Tag: Higher Learning Commission

HEPC Cancels Emergency Meeting To Address Alderson Broaddus University’s Financial Status

“I’m calling on the HEPC to delay this emergency meeting because no one wants to see this university close if there’s a way to avoid it. It may very well be inevitable, but we’re going to try really hard to find a pathway,” said Justice.

Updated on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 5:20 p.m.

An emergency meeting scheduled Friday between Alderson Broaddus University officials and the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC), which oversees accreditation for post-secondary institutions, has been canceled at the request of Gov. Jim Justice. 

Original story posted July 27, 2023

An emergency meeting has been scheduled Friday between Alderson Broaddus University officials and the Higher Learning Commission (HEPC) which oversees accreditation for post-secondary institutions. 

A few years ago the private Baptist university was placed on notice by the commission over a financial shortfall.

On Wednesday a notice posted on the West Virginia Secretary of State website indicated Friday’s meeting is “to address an imminent financial loss or other imminent substantial harm to the public entity, its employees, or the members of the public that it serves.”

Earlier this week, the City of Philippi informed the university that its utilities will be cut by Monday, July 31, if it fails to pay an outstanding bill of $775,598.70.

The notice of termination would affect water, sewer, garbage and electric services across the entire Alderson Broaddus University campus if the bill is not paid. About 800 students attend the university.

The city’s action is another indication of much bigger problems at the private university. This week, officials revoked a decision to bring on a new interim president. The state’s higher education chancellor also visited the campus this week to assist students with transfers should the university shut its doors.

Friday’s Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. will address the university’s finances but the HEPC’s primary agenda is the “Revocation of Alderson Broaddus University’s Authorization to Confer Degrees.”

Updated on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 3:20 p.m.

On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Jim Justice issued the following statement regarding Alderson Broaddus University:

“I’m calling on the HEPC to delay this emergency meeting because no one wants to see this university close if there’s a way to avoid it. It may very well be inevitable, but we’re going to try really hard to find a pathway,” said Justice. 

“I’m going to meet with the HEPC, AB leadership, and legislative leadership to make sure we exhaust every single avenue we can before drastic action is taken. It’s simply too important, not only for this prestigious university and its alumni, but also for the entire community of Philippi and Barbour County.”




Officials of Former Mountain State Sue Commission

  The former Mountain State University is suing an accrediting body over the loss of its accreditation.

The lawsuit says the Higher Learning Commission didn’t follow its policies, rules and practices when it revoked the university’s accreditation in June 2012.

The lawsuit says the loss of accreditation forced the private Beckley-based university to close. Without accreditation, the university was no longer eligible for state and federal funding, including student aid.

A commission spokeswoman told the Charleston Gazette that no one would comment on the lawsuit.

Bridgeport attorney Jack Merinar filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of three Mountain State board members. He tells the newspaper that the lawsuit tells a different side of the accreditation story.

The University of Charleston took over Mountain State’s Beckley and Martinsburg campuses.

WVU Self-Study for 2014 Reaccreditation Available

A report prepared by West Virginia University for the Higher Learning Commission is now available online.
 
Officials say the self-study demonstrates how WVU fulfills the commission’s criteria for accreditation.
 
The university is up for reaccreditation this year by the agency which oversees accreditation for degree-granting colleges and universities. A team of peer evaluators will visit the school in April.

WVU’s last accreditation was in 2003-2004. The self-study component of the accreditation process began in July 2011.
 
The school says that the study concludes that WVU “honors its mission as a land-grant university.” The study also concludes the school remains dedicated to teaching and learning, research and scholarship, diversity and inclusion, outreach and economic development, as well as promoting the health and quality of life of West Virginians.
 

Exit mobile version