Cheyney University is taken off probation by group that accredits area colleges

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The board that accredits the region’s colleges has taken Cheyney University off of probation.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education on Monday posted its decision that the historically Black college was no longer on probation .

Cheyney’s accreditation had been in jeopardy since November, when the Commission said the college wasn’t able to show it was meeting standards for ethics, academics and financial monitoring, among other factors.

Cheyney president Aaron Walton questioned how and why the university was placed on probation, after two groups appointed by the Commission indicated Cheyney was on the right track.

“Two teams coming in and us being put on probation without any warning and discussion seemed somewhat inappropriate,” Walton told KYW Newsradio Tuesday.

Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes was also among those who objected to the historically Black college being put on probation.

“Many of us are on the record in significant ways, not happy about what went on with Cheyney University with Middle States, and we’re very prepared to move forward,” Hughes said. “We thank Middle States for seeing what we’ve been telling folks for a while now — that has been the positive direction of Cheyney University for a few years.”

Walton said after several years of increases, Cheyney’s enrollment fell 8% last year. “This probationary status came at the height of recruiting season and has lasted into the spring,” he said. “So a lot of decisions, a lot of discussions have been made by families and we may not have been the beneficiaries of some of those positive discussions.”

Walton says Cheyney ended the spring semester with an enrollment of 724.

“I was pleased with the Commission’s action and the actions that they took to remove us from our probationary status,” Walton said. “I think it signals a new day for Cheyney.”