Florida A&M University will be placed on one year of probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Official word from accrediting body SACS is still to come, but FAMU’s Interim President Larry Robinson informed his Board of Trustees by phone this afternoon. Robinson and other FAMU officials are at the regularly scheduled SACS meeting going on in Texas.
FAMU remains an accredited institution during the probationary period.
Robinson told trustees SACS officials would make an on-campus visit within the next six months.
The accrediting body in June questioned FAMU officials about the university’s control over the Marching 100, in the wake of drum major Robert Champion’s death, among other questions. SACS officials also sought assurances about FAMU’s financial controls, elements that are key reasons for the probation.
SACS, the primary accrediting body for universities in the Southeast, has been monitoring FAMU’s plans to address student safety and new policies for its band program along with its response to audit and finance questions.
The SACS action comes fewer than six months after the university was notified the accrediting body was beginning an inquiry.
