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INSIDE news CAmPus brieFs PAge 2 one yeAr lAter: ‘tobACCo-Free’ still needs enForCement PoliCy
sPOrTs men seek to deFeAt Winless g-men JAgs seek to Avenge loss to gsu AthletiCs to nAme Court AFter Avery Johnson su FootbAll Works to identiFy 2013 signing ClAss trACk to FACe mCneese neXt
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VOLume 29, issue 1
SACS Probation Giving a whole new meaning to ‘academic probation’, Southern University and A&M College was put on Probation by its accrediting agency on December 20, 2012. shaWn JOhn & nOrman J. dOTsOn Jr. The Southern Digest
As of December 10, 2012, Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge accreditation has been continued with good cause and placed on six months probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges or SACSCOC. SACSCOC is officially responsible for the accreditation, review, & assessment of the performance of the membered institutions of higher education within the southern region area of the country. According to Chancellor James Llorens, following the most recent accreditation back in 2010 where the university received its accreditation there were some recommendations that came with that decision. “The first report we submitted was unacceptable in 2011, we got it back from SACSCOC and there
were still some of the issues that they wanted documentation on,” said Llorens. The university then put together and submitted another report based on three of the standards that the SACSCOC committee reviewed and accepted on two of the standards but needed more documentation on the final standard which is measuring student outcome. Due to the fact that this was the second report submitted, by necessity SUBR had to be placed on probation until the approval of the next report. Comprehensive standard 3.3.1.1 of the Principles of Accreditation concerns matters of meeting student outcomes and the effectiveness of educational program applies all parts of the respective university, where the related accreditation provides certification for all educational venues of the university, as is inclusive of all programs, branch campuses, off-campus sites, and distance learning programs.
According to the correlating issued report of December 20, 2012 by the SACSCOC, has maintained a good report in all other areas, as is meeting the standards held available for all universities of membership. “Basically what they (SACSCOC) are saying is that we have to demonstrate. We had submitted in out report that showed a sampling of degree programs that we had in our assessments,” Llorens stated. “Now they want us to do it for everyone to show documentation. So we’ll submit another report again March 1.” There will be a special committee coming to SUBR in April after the report and documentation have been reviewed. Chancellor Llorens stated, “we have marched all our forces” and have brought in a consultant that used to work for SACSCOC, Joseph Silvers, who has helped a number of institutions who have gone through this process.
“We know that we are assessing every program but it’s a matter of just documenting what assessment tool you use, how the you then use the results of that assessment,” Llorens said on the administration aspect of student outcomes. “For students its how are we using not only your test results but how are we documenting that you are gaining the program materials and how are you grasping the information that you need in those courses in your degree program.” Joseph Silvers, former vice president of SACSCOC, is scheduled to meet with the university officials next week about the report. Chancellor Llorens displayed confidence in the university obtaining full accreditation by June 2013 with no problems. “Out of everything that is out there they (SACSCOC) are just making sure that we have all the proper documentation needed to support our report,” Llorens said.
‘TOBACCO-FREE’ CAMPUS CLOUDED CLOUDED CLOUDED CLOUDED IN SMOKE “Southern University System has set the following 100% tobacco free campus... BriTTanY PaTTersOn The Southern Digest
After the Southern University Board of Supervisors approved a ‘tobacco-free’ system in October 2011, The university prepared for the policy to be effective January 2, 2012. Now in January 2013, the policy is posted to the Southern University website with a task force of prominent figures on campus in support but, facing a ‘smoky haze’ when it comes to enforcement. Act 815 of Louisiana law states that all Louisiana schools are to be smoke-free. The SU ‘tobacco-free’ policy states; “Consequences of violating the policy represent
a range of sanctions that could include but are not limited to verbal warning, written documentation/warning, and dismissal/ expulsion proceedings for both employees and students. Sanctions for student violators will be addressed by Judicial Affairs and for employees by Human Resources.” The policy has still not been completely implemented and a date is still not been revealed for the implementation and enforcement of both state and campus policy. The Southern University System through the Communities of Color Network, an affiliated program of The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living will utilize educating the students, faculty and community about both the
health benefits of being tobacco free as well as the dangers of smoking for both smokers and non-smokers. When the policy goes in to full effect, Chief Ronald Stevens said that Southern University Police Department’s job will be to issue a misdemeanor summons and the department will be in charge of enforcement. “When the legislature put this law in order, they made the violations punishable,” Ronald Stevens, Chief of SUPD said. According to the Louisiana state law the first offense is $25, the second offense $50, and every offense thereafter $100. Violating this law
See TOBaCCO-free page 3
to be implemented within 90 days of the effective date January 2, 2012.” THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA