Johnson C. Smith put on probation by accrediting agency over university finances
Johnson C. Smith University has been put on probation by its accrediting agency due to problems with “financial responsibility” following a two-year review.
But university leaders said JCSU is making progress.
The university’s accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, placed JCSU on “probation for good cause,” saying the institution did not “demonstrate compliance” with the agency’s standards for financial responsibility and control of finances. Neither the accrediting agency nor the university specified which specific financial issues led to the probation.
The standards require the institution to “manage its financial resources and operate in a fiscally responsible manner; to exercise appropriate control over all its financial resources; to maintain financial control over externally funded or sponsored research and programs” and abide by Title IV, the agency said in its disclosure statement to the university June 26.
However, university leaders argued the decision points to the accrediting agency’s faith that JCSU is moving in the right direction — slowly but surely. The school said JCSU has taken steps over the previous 18 months such as enhancing accountability measures and hiring additional faculty and staff.
“The ‘good cause’ designation signifies SACSCOC believes the institution is making progress and has the ability to ameliorate problems,” JCSU said in a statement to The Charlotte Observer Monday. “Given the longstanding issues that are being addressed by our current university administration, we are aware of the importance of directly addressing the standards that we have been cited for, and we are fully committed to doing so for the long-term sustainability of our university.”
The probation does not mean the university has lost accreditation, though it is the most serious public sanction imposed by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees short of loss of accreditation. JCSU will remain accredited throughout its 12-month probationary period.
During that time, JCSU will need to prove compliance with SACSCOC standards.
“Improvement is an ongoing process, and we appreciate the bandwidth SACSCOC has provided our institution,” the JCSU spokesperson told The Observer. “We are confident that JCSU will meet the required standards, and we will work hard to do so for as long as we need to do so.”
The SACSCOC Board of Trustees will review the school’s accreditation again next June after the school submits another report. At that point, the agency can do one of four things: lift the probation without any additional report; lift the probation but require an additional follow-up report; keep JCSU under probation with good cause and conduct further monitoring; or remove the university’s accreditation.
This story was originally published July 8, 2025 at 9:12 AM.
