News Release from University Relations

["President's Office" <AUemail@groupwise1.duc.auburn.edu>]

To Members of the Auburn Community:

For your information, I am forwarding the text of a press release
issued earlier today by University Relations.  

8/3/01 

Bob Lowry 

AUBURN UNIVERSITY FILES SUIT AGAINST SACS OVER REVIEW ISSUES 

AUBURN -- Auburn University on Friday sought to ensure that its
upcoming review by the Atlanta-based Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools is fair, impartial and conducted according to established
guidelines. 

The university filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Atlanta
after AU administrators determined that SACS had violated its own rules
and procedures in its treatment of the school. 

The suit asks the court to: 

** Order SACS to conduct its review of Auburn with an impartial
committee composed of a large and diverse group, including membership
from faculty and public university board of trustee members; 

** Limit the review to relevant issues under SACS' own rules and
regulations; 

** Require SACS to maintain complete and accurate records of evidence
collected during its inquiry at Auburn; 

** Order SACS to comply with due process in its investigation. 

"We welcome the assessment process because of all the good things it
will show about this university," said Interim President William F.
Walker. "If there are areas where improvement is needed, we will
certainly respond in a positive manner. 

"We aren't seeking to delay or stop this process," Walker added. "We
just want to ensure that it's done fairly." 

In April, a joint assessment committee of the University Senate filed a
complaint with SACS, asking the agency to examine Auburn's governance
procedures. 

According to SACS' rules, Auburn had 30 days in which to respond, after
which SACS would evaluate the merits of the complaint and determine what
action, if any, was needed. However, SACS made its decision to send a
special committee to Auburn scheduled for early October prior to
receiving Auburn's response, which was filed with SACS within the 30-day
time-frame. 

Peter M. Degnan, an Atlanta attorney hired by Auburn to conduct an
independent assessment of the allegations, said legal action against
SACS is necessary because the agency failed to comply with its own
regulations in processing the complaint. 

Degnan pointed to SACS guidelines that state that the accrediting
agency will "review the complaint, the evidence, and the response of the
institution's president" prior to making a decision. 

"SACS violated these guidelines when it voted to proceed with a review
even before receiving Auburn's response, much less looking at that
response for important information about the issues raised," said
Degnan. "This is a red flag about how SACS is proceeding and it's
imperative that Auburn take every step to ensure that proper guidelines
are followed. 

"In addition, the complaint against Auburn raises issues that are not
in any way related to standards for accreditation," Degnan added. 

A SACS policy statement describes the scope of issues subject to the
agency's review, and excludes "individual matters of admissions, grades,
granting or transferability of credits, application of academic
policies, fees or other financial matters, disciplinary matters or other
contractual rights and obligations." 

"There is certainly a difference of opinion among the Auburn family
about various policies and governance, and we're attempting to address
those in an open and forthright manner," Walker said. "But these same
issues do not necessarily violate accreditation criteria. 

"All we're asking is to have an impartial and professional review of
Auburn, its environment conducive to learning, its comprehensive and
challenging curricula and its outstanding faculty, students and staff,"
Walker added. "It would show why Auburn consistently ranks among the
best in the nation in higher education." 


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