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EMORY & HENRY
Emory & Henry ends one-year probation after "significant" changes (copy)
Emory & Henry University had its probation removed by its accrediting agency, after school leaders continued working to address shortcomings.
The Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges board of trustees recently acted after Emory & Henry served one year of probation for failure to meet commission standard 13.3 (financial responsibility).
This standard expects an institution to “manage its financial resources and operate in a fiscally responsible manner,” according to commission documents.
“I am pleased to report that Emory & Henry is no longer on probation for good cause and is in good standing with our accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC),” university President Louise Fincher wrote in a letter to alumni, staff and others. “Following a year of ongoing evaluation, SACSCOC determined that Emory & Henry is fully meeting all criteria in its Principles of Accreditation and we remain an accredited university, as we always have.”
A commission official confirmed the decision Wednesday, but its website hadn’t yet been updated.
Probation for good cause is considered the most serious public sanction the commission can impose, short of revoking an institution’s accreditation.
The commission's board reached its decision after reviewing Emory & Henry’s third monitoring report in three years.
It had three options and chose to remove the institution from probation without an additional report.
Its other choices were to continue accreditation, continue the institution on probation for good cause, request a fourth monitoring report and authorize a special committee; or remove the institution from membership for failure to comply with the Principles of Accreditation.
The board imposed 12 months of probation on June 26, 2025, following two years of reports.
In her letter, Fincher said the probation decision was "largely based on financial records from 2022-2024."
Emory & Henry had reached its two-year maximum consecutive time for a monitoring period last June, so the SACSCOC Board of Trustees acted to extend accreditation for good cause with probation.
That can only occur only if the school has “demonstrated significant recent accomplishments in addressing non-compliance and the institution has provided evidence which makes it reasonable for the board to assume it will remedy all deficiencies within a 12-month period, and the institution has provided assurance to the board that it is not aware of any other reasons, other than those identified by the board, why the institution cannot be continued for good cause,” according to commission policy.
In her letter, Fincher acknowledged "we have made significant changes in our financial operations and greatly improved the financial strength of the university."
Those include:
• Continued to optimize revenue, reduce expenses, improve efficiency, and streamline operations. We completed 2024-2025 with a balanced budget and we are balancing our budget again for 2025-2026.
• Attracted more students to the university and saw increases in applications and enrollment due in part to initiatives like the Emory & Henry Tuition Promise and our reduced tuition price announced in September. We are also seeing increases in student retention.
• Identified pathway opportunities with Virginia Highlands Community College and other local community colleges to grow enrollment and serve more students in our region.
• Hired and elevated leaders who will help us continue to identify opportunities for revenue, partnerships, and regional collaboration.
• Continued carefully monitoring expenses through a more thorough pre-approval process for expenditures.
“My colleagues and I are steadfast in our commitment to continuing our financial stewardship, growing enrollment, and identifying innovative revenue opportunities to further strengthen our financial stability,” she wrote.
Female farmers gather
Julia Stephens represented Wythe County at this year’s American Farm Bureau Federation ACE Summitt celebrating the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Stephens, joined by Sarah Gillespie of Smyth County and others, gathered with women across the agriculture sector to recognize their contributions to farming, agribusiness and the global food supply chain.
Twenty-one Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Committee members joined around 450 attendees from across the U.S. and world for the landmark national gathering on June 1-3 in Arlington and Washington, D.C. The biennial ACE (Advocate, Cultivate, Empower) Summit equips and connects women farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals through leadership development, advocacy training, networking opportunities and professional growth.
“It was incredible to have such a large cohort of Virginia women representing us at the summit, especially during the IYWF,” said Faye Hundley, VFBF Women’s Leadership Committee chair. “The caliber of speakers and workshop topics made for a thought-provoking and educational experience that empowered women to see their value.”
Throughout the three-day event, attendees explored the origins and significance of the UN’s International Year of the Woman Farmer while examining the challenges and opportunities women in agriculture face across the globe. Educational sessions highlighted emerging trends in the global agricultural landscape, how technology is shaping agriculture, and effective strategies to share agriculture’s story with consumers, policymakers and communities.
Participants also heard from a lineup of agricultural leaders, including Sarah Frey, CEO and founder of Frey Farms; Alexis Taylor, chief global policy officer of the International Fresh Produce Association; and Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council.
One of the event’s highlights was the release of AFBF’s National Women in Agriculture Study, which provided a comprehensive look at women working in U.S. agriculture.
The study found that 90% of respondents felt confident representing agriculture in public or professional settings and are interested in pursuing leadership roles. It also identified areas where more support is needed, like caregiving responsibilities, skill development, leadership involvement, financial planning and overall well-being.
On the final day of the summit, participants put their advocacy into action and met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. During meetings with Reps. John McGuire, Eugene Vindman, Jen Kiggans and Ben Cline, they shared insights and discussed challenges facing Virginia agriculture, including the impacts of this year’s severe weather on the commonwealth’s crops.
