CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), a private HBCU in Charlotte, has been placed on probation for financial responsibility concerns by its accrediting agency. This action raises questions about the school’s fiscal stability but stops short of removing its accreditation.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) issued the probationary sanction on June 12, citing ongoing failures to meet financial oversight and compliance standards. The decision follows a review of a second monitoring report initiated in 2023. The university remains fully accredited during this period.
Probation for good cause is the most serious sanction short of losing accreditation. Under SACSCOC policy, institutions are typically allowed up to two years to correct deficiencies before facing further action. JCSU’s following formal review is scheduled for June 2026.
University Response
In a statement, JCSU President Valerie Kinloch acknowledged the probation but framed it as an opportunity for institutional strengthening. “We are fully committed to strengthening all of our internal controls as we strive to become a nationally ranked, top-performing HBCU,” Kinloch said…