Virginia Intermont College learned this morning that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS) appeals committee ruled against the College and upheld the decision by the SACS board of trustees to remove the College from its membership.
VI today filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to appeal the decision by SACS to remove VI from its membership. Both VI and SACS have jointly asked the Court to issue a preliminary injunction which would reinstate VI to membership in SACS in the same status it was before it was removed from membership, pending further order of the Court.
Kathleen O’Brien, Chair of VI’s Board of Trustees and 1986 alumna said, “VI presented a very compelling fact-based case. Even given the challenges and stresses that came with their June decision, we continue to serve and advance our core mission of academic excellence. Students continue to thrive and stakeholders continue to invest in what we do.”
“We are disappointed by the decision and convinced that our case was not reflected in the outcome,” said VI President E. Clorisa Phillips. “The Board of Trustees, the administration and I are fully committed to moving VI forward. As we chart our future, we are thankful for the opportunity to keep our accreditation in place through an injunction. For our students, it’s ‘business as usual’ on campus with the start of an exciting new semester.”
View Dr. Phillips’ statement to the press below: