Accrediting agency places Greensboro College on probation : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

GREENSBORO — The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has placed Greensboro College on financial probation for one year.

The decision was announced today during the agency's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Greensboro College has been on warning status for the past two years.

"The commission has taken this action not because of any current financial problems, but because the college is still recovering from the financial problems that were well-documented in 2009," President Lawrence D. Czarda said in a news release. "We expected the commission to take this step. We have been on warning status with the commission for the past two years, and under its own rules, the commission did not have the option of continuing the college on warning for a third year."

Greensboro College spokesman Lex Alexander said the agency's Commission on Colleges did not specify what standards the school is not in compliance with. The college will be informed of that in writing, he said.

The probation stems from financial issues the college had in 2009, college officials said. President Lawrence Czarda said the college is taking several steps to regain financial stability, including implementing a three-year plan to boost undergraduate enrollment, a capital campaign with a goal of doubling annual giving by 2013-14, and selling excess real estate.

"The trustees and leadership of the college have a detailed plan to return Greensboro College to long-term financial stability and have had since shortly after I arrived here," Czarda said in the release. "It involves increasing enrollment, restructuring the college's finances and capital structure, and raising additional funds through the Pride in the Future capital campaign. We are executing that plan, we are where we expected to be at this point in the process, and we are confident that we will get where we need to be."

The association also lifted the probation it had placed on Bennett College for Women, a college official said.

Read full coverage in Wednesday's News & Record.

nemo0037

December 6, 2011 - 2:13 pm EST

I hope that GC can turn their problems around. One thing we don't need in this state is fewer colleges.

retiree

December 6, 2011 - 6:26 pm EST

Why not just call it quits and sell their land, buildings, and other assets to the State as a merger with UNCG?

bellasera

December 6, 2011 - 10:32 pm EST

Looks like they're well on the way to financial recovery. No need to call it quits.

lifeisa1wayticket

December 8, 2011 - 4:01 am EST

Greensboro College is in the process of reinventing and re-energizing itself and the end result will be an even better product than before. One of the greatest gifts this institution has is its Fine Arts Department and it appears the quality and offerings of this entity just continue to expand. Just this week I have attended three events at the school and was astounded at the level of talent displayed in the theatrical and musical divisions. As a long time resident of Greensboro and supporter of the arts, I wish this school much success. I salute the faculty and staff of this institution for their continued dedication during these tough and questionable times. I will continue to support them by attending their music and theatre productions, and hopefully one day a monetary gift to expand these programs. As I do my walking today, I will be sure and drop in for their 11:30 chapel service in Finch Chapel...always uplifting and a gift to my week. Pay attention to this little downtown gem, she is a wonderful gift to our community.

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