University sanctioned for lack of staff

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placed Texas A&M University-Commerce on warning status because of a lack of full-time faculty members.

"Two weeks ago, we received notice that the SACS Commission on Colleges had placed A&M-Commerce on six-month warning, following review of our Fifth-Year Report," A&M-Commerce President Dr. Dan Jones said in a press release.

According to a report released by the Southern Association of Colleges, A&M-Commerce was put on a six-month warning period because the university did not meet Core Requirement 2.8.

The warning does not hinder A&M-Commerce from its operation as a university.

"A&M-Commerce remains fully accredited," Jones said. "The warning does not jeopardize our ability to operate, the eligibility of our students to receive financial aid, or our authority to award degrees. Our students graduating in August and December will receive their diplomas from an institution that is fully accredited by SACS."

Jones noted that the report was based on statistics from the Fall 2010, a period of high enrollment for A&M-Commerce.

"The data presented in the Fifth Year Report was based on Fall 2010 enrollment numbers, a semester during which we recorded the highest enrollment in university history," Jones said. "Accommodating that growth required the hiring of an unusually large number of adjunct instructors."

Twelve existing faculty lines were filled during the last academic year, and 16 new faculty positions should be filled in the upcoming academic year. According to Jones, additional faculty lines may be created as part of A&M-Commerce's response to SACS.

Another review is due this December when the Commission on Colleges can either take A&M-Commerce off of warning status, continue the warning status, place the university on probation and request an additional report, or remove A&M-Commerce from membership with the Commission on Colleges, according to SACS.

"SACS will review and take action on our status at its December meeting, at which time I fully anticipate that the proactive steps we have taken will merit a lifting of the warning," Jones said.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits schools in eleven states. 12 other institutions were placed on warning status.