As you may have read in Sunday's News & Observer, NCCU recently folded an unauthorized collection of degree programs it was operating at a megachurch in suburban Georgia whose pastor is a university trustee.
Students who earned degrees through the program may not have got what they thought they were getting. NCCU officials haven't said a lot on the issue, but did release this statement Monday:
"In 2004, NCCU entered into an agreement with the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia to offer degree programs in Criminal Justice, Hospitality and Tourism Administration, and Business Administration at that location. Regrettably, the University did not seek appropriate approvals prior to launching the program. Admission of new students into the program ended in March 2007.
Last month, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) denied approval for NCCU to continue the program offerings at the New Birth site. This decision does not affect NCCU’s existing academic programs, or the University’s current accreditation standing with SACS, nor with specialized accrediting organizations.
The challenges associated with the accreditation of the New Birth program are those of North Carolina Central University, not of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The University accepts full responsibility for the situation and is working with UNC system officials to make a determination on how best to proceed."
Stay tuned for further developments.
