a “dollar for dollar” connection, but on the other hand, just like the federal reserve controls the money supply via careful management of lending and borrowing money, a college must carefully avoid overextending itself. Like the Federal Reserve, a college must realize that it has limits, but also has needs, and it needs to service them. But, this is a very difficult process, which needs to be undertaken with great care.

Larry, at 11:35 am EDT on June 28, 2007

St Andrews

Previous comments about the harshness of SACS are not out of line. I’ve often thought that many in SACS tend to like playing ‘hardball’ as if the organization’s mission is to be elitist in many respects. St Andrews doesn’t deserve this sanction, nor does it deserve to have to spend valuable dollars to go through an appeals process that is a joke, or even consider litigation beyond an appeal.

Rob, at 6:30 pm EDT on June 29, 2007

With the way SAPC discounts tuition, having additional enrollments does nothing to help their finances. Depending on who you know, who your parents are and what sort of strings you pull, your tuition can be discounted as much as 50%. Is this a good business practice? Does this bring in revenue? Does this help to pay the large debt they have?

They were not only on probation in the 90’s but also in the 2000’s. If I remember correctly, SACS rule was that they could only keep you on probation for two years, then they either had to pull you off or terminate accreditation. SAPC had played the game so many times that I presume that SACS was tired and pulled the plug!

Another insider, at 10:40 pm EDT on July 11, 2007