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NEWSAS^ Cl^clottt $ot
Thursday, May 6, 2004
BSC gave
degrees
without
eredits
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CONCORD - Nearly 30
students from Barber-Scotia
College were awarded diplo
mas last year without meet
ing degree requirements, a
report by the school’s accred
iting body found.
The report by the Southern
Association of Colleges and
Schools found students grad
uated with degrees in
Organizational
Management without the
number of credits required
and that students were
awarded degrees with too
few general education
requirements and too many
elective eredits.
For example, SACS identi
fied a student who was
awarded an “A” grade for an
independent study course
five days after applying to
take it in May 2003.
The Concord school could
be placed on probation or
lose its accreditation, said
Donna Wilkinson, an execu
tive director with SACS.
“I would think what we
have here is an issue that
relates to the basic integrity
of an institution,” Wilkinson
said. “The public response to
an issue of that sort will
determine the future of the
institution.”
The SACS report, written
last fall, was prompted by a
written complaint the
accrediting body received in
June 2003, The complaint
raised questions about the
awarding of degrees in the
college’s adult program.
“Of particular concern to
the committee is the incon
sistent application of degree
completion requirements for
all students,” the report says.
Barber-Scotia trustees,
who were notified of the find
ings in Januaiy, said they
have put safeguards in place
to prevent future violations.
“We are very serious in
making sure we are meeting
SACS requirements,”
trustees chairwoman Ella
Scarborough said.
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Call the LeadSafe Charlotte
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to get more information
about lead-based
paint poisoning now.
CHARLOTTE.
LeadSafe Charlotte Hotline Spanish ■ 704-336-3500 English - 704-336-2114
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$ Colley Foundation. Inc. 2004