By Message Staff
PINEVILLE – A team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has found Louisiana College is in compliance with all standards except one, ‘external influence.’
The SACS-COC team made the decision during its exit interview after a one-day visit to LC on March 11, according to a news release from the school.
LC announced in June that SACS had placed the school on probation. The accreditation agency provided the specific reasons for the probation in a letter dated July 9. Six areas were cited by SACS that must be addressed if LC is to be removed from probation.
The areas specified were: Principle of Integrity; External Influence; Personnel Appointment; Administrative Staff Evaluations; Control of Finances; Title IV Program Responsibilities.
While colleges sanctioned by SACS seek to be removed from probation within the first year, schools have up to two years to address the issues cited by the accrediting agency. LC’s accreditation is not affected during the probationary period and the school remains fully accredited.
LC must now wait to receive a written report from the SACS-COC team and will have the opportunity to respond.
The school’s trustees and administration will address the issue, with the goal of bringing LC in compliance with SACS-COC standards. The board of SACS-COC will render its final decision about the school’s probationary status during its next meeting in June.
In the news release, Argile Smith, LC interim president until Rick Brewer takes over as president on April 7, described the visit as “cordial” and “thorough in its analysis.”