Emory & Henry University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Emory & Henry University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. On June 26, 2025, SACSCOC continued the institution’s accreditation and placed the institution on Probation for Good Cause for twelve months for not fully meeting the criteria in Standard 13.3 (financial responsibility) of their Principles of Accreditation. For more information, read the SACSCOC Public Disclosure Statement. Questions about the accreditation of Emory & Henry University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Frequently Asked Questions
Emory & Henry is an accredited university. Recently, our accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), placed Emory & Henry on Probation for Good Cause for not fully meeting their criteria in Standard 13.3 (financial responsibility) of their Principles of Accreditation.
Accreditation is a standard, ongoing process involving specific check-in points (i.e., typically every ten years), as determined by SACSCOC, and updates from an institution on either overall status or specific areas (e.g., financials, curriculum, student outcomes).
This FAQ covers the meaning of Probation for Good Cause and the information SACSCOC has requested from Emory & Henry.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is one of several regional and national organizations that accredit colleges and universities. Accreditation is an important indication that an institution is operating acceptably. According to the U.S. Department of Education, these organizations “ … develop evaluation criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether … those criteria are met. Institutions and/or programs that request an agency’s evaluation and that meet an agency’s criteria are then ‘accredited’ by that agency.”
Accreditation is an ongoing process involving set check-in points (i.e., typically every ten years), and updates from an institution on either overall status or specific areas.
Probation signifies that an accredited institution is no longer in compliance with one or more of SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation. Emory & Henry University is accredited. The decision to continue accreditation and place an institution on Probation for Good Cause is at the SACSCOC Board’s discretion and can be provided only if the institution provides a persuasive case regarding the factors outlined below. An institution’s accreditation may be extended for Good Cause if the institution has:
demonstrated significant recent accomplishments in addressing non-compliance;
documented that it has the “potential” to remedy all deficiencies within the extended period as defined by the Committee on Compliance and Reports - meaning it has supplied evidence the SACSCOC Board finds reasonable;
provided assurance to SACSCOC that it is not aware of any other reasons, other than those identified by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees, why the institution cannot be continued on Probation for Good Cause.
Emory & Henry was continued in accreditation and placed on Probation for Good Cause because the SACSCOC Board of Trustees determined the University was not in compliance with criteria in Standard 13.3 (Financial responsibility) of the Principles of Accreditation.
SACSCOC has extended Emory & Henry’s probation for one year. We are confident that at the end of that year we will have met the criteria for the requirements SACSCOC has requested.
No, Emory & Henry continues to be accredited.
Emory & Henry fully expects to demonstrate compliance within the period of Probation. President Fincher, together with the University’s Board of Trustees and Administration, is committed and prepared to implement all necessary corrective actions to satisfactorily address the areas of concern.
No. The University is accredited by SACSCOC and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (US DoED) in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to offer and award federal financial aid to eligible students.
No. The SACSCOC Probation status will have no impact on course offerings.
The University has made tremendous progress in:
Optimizing revenue, reducing expenses, Improving efficiency and streamlining operations to address a substantial operating financial deficit. For 2024-2025, we are projecting a balanced budget with incoming revenues matching outgoing expenses.
Maintaining robust financial resources supported by a strong endowment of $105 million which continues to provide a solid foundation.
Realigning our academic programs to better reflect today’s job and workforce needs, including launching a new finance major within our Business Administration program beginning this fall, while maintaining our commitment to the liberal arts.
Streamlining transfer credits for Virginia community college students.
Expanding the Teachers for Tomorrow program now in partnership with eight public school systems and two community colleges and the Grow Your Own program for teachers’ aids to complete their bachelor’s degrees and licensure.
Serving our southwest Virginia region through our Healthcare Excellence Academy Lab School which has also created a pipeline for educating high school students for healthcare careers.
The SACSCOC Board of Trustees will vote on the probationary status of the University following a review of its Third Monitoring Report addressing the standards cited above for non-compliance. At that time, the Board will have the following options: (1) remove the institution from Probation without an additional report; (2) continue accreditation, continue the institution on Probation for Good Cause, request a Fourth Monitoring Report and authorize a Special Committee; or (3) remove the institution from membership for failure to comply with the Principles of Accreditation.
President Fincher, together with the University’s Board of Trustees and Administration, is committed and prepared to implement all necessary corrective actions to satisfactorily address the areas of concern. We fully expect to be removed from Probation at that time.
We will continue to update the University’s website with any new developments regarding SACSCOC.
Emory & Henry University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master, and doctoral degrees. Central Methodist University is not accredited by SACS Commission on Colleges and the accreditation of Emory & Henry University does not extend to or include Central Methodist University or its students. Further, although Emory & Henry University agrees to accept certain course work from Central Methodist University to be applied toward an award from Emory & Henry University, that course work may not be accepted by other colleges or universities in transfer, even if it appears on a transcript from Emory & Henry University. The decision to accept course work in transfer from any institution is made by the institution considering the acceptance of credits or course work.