Florida Memorial University and Accreditation

June 23, 2022

HEADLINES

Florida Memorial University No Longer on Probation (HBCU Buzz, June 17, 2022) “After eliminating 16 programs, cutting back staff and reorganizing with a focus on the future, Florida Memorial University announced Thursday its accreditation agency had restored it to good standing. Last summer, the agency had placed it on probation, leading many to worry about the future of the Miami Gardens school, South Florida’s only historically Black university or college (HBCU).”

Despite Collapsed Colleges and an Evidently Fake School, This Agency Still Approves Millions in Federal Aid (Yahoo News [from USA Today], June 16, 2022) "A college oversight agency that signed off several large for-profit colleges accused of defrauding students, and one seemingly without students or faculty, remains in business despite the federal government's repeated attempts to limit its power."

Could 5, 50 or Even 200 New Colleges Help Save Higher Ed From Freefall? (University Business, June 16, 2022) "'You need two things to start a college,' College 101 CEO Stig Leschly noted. 'You need a governor and the state Board of Higher Ed to say yes. That’s hard, but doable. You also need accreditation. You cannot qualify for financial aid, particularly Title IV, absent of being accredited. Accreditors are deeply powerful institutions. They do very little to sanction or to discipline colleges for enforcing poor outcomes and they also, in effect, block entry. I can think of a handful of new colleges that have gotten through. They’re extraordinary feats of perseverance. It takes 10 years to get done.'”

Opinion: Florida Must Be Concerned About Its Institutions of Higher Education (Florida Trend [scroll down page to see item], June 15, 2022) "Recent Florida legislation, SPB 7044, should be viewed with much concern and with skepticism as to its consequences. The bill requires state colleges and universities to seek reaffirmation from different accrediting organizations at the end of each review cycle. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education both have identified major problems that could result from this action. (Source: Tallahassee Democrat)."