USF-St. Pete sanctioned by accreditors

Eighteen months after it earned independence from the main campus by getting its own accreditation, USF-St. Petersburg is facing scrutiny from the accrediting agency.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' commission on colleges has placed USF on "warning" status, one step away from the probation sanction that can lead to a total loss of SACS' seal of approval.

Gradebook has learned that SACS officials are concerned with the campus' compliance with a handful of standards including "General Education Core Competencies" and student achievement.

Read more on Gradebook later today, and get the full story in tomorrow's Times.

Comments

USF-St Pete is a joke and needs to be shut down.....

[Mr. S]

I am a graduate student at USF. I'm interested to know why USF is a "joke school." The standards set for my education are quite high; I read 1200+ pages per week in addition to writing assignments and their associated readings. Budget cuts force the utilization of more adjunct professors at the undergraduate level, but it hardly destroys one's education. I can name a number of quality professors under whom I had the pleasure to study for my BA.

It's been my experience that some folks on the internet speak from the wrong end.

[Disgusted alum]

I was still taking classes when USF-SP was attempting to get separate accreditation. Some of the departments got a little creative in describing their programs and accomplishments. I suspect that some of that has caught up with them.

[Eric]

As a former USF-St. Petersburg student, I agree that the school is a joke, as is the rest of USF. The school shouldn't be accredited in the first place. I guess it's a good thing that USF has its football team, because they certainly don't have anything to brag about academically.

[Chris]

The main reason most Florida schools will be facing accreditation issues is the lack of funding for higher education. The governor continues to cut higher education budgets and vetoes tutition increases and demanding more oversight with less and less faculty & staff. Just wait in 3 more years we will be lucky to have any school in Florida with Accreditation. If SACS did a review with some substance they would be shocked at how bad Florida schools really are.

What reasons were cited for the decision to give the University of Miami a warning? Does anyone know? It seems like most state newspapers have been silent about it. There's very little information anywhere.

[mikec]

USF is a joke school

[flyboy]

Regrettably SACS is a bureaucratic institution populated by academics. The process for expressing concern about any member institution on any issue begins with a WARNING. This is an emotionally charged word that comes across pretty harshly in a newspaper headline. Regrettably, it is the only choice they have. (wish they could use a softer word for the first notice) It means just that - warning. You must take corrective action or we will go further. It is simply a first step, and most institutions respond with a satisfactory action and the "warning" goes away. That is likely in this instance as well. FYI, the U of Miami (and others) was also given a "warning" this year so USF is in good company.

What is going on with the University of Miami? Why was that school given a warning by SACS?

Many people are interested in knowing this because Miami is still receiving generous legislative appropriations while most public universities are taking heavy cuts.

[USFSP Alumna]

This has nothing to do with football... it more then likly has everything to do with the fact that Tampa still has there hands in everything that happens at USFSP.

[Another Concerned Alum]

...is what happens when the football program suddenly threatens the rest of the state's recruiting chances. (jk)

[Concerned Alum]

This is why they should not have separate accreditation...they will bring down all of USF! Great job legislature!!!!