ECSU placed on warning by accreditor

Elizabeth City State University was placed on warning this week by its accrediting agency.

The action Thursday by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges comes after problems uncovered in recent UNC system audits of admissions and financial aid practices at ECSU. A warning is a lighter sanction than probation from the agency.

The UNC internal audit showed that ECSU improperly awarded financial aid and admitted students who didn’t qualify last year.

In a news release Friday, ECSU officials said they are committed to resolving issues and implementing recommendations from UNC General Administration by Dec. 15.

“The issues identified in the UNC system internal audit are legitimate accreditation body concerns because these bodies have a role in verifying institutions’ adherence to a prescribed set of standards,” ECSU Chancellor Thomas Conway said in the release.

This story was originally published June 17, 2016 at 7:00 PM with the headline "ECSU placed on warning by accreditor."