SACSCOC PROBATION PROGRESS REPORT

Transcription

1 SACSCOC PROBATION PROGRESS REPORT Presented by Dr. Narendra H. Patel Executive Vice President for Administration, Institutional Effectiveness and Compliance SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison FACULTY/STAFF INSTITUTE January 7-8, 2019 Hubert L. Grimes, Esquire, Interim President

2 SACSCOC Probation On July 27, 2017, interim president Grimes received a letter from SACSCOC VP/Chief-of-Staff Dr. Larry Earvin regarding several newspaper accounts (stemming from reports in the Inside Higher Education and the Daytona Beach News-Journal) received by the Commission that raised concerns about B-CU s ongoing compliance with the Commission's Principles of Accreditation (2018) related to: 1. financial resources and stability, 2. governing board control: fiscal stability of the institution, 3. recent financial stability, 4. control of finances, and 5. integrity 2

3 Requested 1 st Monitoring Report for On-site Special Committee Review of the following core requirements and standards of the Principles of Accreditation (2018): July 3, 2018 Commission Letter 1. Core Requirement 1.1 (Integrity) 2. Core Requirement 4.1 (Governing board characteristics) 3. Standard 4.2e (Board dismissal) 4. Core Requirement 13.1 (Financial resources) 5. Standard 13.3 (Financial responsibility) 6. Standard 13.4 (Control of finances) October 22, 2018 SACSCOC Letter RE continuous compliance with 7. Core Requirement 4.1d (Board control) 8. Standard 4.2b (Board/administration distinction) 9. Standard 4.2f (External influence) 3

4 The SACSCOC The University Probation Response Responsibilities CEO COC Board of Trustees Leadership Team On-Site Special Committee Accreditation Liaison SACSCOC Staff Governing Board 4

5 B-CU s Progress Since July 3, Conducted informational teleconference with Dr. Larry Earvin, SACSCOC VP/Chief of Staff, for the Board of Trustees and the President regarding probation sanction and what it means. 2. Engaged a high profiled consulting firm with expertise in SACSCOC compliance standards and sanctions specifically related to institutional integrity, governance and financial resources, responsibility and controls. 3. Retained an AGB experienced consultant who conducted three training workshops with the University Board of Trustees in Governance during spring of Reviewed and revised Board governance policies and procedures documents. 5. Reorganized and reclassified key positions in the Division of Fiscal Affairs and aligned with core functions of financial management. 6. Revisited and revised key fiscal policies, processes and controls. 7. Created guidelines for preparing institutional operational budget plans. 5

6 B-CU s Progress Since July 3, 2018 (Cont d) 8. Hosted a one-day Board training workshop conducted by Dr. Belle Wheelan, President of SACSCOC on July 6, Created a SACSCOC Probation FAQ webpage link on B-CU Website to respond and to communicate with the University constituents and stakeholders. 10. Communicated the following SACSCOC Probation FAQ link, which provides information to commonly asked questions regarding the recent placement of B-CU under Accreditation Probation by the SACSCOC Retained market-leading financial advisory services in managing debt, credit ratings, and other specialized financial structuring techniques at higher education and nonprofits. 12. Initiated a 3-Year Strategic Forward Plan with emphasis on restoring financial growth and stability. 13. Designed a Financial Stability and Sustainability Plan for immediate implementation. 6

7 B-CU s Progress Since July 3, 2018 (Cont d) 14. Implemented campus-wide cost saving measures, operational budget freeze such as hiring, travel, consultants, etc. 15. Created a taskforce to develop cost savings and new revenue/income generating plans. 16. Developed planning and zero-based budgeting cycle for FY Established a 10-member taskforce represented by faculty, staff and administration to oversee the preparation of SACSCOC 1 st Monitoring Report Response. 18. Collected document evidence for preparing spring 2019 Monitoring Report to SACSCOC. 19. Established an institution wide Enrollment Management Committee. 20. Interim President, Board Chairwoman, and financial advisor face-to-face meeting with SACSCOC President Dr. Wheelan and Staff Member Dr. Earvin on October 25, Hosted an advisory consultative visit by experts from the University Senate of the United Methodist Church, December 3-4,

8 Monitoring Report Progress Checklist as of Dec # Principle Status Comment 1 CR 1.1 Integrity Complete 2 CR 4.1 Governing board characteristics Complete 3 Std 4.2e Board dismissal Complete 4 CR 13.1 Financial resources IP 5 Std 13.3 Financial responsibility IP 6 Std 13.4 Control of finances IP 7 CR 4.1d Board control Complete 8 Std 4.2b Board/administration distinction Complete 9 Std 4.2f External influence Complete Pending on FY 18 Audit 8

9 List of Communication & Documents Between SACSCOC and B-CU # Date Action Party 1 July 17, 2017 Unsolicited Information Request Letter from SACSCOC Dr. Larry Earvin 2 October, 12, 2017 B-CU Response Report to SACSCOC Interim President Grimes 3 July 3, 2018 Official Probation Letter of Notification from SACSCOC Dr. Belle Wheelan 4 July 13, 2018 SACSCOC Letter of Reaffirmation Delay Dr. Belle Wheelan 5 October 22, 2018 SACSCOC Letter of Complaints Dr. Larry Earvin 6 November 14, 2018 SACSCOC On-Site Special Committee Visit Date Change Dr. Larry Earvin 9

10 Oct 18, 2018 Mar 25, 2019 B-CU s SACSCOC Probation Response Steps & Timeline On-Campus Consultant Meeting with Board, Administration and SACSCOC Probation Taskforce 1 st Monitoring Report to SACSCOC Apr 22 24, 2019 Jun 14, 2019 Event: On Site Special Committee Review Visit SACSCOC Board Review & Response Date: 1. Consultant Meetings On-Campus Oct 18 & Nov 27, st Monitoring Report Due Mar 25, On-Site Special Committee Review Apr 22-24, SACSCOC Board Review & Response Jun 14, Official Notification from Dr. Wheelan Jul 3,

11 THANK YOU Dr. Narendra