SACS LIFTS AUBURN'S PROBATION

AUBURN --- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) announced today it had lifted the one-year probation it placed on Auburn University last December.

"I am extremely pleased that SACS' Commission on Colleges has today removed Auburn University's probationary status," said AU Interim President Ed Richardson. "Clearing this university's name with regard to its accreditation status has been my top priority since assuming the interim presidency at Auburn. I have been confident all along that we would hear the news we've heard today.

"With this episode behind us, it is now time for all of us within the Auburn family --- students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni --- to work together and to renew our efforts toward making Auburn everything that it needs to be --- an outstanding learning environment for students, a leader in innovative research and an important economic engine for the state of Alabama.

"It is our understanding that SACS will ask Auburn to submit a progress report by Sept. 22, 2005," Richardson added. "We fully intend to provide SACS with every report they request." (Full statement by Interim President Ed Richardson)

SACS placed Auburn on probation last year based on allegations contained in a complaint filed in 2001 by a Joint Assessment Committee of the University Senate. The university and the Board of Trustees began immediately to address SACS' recommendations --- all aimed at matters dealing with university governance.

A SACS special committee visited Auburn in September and interviewed several AU faculty, administrators and students. It filed a report in November that contained three recommendations: that the university establish a method for presidential evaluation; that members of the Board of Trustees individually sign documents indicating their commitment to the accreditation process; and that the Board of Trustees take appropriate actions to ensure that it lives up to its own Code of Ethics and to ensure that the Board is not controlled by a minority of its members.

Upon receiving the report of the Special Committee, Auburn took steps to comply fully with all three recommendations.

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