United Methodist-related Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn., is no longer accredited after losing a long legal battle with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. A UMNS file photo by Michael Thomason.A UMNS Report
By Annette Spence*
Hiwassee College leaders say they will not close the Tennessee school's doors, but will work to regain accreditation after losing a long legal battle with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
The college's board of trustees voted unanimously to "move forward" after learning of a court decision that allowed SACS to terminate the United Methodist-related school's accreditation.
Now, as faculty members greet students and parents during routine orientation meetings, they are assuring them that Hiwassee still has a strong academic program and is building its financial standing as the college reapplies for accreditation.
"We're not talking about litigation now," Hiwassee President James Noseworthy said June 27 from his office in Madisonville, Tenn. "We're talking about being faithful to our mission."
On April 14, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit lifted a temporary restraining order on SACS that had kept it from terminating Hiwassee's accreditation since March 2005. Hiwassee was immediately removed as an accredited institution with SACS' Commission on Colleges.
Hiwassee subsequently requested a rehearing from the same three-judge panel, which denied the request on May 6.
Legal wrangling
Founded in 1849, Hiwassee College is a two-year rural United Methodist college, affiliated with the Holston Annual Conference. Noseworthy, who has served as Hiwassee president since 2003, said the school's legal actions were "very costly, but good for several reasons."
"It kept us moving forward, and it demonstrated that we are not going to just roll over," he said.
Hiwasee's legal action started in 2004 when SACS voted to remove the school's accreditation over concerns about its financial resources. Hiwassee leaders said the college was financially sound and obtained a restraining order in 2005 to keep the school's accreditation during appeals processes. Hiwassee then sued for violations of its constitutional right to due process, filing its lawsuit in 2005 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. SACS is based in Decatur, Ga.
In February 2007, U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester rejected all Hiwassee's claims except the one claiming a conflict of interest existed when a SACS representative on the assessment team also sat on the accrediting body's appeals committee. In April 2008, appellate judges said SACS had not denied Hiwassee due process in its accreditation action and unanimously upheld the lower-court ruling.
"Unfortunately, this is just another bump in the road," Noseworthy said. "There was always a chance we wouldn't prevail … but we are proceeding full speed ahead with our mission."
"Any missional institution is challenged financially," said the Rev. Doug Fairbanks, an alumnus who is a member of Hiwassee's board of trustees and superintendent for Holston's Knoxville District. "What we have proven is that, yes, we can financially do all we say we can do. The academic program at Hiwassee has never been in question."
Hiwassee College is finishing the 2007 fiscal year with its $5.5 million budget in the black. "We have erased levels of debt, started new programs and improved our facilities. And we have done all of that with a very modest budget," Noseworthy said.
An annual fundraising campaign garnered $862,000 in June 2007, followed by $2.2 million in June 2008, he said.
School enrollment was 440 for the past academic year. About 150 students had registered to return, but some have since petitioned for transfer, the president said. Orientation sessions for prospective students are ongoing.
Regaining accreditation
Hiwassee will begin to reapply for SACS accreditation this summer--a process that could take 19 months or more for accreditation to be complete, according to Noseworthy.
The college already has applied for accreditation with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRANS). In a June 23 letter to students, Noseworthy said that TRANS accreditation is anticipated by April 2009. More than 20 colleges have so far agreed to accept Hiwassee's academic work without SACS accreditation, the letter stated.
The Tennessee Student Assistance Commission also has made provisions so that students may continue the state's Hope Scholarship eligibility. "While the scholarship for students at Hiwassee will not be funded while we are not accredited, the scholarships will be funded retroactively to the fall of 2008 if we secure accreditation in April 2009," Noseworthy said.
On June 19, the University Senate of The United Methodist Church voted to continue to list Hiwassee as a United Methodist-related college for 12 months as the college pursues accreditation. A University Senate review is scheduled for June 2009.
The senate is a 25-member body of professionals in higher education that determines the relationship of academic and theological institutions to The United Methodist Church.
In a letter to the University Senate, Bishop James Swanson of the Holston Conference affirmed his support for Hiwassee.
"Hiwassee follows it historic and continuing tradition of affording access and opportunity to a segment of the population that otherwise would not have the opportunity for a faith-centered education," Swanson said.
The average family income for Hiwassee students is $22,000, Swanson's letter stated. Forty percent of the students receive full financial support.
*Spence is the editor of The Call, the newspaper of the Holston Annual Conference.
Hiwassee College leaders say they will not close the Tennessee school's doors, but will work to regain accreditation after losing a long legal battle with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
The college's board of trustees voted unanimously to "move forward" after learning of a court decision that allowed SACS to terminate the United Methodist-related school's accreditation.
Now, as faculty members greet students and parents during routine orientation meetings, they are assuring them that Hiwassee still has a strong academic program and is building its financial standing as the college reapplies for accreditation.
"We're not talking about litigation now," Hiwassee President James Noseworthy said June 27 from his office in Madisonville, Tenn. "We're talking about being faithful to our mission."
On April 14, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit lifted a temporary restraining order on SACS that had kept it from terminating Hiwassee's accreditation since March 2005. Hiwassee was immediately removed as an accredited institution with SACS' Commission on Colleges.
Hiwassee subsequently requested a rehearing from the same three-judge panel, which denied the request on May 6.
Legal wrangling
Founded in 1849, Hiwassee College is a two-year rural United Methodist college, affiliated with the Holston Annual Conference. Noseworthy, who has served as Hiwassee president since 2003, said the school's legal actions were "very costly, but good for several reasons."
"It kept us moving forward, and it demonstrated that we are not going to just roll over," he said.
Hiwasee's legal action started in 2004 when SACS voted to remove the school's accreditation over concerns about its financial resources. Hiwassee leaders said the college was financially sound and obtained a restraining order in 2005 to keep the school's accreditation during appeals processes. Hiwassee then sued for violations of its constitutional right to due process, filing its lawsuit in 2005 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. SACS is based in Decatur, Ga.
In February 2007, U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester rejected all Hiwassee's claims except the one claiming a conflict of interest existed when a SACS representative on the assessment team also sat on the accrediting body's appeals committee. In April 2008, appellate judges said SACS had not denied Hiwassee due process in its accreditation action and unanimously upheld the lower-court ruling.
"Unfortunately, this is just another bump in the road," Noseworthy said. "There was always a chance we wouldn't prevail … but we are proceeding full speed ahead with our mission."
"Any missional institution is challenged financially," said the Rev. Doug Fairbanks, an alumnus who is a member of Hiwassee's board of trustees and superintendent for Holston's Knoxville District. "What we have proven is that, yes, we can financially do all we say we can do. The academic program at Hiwassee has never been in question."
Hiwassee College is finishing the 2007 fiscal year with its $5.5 million budget in the black. "We have erased levels of debt, started new programs and improved our facilities. And we have done all of that with a very modest budget," Noseworthy said.
An annual fundraising campaign garnered $862,000 in June 2007, followed by $2.2 million in June 2008, he said.
School enrollment was 440 for the past academic year. About 150 students had registered to return, but some have since petitioned for transfer, the president said. Orientation sessions for prospective students are ongoing.
Regaining accreditation
Hiwassee will begin to reapply for SACS accreditation this summer--a process that could take 19 months or more for accreditation to be complete, according to Noseworthy.
The college already has applied for accreditation with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRANS). In a June 23 letter to students, Noseworthy said that TRANS accreditation is anticipated by April 2009. More than 20 colleges have so far agreed to accept Hiwassee's academic work without SACS accreditation, the letter stated.
The Tennessee Student Assistance Commission also has made provisions so that students may continue the state's Hope Scholarship eligibility. "While the scholarship for students at Hiwassee will not be funded while we are not accredited, the scholarships will be funded retroactively to the fall of 2008 if we secure accreditation in April 2009," Noseworthy said.
On June 19, the University Senate of The United Methodist Church voted to continue to list Hiwassee as a United Methodist-related college for 12 months as the college pursues accreditation. A University Senate review is scheduled for June 2009.
The senate is a 25-member body of professionals in higher education that determines the relationship of academic and theological institutions to The United Methodist Church.
In a letter to the University Senate, Bishop James Swanson of the Holston Conference affirmed his support for Hiwassee.
"Hiwassee follows it historic and continuing tradition of affording access and opportunity to a segment of the population that otherwise would not have the opportunity for a faith-centered education," Swanson said.
The average family income for Hiwassee students is $22,000, Swanson's letter stated. Forty percent of the students receive full financial support.
*Spence is the editor of The Call, the newspaper of the Holston Annual Conference.
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