SACSCOC announced the reaffirmation at its national meeting this morning in New Orleans. SACSCOC is the recognized regional accrediting body in 11 U.S. Southern states and Latin America for institutions that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral or professional degrees.

“This is great news,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “SACSCOC has recognized the university’s hard work in fixing our problems of the past and setting a solid foundation for our future. With this clean bill of health, we can embark on an exciting future for our students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as our community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

UofL’s accreditation had been an issue since summer 2017 when, during the regular 10-year reaffirmation process, SACSCOC raised concerns about governance and financial matters and placed the university on probation. UofL and the University of Louisville Foundation, which manages its endowment, have since taken steps to ensure the financial strength of the institution, which was noted by SACSCOC in its review.

UofL was removed from probation in December 2017, at which point the reaffirmation process began anew. The process concluded with today’s announcement.

The Special Committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Special Committee has issued a draft report after visiting campus Sept. 19-21 to review the university’s compliance with SACS’ Principles of Accreditation. .

The committee reports that UofL is in compliance with Core Requirement 2.2, which relates to its governing board, and with comprehensive standards related to CEO evaluation/selection, conflict of interest, external influence, board dismissal, financial stability and control of finances.

The committee provided specific recommendations to ensure the university complies with two other issues in the Principles of Accreditation. It suggested the university sign a memorandum of understanding to clarify its relationship with the University of Louisville Real Estate Foundation, Inc., and it raised questions about the number of interim senior appointments in the university’s central administration. 

UofL Interim President Greg Postel said the university will quickly create the memorandum of understanding. UofL’s administration currently is conducting searches to fill several of the leadership positions.

Also in the document, the SACS committee applauded the “extraordinary cooperation that the institution showed” during the visit, and that it stated the university “currently operates with integrity.”

The university is expected to respond to the draft by early November. The organization will rule on the university’s probationary status at its national meeting in December.

The probation focuses specifically on issues related to the Board of Trustees, including its membership, selection and evaluation of the university president, external influence and Board of Trustees dismissal.

“While we are disappointed, it is important to note that this in no way reflects on the quality of our curriculum or our core academic strengths,” said Acting President Neville Pinto. “It focuses solely on issues related to governance of the institution. The commission’s decision to impose probation does not affect degrees, federal funding (including financial aid available to students), or research grants awarded to faculty.”

A SACS committee will visit the university in fall 2017. At that time, UofL will have the chance to show it has addressed the issues for which it was placed on probation.

“The University of Louisville continues to be accredited,” Pinto said. “We are a strong institution with a great track record of demonstrating compliance in all areas of review by SACSCOC … We have much to be proud of, and we will do all that we can to meet the challenges set forth by SACSCOC.”

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