WINGATE, N.C. (ABP) — The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has put Wingate University on probation for one year, which university officials say is a result of “a procedural misunderstanding.”
Wingate has appealed the sanction. In the meantime, the Baptist school remains fully accredited with SACS in all of its programs.
The SACS website says the probation was triggered when Wingate admitted two classes to the new doctor of pharmacy program before SACS approved the program, which is Wingate's first doctoral level offering. The school applied for permission to admit students in June 2003, but approval was denied the same month, according to SACS. The first class was admitted two months later.
SACS' Commission on Colleges issued the probation Dec. 6. Wingate received official notice in a letter dated Jan. 13. The same letter announced approval for Wingate's application to move from “Level III” to “Level V” status, a requirement for schools offering graduate programs.
Due to the probation, Wingate may not admit new classes to the pharmacy program “until the integrity issue is resolved and until it has responded adequately to specific areas identified by the commission, including board action that establishes policies and procedures that prevent future similar action on the part of the institution,” according to SACS.
A statement issued by Wingate Jan. 20 attributes the infraction to “a procedural misunderstanding.”
While expressing appreciation that SACS had approved the pharmacy program, university president Jerry McGee said: “We are extremely concerned by SACS' action to place the university on probation and we intend to aggressively pursue a resolution. The university has always cooperated fully with SACS and will continue to do so.”
If appeal efforts are unsuccessful, SACS will revisit the probation in December 2005.