July 10, 1997-- The General Board of Global Ministries(GBGM), mission agency for the 8-million member United Methodist Church, today announced its support of the decision by the Board of Directors of Sue Bennett College to appeal a vote to deny the school membership in a regional accrediting association.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in June cited the London, Kentucky college for financial and administrative deficiencies and recommended that Sue Bennett College be removed from its list of members.
The school, which now is preparing an appeal, remains a member of SACS throughout the appeal process. If the appeal is unsuccessful the school would lose its membership and its eligibility for federal, state or local funds.
Under United Methodist Church law, a school that loses its membership in a regional accrediting body must be removed from the church’s list of approved United Methodist-related colleges and can no longer receive Church funds.
Over the past five years, GBGM has provided more than a half million dollars to the school to support its educational mission. The college’s property (land and buildings) is owned by GBGM’s Women’s Division. Women’s Division also provides property insurance at no cost to the school.
Neither GBGM nor Women’s Division is involved in academic or administrative operations at the school, which had a fall enrollment of 405 full- and part-time students in 1996.
Connie Takamine, treasurer of Women’s Division said, "We have supported the educational mission of Sue Bennet College since it opened 100 years ago. We have worked really closely with the school officials to avert any forced closing because the school has had such an enormously positive impact on the lives of thousands of people. We are confident that the school will be able to overcome its problems and continue its educational mission."
The college board of directors has accepted the resignation of Paul Bunnell as president and appointed Dr. James Cheek, academic dean, as acting president.
If the appeal is unsuccessful United Methodist Church doctrine would disallow the use of church funds to support the school and Women’s Division also would reclaim the school property it owns. If, as GBGM hopes, the appeal is successful the college could continue to use the Women’s Division property.
GBGM Associate General Secretary Deborah Bass said, "Unfortunately, we cannot use church dollars to solve the school’s financial problems, but we have assured them of that they are welcome to use the property for as long as the school operates as a member of SACS. There are few things more important than providing an opportunity for education, as Sue Bennett college officials are committed to doing. We will always support that mission, within the guidelines of United Methodist Church doctrine."
There are more than 100 United Methodist-related colleges that receive support from the church.