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United Methodist-related college challenges accreditation removal

Dec. 13, 2004	 News media contact:   Linda  Green * (615) 7425470* 
Nashville
{04589}

NOTE: Related materials are available online at http://umns.umc.org.

By Linda Green*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- A United Methodist-related college plans to appeal
a pending decision to remove its accreditation.

Hiwassee College, a two-year, liberal arts institution in Madisonville,
Tenn.,
received notification of a decision by the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to remove the college from
membership. The association took its action on Dec. 6, but the college is not
expected to receive official notification until January.

 "When official notification is received, the college will appeal the
decision
through the official SACS appeal process and take any other actions
necessary," said the Rev. James Noseworthy, Hiwassee College president for
the
past 22 months. "We have made tremendous progress as an institution over the
last several years and believe the SACS action is unjust."

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools
is the accrediting body for institutions of higher education that award
associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees in Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Because Hiwassee is appealing the decision, any SACS action will be suspended
until the appeals process is completed in March 2005.

According to Noseworthy, the SACS action is in response to fiscal concerns
first raised by the association in 2000, when the college was placed on
warning. Since then, college officials have worked extensively with SACS
officials to address these concerns, meeting financial goals and developing
long-term fiscal strategies.

"Hiwassee College has dealt with fiscal challenges for several years," he
said. "There is no easily identifiable single event which led to our current
challenge. All of my predecessors endeavored to do what they believed was
best
for the college," he said.

The policy statement of the Commission on Colleges, located on its website at
www.sacs.org, requires that a member institution be in compliance with the
accreditation and core requirements, comply with policies and procedures, and
provide information requested by the commission in order to maintain
membership and accreditation. When an institution fails to comply with these
requirements, within a maximum two-year monitoring period, the commission may
impose sanctions, the policy says.

"If the Commission determines that an institution's progress is insufficient
during the two-year monitoring period but not significant enough to impose a
sanction, the Commission will advise the institution that if progress or
compliance is insufficient at the time of its next formal review by the
Commission, the institution could be placed on sanction or removed from
membership. Failure to make adequate progress toward compliance at any time
during the two-year period or failure to comply with the Principles at the
conclusion of two years may result in Commission action to remove
accreditation."

Hiwassee officials report that, during the past two years, the college has
strengthened its academic programs, created a campus-wide computer network,
enhanced classrooms, become a member of the Appalachian College Association,
kept a balanced budget, increased annual support and developed strategies for
continued growth.

"The decision is extremely disappointing in light of all the progress we have
made," Noseworthy said. "We are better off financially than we have ever been
in many years. In the past year alone, we increased our endowment by $1.5
million and improved our operating assets by $200,000. We have the grounds to
build a very strong appeals case."

Offering support in the appeal is the Division of Higher Education of the
United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Ken Yamada, a staff
executive, expressed "deep regret and disappointment" over the decision of
SACS to lift the college's membership.

"The division will provide President Noseworthy and Hiwassee College all
assistance necessary in the appeal and join him in exploring viable options,"
he said.
"One hundred and fifty five years of the history of Hiwassee College proves
its unique and distinct accomplishments nurturing the powerful and dynamic
leaders for the church and the world."

The college will issue an update about appeal no later than March 2005,
Noseworthy said.  The college is also "exploring some promising options for
accreditation partnerships. No matter what, we will do all within our power
to
ensure there will always be a place for the special mission Hiwassee College
has faithfully served since 1849," he said.

The college reassures its constituents of the institution's integrity,
academic quality and the continued dedication to excellence as United
Methodist-related two-year college.

"Hiwassee's academic program is of the highest quality," Noseworthy said.
"There is no issue with Hiwassee's academic program or the integrity of the
faculty or current college leadership. As we anticipate the start of the
appeals process, the college remains fully accredited and students remain
fully eligible for all financial aid."

As a church-related institution, he assures the United Methodist Church that
the college takes its "relationship and mission seriously." He said the
college remains focused on its central task and mission of 155 years:
"providing quality, value-centered education for the young men and young
women
we are privileged to have as our students."

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville,
Tenn.  Portions of the article were adapted from a Dec. 9 release from
Hiwassee College.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
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