Fall Semester Canceled at Southeastern U.
School loses accreditation
Monday, Sep 14, 2009 | Updated 4:31 PM EDT
Ian Waldie
It's going to be a lonely fall at Southeastern.
WASHINGTON -- D.C. may be the fourth-best college city according to the American Institute for Economic Research, but that's not necessarily true for students at Southeastern University.
The school lost its accreditation and won't be offering a fall term, according to The Washington Post.
The accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education lapsed Aug. 31. The commission found that the small private college lacked rigor and faced shrinking enrollment and financial instability.
Of the 645 students enrolled last fall, more than 300 graduated in late June. Many others transferred to the University of the District of Columbia, Trinity Washington University or Washington Adventist University.
Nineteen of Southeastern's 60 faculty and staff members remain, and there is still a possibility the university could merge with GS Graduate School.
Southeastern was founded by the YMCA in 1879.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC4 Washington
