Erskine releases statement on SACS action
July 2, 2010
DUE WEST, SC – July 2, 2010 – The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges has considered a report of a focus committee on Erskine College with regard to its accreditation status and on June 24 adopted the recommendations of the committee’s report.
The regional accreditor has placed Erskine on warning status for a period of 12 months, following a visit to campus by a special committee May 4-6 to review the circumstances related to the action by the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church on March 2-3, which resulted in the removal of 14 members of the Erskine Board of Trustees.
The special committee was appointed in April by the Commission on Colleges to review Erskine’s compliance with regard to Core Requirement (governing board) and Comprehensive Standards (external influence, board dismissal, board/administration distinction and academic freedom).
Former Erskine President Dr. Randall T. Ruble, who retired June 30, said in a statement to the Board of Trustees earlier this week that SACS was not provided the compromise proposal that was adopted by the General Synod last month, so that was not a factor in the decision.
“This is another expected step in the process and quite frankly, we are relieved to have gotten to this point,” college spokesman Rick Hendricks said. “What we are primarily focusing on now is the arrival of our new president, Dr. David Norman, who takes office Thursday, July 1, 2010.
“At the same time, we wish a fond farewell to our mentor and leader for the past four years, Dr. Randy Ruble and his wife Molly. We are blessed to have had such an amazing leader these past four years and know that with Dr. Norman at the helm, it is going to be an exciting time in the history of Erskine.
“We have an amazing new student class that will arrive in the fall and overall, continue to watch how God is blessing this institution in so many different ways,” Hendricks said.
A special committee will visit Erskine next spring to assess the progress made by the college to comply with accreditation requirements.
