WASHINGTON, DC—The American Council of Trustees and Alumni today filed a complaint with the Department of Education charging that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) acted without foundation in placing the University of Virginia “on warning” and that it overstepped its role as an accrediting body, inappropriately injecting itself into a power struggle between the president, faculty, and the board of trustees.
Early this month, the accreditors placed UVA on warning, concluding that the University failed to comply with standards regarding governing processes and the authority of faculty in governance matters.
“It appears that SACS’ real issue is not the absence of board policy, but the substance of the board’s policy,” ACTA charges. Current UVA policy reserves complete authority to the Board in matters of presidential hiring and firing. “The notion, suggested by SACS, that the board must give the Faculty Senate advance notice of its intention to terminate the president is both ludicrous and in utter violation of the board’s statutory and fiduciary responsibility to serve the public interest. Whether the accreditors like it or not, the authority of the UVA board is plenary.”
ACTA President Anne Neal stated: “If accreditors, who have authority to end a school’s access to federal student aid funds, are allowed to substitute their judgment in matters of state law and governance, they will bring about the sure erosion of institutional autonomy and undermine the ability of governing boards everywhere to provide needed checks and balances.”
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni is an independent nonprofit dedicated to empowering trustees on behalf of academic freedom, excellence and accountability. For further information, contact ACTA Press Secretary Daniel Burnett at 202-467-6787.
Gwenda Kaczor for The Chronicle Overhauling higher-education accreditation could be on the agenda for conservative lawmakers and policy mavens now that Donald J. Trump has been re-elected president.
Tremors from the election continue to ripple across the country, and the meltdown among the Democrats rages on. What is undeniable is that there is a real opportunity to make some much-needed reforms now.
Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
Discover MoreSign up to receive updates on the most pressing issues facing our college campuses.