VUU’s accrediting probation lifted, accreditation ‘reaffirmed’
Virginia Union University said Wednesday that its regional accreditor has lifted a two-year probation and reaffirmed the school’s accreditation.
“Reaffirmation is a powerful validation of the work we have done and the work we are committed to doing,” said VUU President Hakim J. Lucas in an announcement. “This achievement reflects the strength of our governance, the innovation of our corporate strategy, and the transformational progress our university has made. VUU is rising, and our future is bright.”
Eric Mann, a spokesperson for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, confirmed in an email that “the SACSCOC Board of Trustees voted to remove Virginia Union University from probation.”
VUU was first placed on probation in December 2023 over concerns about its financial controls. To meet the accreditor’s requirements, the school pledged that it would continue to expand its business office and focus on “strengthening internal fiscal infrastructure.”
While the probationary period was initially intended to only last a year, the SACSCOC board decided in December 2024 to extend it a second year because it found the school had not complied with four of its accreditation requirements.
At the time, Lucas said he disagreed with the decision and believed that VUU was on a growth trajectory.
While Virginia Union has remained accredited throughout the last few years of stricter oversight from SACSCOC, the removal of the school’s probationary status relieves any fears that it could lose its accreditation — a critical signifier of an institution’s quality and stability that is also necessary for students to access federal student loans.
Throughout the monitoring period, Virginia Union has emphasized that SACSCOC’s concerns have been with the school’s financial controls, and not the quality of its academic programs.
“This reaffirmation belongs to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and partners,” Lucas said. “Their dedication and belief in VUU made this moment possible. This university is stronger, healthier, and more forward-looking than ever before in our 160 years.”
Contact Reporter Sarah Vogelsong at svogelsong@richmonder.org
