Alabama State University News June 20, 2016 ASU Celebrates Two New Degree Programs, Release from SACS Warning Author: Lois G. Russell Students and employees gathered to celebrate the recent announcement that ASU's accrediting body has lifted the institution from warning status and has approved two exciting new degree programs. "I welcome you today for a great celebration!" With those words, ASU President Gwendolyn E. Boyd opened an afternoon event that drew a huge crowd, representing students and employees from across the campus, to the ballroom of the John Garrick Hardy Student Center on Monday, June 20. "We are so excited and extremely proud that on Thursday (of last week), after two years ... we got the phone call from SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges), our accrediting agency," Boyd announced. That phone call brought the news that the agency had lifted the University from warning status. "We were put on warning for our finances ... it was not for our academics, because we have the best academic programs in the state," said Boyd. "So, we put together three major reports showing that we were capable and confident to handle our own finances. And if you were here, you remember the first year we cut $25 million out of our budget ... we did it. And we got a good audit from our auditors two years in row." Boyd said all of the belt tightening, hard work and sacrifices by ASU employees paid off with a positive response from SACSCOC. "The warning has been lifted, and there are no more sanctions and nothing else we have to present to them. We have been vindicated, we have been redeemed, we have been released, we have been set free!," added Boyd. Boyd also drew cheers and applause when she announced that SACSCOC had approved two new degree programs at ASU: the B.S. in biomedical engineering and the Master of Social Work degree. "So what does that say to all of us as we celebrate our great University? 'Ain't no stopping us now; we are on the move.' We are getting ready to go to higher heights. We are getting ready to do greater things. Greater is on the way ... We are going to have an overflow of people who are going to be coming to Alabama State University. We have been vindicated by our accrediting body that we are doing the right thing at Alabama State University. So, put it on Facebook, put it on Snapchat ... tell the whole world that there is no stopping THE Alabama State University. We are on the move. Opportunity is here, and we are going to grab it and go forward," Boyd said. Boyd also introduced the team leaders who worked with University departments and divisions for the past two years to respond to SACS questions and provide reports. They include Dr. Karyn Scissum Gunn, associate provost for Academic Affairs; Dr. Christine Thomas, director of the Office of Academic Planning and Evaluation/Accreditation Liaison, Wanda Smith, vice president for Business and Finance and Dr. Lee Burge, vice president for Institutional Effectiveness. The announcements from Boyd were well received by the University's employees. "I think the decision by SACS was great and positive for the University," said Jackie Delaine, an alumnus of ASU ('86) and a 25-year University employee. "I think a lot of departments have put in a lot of hard work to make this happen, and we have a great deal to celebrate." SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/ Register here http://hbculibraries.org/html/2016meeting-form.html for the October 10,11 Membership Meeting in Atlanta. [Sized Coming Soon]NEW DIGS!!!! The HBCU Library Alliance is relocating to the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library. July 1st is target date for transition. Stay tuned!!! LYRASIS, Inc. 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 150 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.