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Auburn Put on Probation by Accreditor
Auburn University was placed on one year’s probation by its accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, in December. The move stemmed mainly from concern about the role of trustees in the Alabama university’s operations, particularly its athletics programs.
A letter from the accreditor made public by the university spelled out the ways in which Auburn had not complied with accreditation requirements. Among them, it was insufficiently committed to and did not cooperate fully with the accreditation process; it did not demonstrate a clear delineation between the role of the president and that of the trustees, nor did it establish that the board was not controlled by a minority of board members; it did not demonstrate a clear distinction between the role of the board (to make policy) and that of the faculty and administrators (to administer and implement policy); the president did not exercise sufficient control over athletics funds; and it was unclear whether he exercised control over the athletics program.
Critics have charged in recent years that individual trustees have exercised too much control over the university’s day-to-day operations, and that many board members have inappropriate financial ties to the university or to each other. In 2001, a group representing faculty, students, and alumni asked the accrediting association to investigate several situations, including the board’s dismissal of the university’s then-president William Muse, its involvement in the university’s athletics program, and its perceived secrecy. (See pages 9–10 of the July–August 2001 issue.)
The university president sued to stop the investigation, but a judge allowed it to go forward on some matters and appointed a lawyer to carry it out. The lawyer’s final report, however, was sealed on the grounds that it contained personal financial information about some trustees. The president who filed the lawsuit, William Walker, has since resigned, and a member of the board of trustees resigned his board position to become interim president.
“Faculty are, of course, greatly concerned about the prospect of losing accreditation, but most were appalled at Walker’s decision to sue and believe that the accreditor’s decision to place Auburn on probation confirms the validity of criticisms faculty have long been making about the conduct of the board,” says Larry Gerber, professor of history at Auburn and first vice president of the AAUP.
The Southern Association will review Auburn’s compliance with accrediting requirements in a year.
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