Paul Quinn College loses accreditation
Paul Quinn College, a historically black school in southern Dallas, is losing its accreditation because of financial and other problems, officials said today.
It's a devastating blow that threatens the future of the tiny liberal arts college.
“They didn’t have enough money. They were in debt. Their planning and assessment and development of student learning outcomes were deemed not up to par,” said Belle Wheelan, president of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
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Without accreditation, a school's students cannot receive federal or state financial aid. In Texas, colleges cannot award diplomas without accreditation.
“It was a very difficult decision. It was a real loss to our membership, and of course the people who ultimately suffer are the students,” Wheelan said.
She said Paul Quinn College has 10 days to appeal the decision. “If they lose the appeal, I don’t know whether they’ll go out of business, whether they’ll merge with someone. It’s a decision the institution has to make.”
College president Michael Sorrell said he would release a statement on the decision later. He declined to comment further.
Paul Quinn enrolls about 440 students, down from 590 the year before. It’s affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Sorrell became Paul Quinn’s president two years ago and has instituted a number of changes, including a business-casual dress code, tougher academic standards and cost-cutting measures.
“He made great progress. He just didn’t make enough progress,” Wheelan said.