SACS Removes Bishop State From Probation
SACS' Commission on Colleges says the institution is in compliance with accreditation standards

December 9, 2008 – The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges (COC) voted today at its meeting in San Antonio, Texas, to remove Bishop State Community College from probationary status because it found the college to be in compliance with accreditation standards.

The standards are Integrity 1.1 (the institution operates with integrity in all matters), Financial Resources 2.11.1, (the institution has a sound financial base and has demonstrated financial stability to support the mission of the institution and the scope of its programs and services), College-level Competencies 3.5.1 (the institution identifies college-level general education competencies and the extent to which graduates have attained them) and Federal Requirements 4.7 (the institution is in compliance with its program responsibilities under Title IV of the 1998 Higher Education Amendment). See details.

Though Bishop State accreditation was never taken away, this removes any doubt of the college being in trouble and paves the way for Bishop State to regain its status as a great community college, said Bishop State President Dr. James Lowe via phone from San Antonio. This decision is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the faculty, staff, students, and the support of the State Board of Education, Chancellor Bradley Byrne, the Department of Postsecondary Education, and the Mobile community, he said.

Full accreditation means Bishop State keeps its eligibility to participate in Federal Financial Aid and affords graduates of Bishop State transferability to institutions of higher education.

"This allows the institution to play a vital role within the community by providing the necessary education and training for the citizens of Mobile and Washington counties," Dr. Lowe said. "I am very pleased with the decision of the commission to grant full accreditation to the college. I encourage the students in Mobile and Washington counties to consider Bishop State when deciding on where to pursue their college education and/or training for the workplace," he said.

"This is a huge step forward for Bishop State and the Alabama Community College System," said system Chancellor Bradley Byrne. "We congratulate Dr. Lowe and the staff at Bishop State for a job well done." Byrne added that the improvements don't stop here. "The institution and the Department of Postsecondary Education are committed to a continuous improvement process. In fact, Bishop State currently is going through a Malcolm Baldridge Quality program with the assistance of the University of Alabama and the Alabama Quality Award program."

COC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. It is the accrediting agency for many higher institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and other international sites approved by the COC that award associate, baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees.

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Contact:
Herb Jordan
Director of Public Relations
P: (251) 405-7135
F: (251) 432-7812
hjordan@bishop.edu