A separate news report about Chicago State’s accreditation has some members of the CSU community concerned as well. The letter from the Higher Learning Commission, the region’s accrediting agency, and obtained by the Tribune, states that “There are serious questions about whether Chicago State University continues or will continue to meet the Commission’s criteria for accreditation.”

The Commission’s concerns include poor graduation and retention rates as well as leadership and financial issues. According to the Tribune, only 12.8 percent of first-year students in 2002 graduated by 2008.

Searcy says he has not seen the HLC letter but says university officials shared some of the Commission’s concerns about retention and graduation rates with faculty and administrators in early September. 

On CSU’s Web site (www.csu.edu), Westbrooks attempted to allay student concerns.

“I want to reassure you that CSU is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and your CSU degree is valid and recognized by colleges and universities, governmental agencies and private organizations across the nation.

“What has led to the controversy are concerns the HLC has raised about recruitment, retention and graduation rates of first time, full-time freshmen students, a group that represents 6% of the current students enrolled at CSU. To clarify, data regarding graduation and retention rates is based on first time, full-time freshmen students as required by the U.S. Department of Education.”