St. Andrews University (North Carolina) - Accreditation

Accreditation

In 1961, St. Andrews Presbyterian College was first accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). In June 2007, SACS voted to remove the college's accreditation "for failure to meet accreditation standards dealing with financial resources, stability, and control." St. Andrews appealed the decision, but the commission’s College Delegate Assembly upheld the commission’s decision to terminate accreditation. The college responded when it filed a lawsuit against the association, but the judge granted the motion for summary judgment filed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, directed that judgment be entered in favor of the association, and dismissed the lawsuit filed by St. Andrews. When the college filed an appeal, the judge continued the injunction during the appeal the association further consented to continue the stay until the earlier of May 31, 2011.

In April 2011, Webber International University filed a substantive change form to add St. Andrews Presbyterian College as an additional instructional location, providing a merger for the two institutions. Following the filing, the accreditation of St. Andrews was extended through July 31, 2011 to allow for SACS to render a decision on the application during the annual meeting. During the June 2011 SACS meeting, the association approved the plan by Webber International University to add St. Andrews as an additional instructional location. This merger of Webber International University and St. Andrews resolved the accreditation concern with SACS.

In addition, the College is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the North Carolina Department of Education. The College is a member of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Presbyterian Colleges, the Council of Independent Colleges and the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. The College's women graduates qualify for membership in the American Association of University Women.