Bethune-Cookman University • Daytona Beach, Florida
April 2019
Fraternities, sororities showcase new members Photo by Josue Jeune
New members of Gamma Sigma Sigma Sorority hold tight during the recent probate show at the Preforming Arts Center. More photos on page 10.
B-CU's Interim President encourages faith during women's conference By Sarita Mason University officials sent a report at the end of March to the agency responsible for Bethune-Cookman University’s current probationary status as part of the effort to retain the institution’s full accreditation. Hubert Grimes, interim university president, told an audience during the women’s conference on March 26 that staff was putting the final touches on the report that was due by no later than April 1. Bethune-Cookman University has been under probation since June 2018 after it was determined that the university violated several requirements stipulated by the Board of Trustees of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The board determined that the University had failed to demonstrate compliance with requirement involving integrity, governing board characteristics, financial resources, financial responsibility and control of finances. A public disclosure statement regarding B-CU’s probationary status was also placed on SACSCOC website. Grimes said the report was about 2,500 pages and that it addressed almost all of the questions raised
by SACSCOC. He also cautioned against listening to media reports that paint a dismal picture of the college. Faith, he said, will bring B-CU through these challenging times. The university, meanwhile, created a SACSCOC Probation FAQ webpage on the B-CU website. It is designed to show what the university has achieved in its efforts and other various information as well as FAQ on the website. According to the Bethune-Cookman website, the last update regarding the accreditation process was on a progress report January 7, 2019. The report includes a “Probation Response Steps & Timeline.” It reports each major date throughout the probation process, including June 2019 that serves as checkpoints to gain the institution’s full accreditation. The report also stated that the university was required to submit a report due a few weeks before, but no later than April 1 that include updates, policy changes and address the violations of the standard Principles of Accreditation. Of the many steps that Bethune-Cookman has
taken since last year, one was finding and retaining an AGB consultant, someone a part of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges to sufficiently find and appoint all aspects of executive searches. The university appointed Dr. James Davis and Dr. Carlton Brown. The two will work directly with the search committee, potential candidates and guide the university through the steps of the search, according to the B-CU probation tab. “Cookman should be more transparent with the accreditation outcome,” said senior Lavell Johnson. “The probation webpage is a start but the university should try to focus on day-to-day responsibilities rather that an overall focus,” Johnson said. The final review is set for June 2019. The one-year probation will be up and Bethune-Cookman will have the chance to present its case to the SACSCOC Board of Trustees, including the First Monitoring Report and final decision on whether probation can be lifted or extended to another year.
What's inside:
3 News
5-7/9-11 Features
2 Opinion
4 Sports
8 Campus