From:

To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:

Johnson, Tonja
dipietro; Keith Carver - tennessee.edu
Robert M. Smith; Gallimore, Crawford; Wells, Julia (Wells@pictsweet.com); Raja J. Jubran; High, Katherine Noel;
Mizell, Catherine S
Re: SACS accreditation at UTM
Wednesday, December 09, 2015 9:51:29 PM

Joe,
I just wanted to confirm that I just got off of the phone with Bud to get what details I could
beyond what was in the email exchange. I was especially interested in understanding more
about his conversation with Doug Lederman and what Doug's plans were for releasing
information in Insider Higher Education. I have asked Bud to provide me with any final
communication that is to go out to UTM faculty and staff so that you can provide it to the Board
when you communicate with them regarding this matter. I will continue to work with Bud and
Dr. Smith as needed now andthroughout the process.
Also, please know that I'm very much willing to work with other members of the team in the
development or reviewof any documents for SACS. As you know I have many years of
successful experience in writing SACS and Middle States documents and experience as both the
chief report writer when I was in Mississippiand associate chair of our self studycommittee at
Stony Brook.
Tonja
Tonjanita L. Johnson, Ph.D.
Vice President for Communications and Marketing
University of Tennessee System
819 Andy Holt Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996

Telephone: (865) 974-8184

Fax: (865) 974-9580

From: dipietro
Sent: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 8:52 PM
To: Carver, Keith
Cc: Robert M. Smith; dipietro; Gallimore, Crawford; Wells, Julia (Wells@pictsweet.com); Johnson, Tonja;
Raja J. Jubran; High, Katherine Noel; Mizell, Catherine S
Subject: Re: SACS accreditation at UTM

Bob,
I am somewhat surprised and sorry about this news. I serve on the SACS Commission, C&R
Committee B, and Board and just attended the recent meeting mentioned. Our review
committee dealt with around 60 cases, albeit there are strict rules that prohibit me from

participating in any case where I am affiliated with the institution under review. Nor are
committees allowed to discuss cases outside of individual C&R committee sessions. Thus I have
no knowledge regarding concerns regarding UTM.
All that said and likely you understand, while probation is a worrisome and serious outcome,
generally they provide you a year to get the deficiencies in order or at least progressing towards
significant resolution and file a monitoring report. The shortest turn around time is 6 months.
From my experience, not meeting the essentials in institutional effectiveness is a frequent
finding. Sometimes it can take a few weeks to get the official letter from SACS, thus couching
your message as you have that you have received word but await the full communication before
extensive comment or planning is best. When you get the letter I am willing to meet with you
and the cabinet if you feel that is helpful.
I am confident you and the team at UTM can work thru this, but we can do little about it but
resolve to correct the deficiencies. I pasted below a PR piece by Auburn when they went on
probation that you may want PR to draft something similar to with Bud and Tonjas help as
may be needed to fit your case. As this can negatively impact enrollment, the Auburn piece
maybe of interest. I stand willing and ready to help. Tonja will contact Bud about getting a
BOT communication ready to send to the entire board. Thank so much for your leadership.
UTM, UT and I grateful for it.
All the best,
Joe

IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
FOR STUDENTS
AND PARENTS
ABOUT
AUBURN'S SACS
PROBATION
December 11,
2003

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) on Tuesday placed

Auburn University on probation for a one-year period. While this sanction is
both surprising and disappointing, Auburn is committed to addressing any
legitimate concerns of SACS in an appropriate and forthright manner.
News of the SACS probation has already prompted concern from students,
prospective students and their parents. While SACS has provided the

university no specific details of the matters that merited probation, it is

imperative that students and parents of students be reassured regarding
Auburn's accreditation.
In an effort to provide that reassurance, Auburn University would like to make
clear to Auburn students, future students and their parents the following:
AU remains fully accredited. Federal funding and student aid are not
threatened. The SACS probationary period allows us time to prove our
compliance.
The academic integrity of Auburn University is not in question. The SACS
action that resulted in the one-year probation included nothing about
the institution's academic quality. Auburn is committed to maintaining,
even enhancing, the quality of its academic programs. The SACS
probation has no effect on the day-to-day commitment of the
University community to its goals of instruction, research and extension.
Auburn University either has or will address in an appropriate and
forthright manner any legitimate concerns cited by SACS.
Auburn University is cognizant of the investment students and parents
have in an Auburn education, and is committed to maintaining the high
value of an Auburn degree. In addition, the University will endeavor to
preserve its ability to receive federal funds for both the institution and
its students.
Auburn University's regular accreditation review set for February 2004
will go forward as planned. The extensive self-study preparing us for
accreditation reaffirmation is complete, and addresses all of the
recommendations and suggestions from the University's steering
committee.
After SACS provides Auburn specific reasons behind the sanctions, the
University will communicate steps it has already taken or will take to
immediately address those concerns.
On Dec 9, 2015, at 8:19 PM, Carver, Keith <carverk@tennessee.edu> wrote:
Bob:
Thanks for reaching out. I agree...a notice to faculty and staff to give them a heads
up is necessary. Better to hear from you than from the reporter.

I think your statement is clear and succinct but defer to Tonja for any final edits.
Thanks. Let us know what we can do to assist you.
Keith
Keith S. Carver, Jr.
Executive Assistant to the President
The University of Tennessee System
On Dec 9, 2015, at 7:43 PM, Robert M. Smith <robert.smith@utm.edu> wrote:
Pardon the informality of my email but the urgency of this surpasses style.
Reading from the bottom up, you will see that our worst case outcome with
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools came true. Here is the
draft statement Ive developed for the reporters request and plan to use
some version of this ASAP to our faculty and staff. Your input would be much
appreciated but I may need to act before you get a full chance to respond.
We have received oral notice of the decision by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) that the university is
placed on probation pending corrective actions they wish us to address. We have
not received an official letter with specifics, but their decision will receive 100% of
our attention over the next several months. we know we are not where we need
to be but, given the progress weve made in the last four months, I am confident
we will be successful thanks to the commitment of our faculty and staff.

Robert M. Smith, Interim Chancellor

University of Tennessee at Martin
325 Administration Building
Martin, TN 38238
731-881-7500 (o)

From: Doug Lederman <doug.lederman@insidehighered.com>

Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 3:41 PM
To: Bud Grimes <bgrimes@utm.edu>
Subject: SACS accreditation
Bud:
Hi -- Doug Lederman here, from Inside Higher Ed. I got a call from the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools about their just-completed commission
meeting, where apparently UT-Martin was placed on probation for falling short of

standards related to institutional effectiveness and general education

competencies.
I'm going to mention that briefly on our site, and will include any
response/statement that the university might offer.
Thanks much.
Doug

-Doug Lederman
Editor, Inside Higher Ed
http://insidehighered.com
doug.lederman@insidehighered.com

1015 18th Street, N.W., Suite 1100

Washington, D.C. 20036
work: 202.448 6105
fax: 202.448.6106
cell: 301.503.4277

------------------------------------
Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dougledIHE
Sign up for your free daily e-mail news alert at
http://www.insidehighered.com/newsletter/signup
Join the new conversation in higher education.

From:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:
Importance:

Robert M. Smith
Johnson, Tonja (tonjanita.johnson@tennessee.edu); dipietro
Carver, Keith; Bud Grimes
FW: Updated Draft
Wednesday, December 09, 2015 9:57:00 PM
High

Tonja,
Just got a call from Bud and know you want to see what we are developing. Below is the latest draft
of a letter to the faculty and staff and can be used for trustees. Ive got our two local trustees
already engaged so they are updated as of now. The letter below includes some very nice material
that the president sent me from Auburns case. Ive included a lot of that but not the tone. Auburn
faced a circumstance that doesnt match up to ours. Consequently, Im not comfortable with the
defiant tone they had. We know we messed up. We have to deal with it.

Hey, appreciate your offer to help us write the document when we get there. That is very nice of
you.
Second, Id like to keep this a one-day story in the thick of holiday traffic so Im not inclined to do a
press release based on how little we know. In January, we may have to do something at the
direction of SACS.
Bob

Robert M. Smith, Interim Chancellor

University of Tennessee at Martin
325 Administration Building
Martin, TN 38238
731-881-7500 (o)

UTM Faculty and Staff,

Yesterday we received oral notice of the decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) that the university is placed on probation pending corrective actions
they wish us to address. We have not received the official letter with specifics,but you can be assured this
will receive 100% of our attention over the next several months. We know we are not where we need to
be but, given the progress weve made in the last four months, I am confident we will be successful thanks
to the commitment of our faculty and staff.

Im not going to understate the challenge this presents to all of our goals. Nothing is more important to
our success than to be fully accredited with no reservations. This cannot be achieved without everyones
participation. Accreditation is not the purview of one segment of our university while the rest of us stand
by. Therefore, I hope you will join me in meeting the requirements necessary to fully restore our
institutional standing.

As we work through this, be assured of the following:

The University of Tennessee at Martin is accredited and will remain accredited throughout this
process. Federal funding and student aid are not threatened.

In addition, all of our program specific accreditations (i.e., Engineering, Business, Nursing) remain in
full force.
This action results in the one-year opportunity for us to satisfy these concerns. We will use that
period to not only restore but enhance the quality of our academic programs. The SACSCOC
decision does not deter our commitment to quality teaching, research and service to our region and
the people of Tennessee.
We understand and appreciate the investment students and parents have in a UTM education, and
we remain fully committed to maintaining the high value of our degree.

The plan is to fulfill the requirements specified by SACSCOC and submit a progress report in early fall 2016.
We anticipate an on-campus visit by the commission in the fall with a possibility of a new decision by the
commission in December, 2016. I will keep you updated on how you can contribute and what progress we
achieve.

Robert M. Smith, Interim Chancellor

University of Tennessee at Martin
325 Administration Building
Martin, TN 38238
731-881-7500 (o)