After a two-year probation period, Guilford College has been reaffirmed for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the agency that accredits most colleges in the South. In December 2023, Guilford was placed on probation for failing to meet standards in managing its financial resources.
In 2024, the college attempted to appeal but was denied reaffirmation, raising concerns across campus.
“We have been with SACSCOC since 1927,” said Kami Rowan, provost at Guilford College, “and we’ve never been in this situation before.”
After the first year on probation, the board of trustees took action.
“They went into emergency mode,” Rowan said, explaining that the college appointed a new group of financial advisers to reorganize its financial system and implement corrective measures.
The probation period affected more than the institution’s reputation. Students also felt the potential impact.
“People want to graduate from an accredited university,” Rowan said, noting that although institutions remain accredited while on probation, losing accreditation would prevent students from receiving federal financial aid or accredited degrees.
Kitana Corbett, a senior at Guilford, said she sought out information about the situation by speaking with faculty, attending community meetings and reviewing emails from the college president.
“I just wanted to hear for myself what was going on,” Corbett said. “It’s really easy for information to be misconstrued.”
Campus events were also affected. Corbett said the annual Serendipity event changed due to financial limitations.
“When I first attended, it was lively and had numerous events,” Corbett said. “Last year, it couldn’t do as much for students.”
Despite concerns, communication from faculty and administrators helped clarify the situation for many students.
Jakiyah Moore, a first-year student, said she initially felt uneasy after learning about Guilford’s probation.
“I was kind of bummed out,” Moore said. “It made me question whether I should take a chance on it, because accreditation is really important.”
Moore said she reached out to women’s basketball coach Sarah Matthews, who was recruiting her at the time.
“She didn’t seem fearful of anything happening, which comforted me,” Moore said.
Moore ultimately decided to attend Guilford.
Now, the college has implemented what Rowan described as “one true source,” a system that emphasizes a balanced budget and financial transparency.
“We came through it,” Rowan said. “We did more than what was necessary.”
Rowan said the college has cut millions of dollars in expenditures, raised millions through fundraising and corrected the processes that led to probation.
