Cheyney University Accreditation is Reaffirmed
We’re proud to share that Cheyney University’s accreditation has been reaffirmed, meaning the historically Black state school is no longer on probation.
Back in February, Senator Hughes joined Cheyney President Aaron Walton and other leaders to call out the disappointing and unfair Middle States probationary status the University was put on. At the time, President Walton explained, “This action diverges significantly from the standard protocol, where a warning phase proceeds probation, raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the decision making process. It calls into question procedural fairness and transparency in the accreditation process and also sets a concerning precedent for the accreditation process of HBCUs.”
After working directly with Middle States and standing their ground against the probationary status, Middle States announced this week that Cheyney will keep their accreditation.
Senator Hughes expressed his strong support of the decision and the need to focus on moving forward instead of dwelling on the disservice the back and forth of Cheyney’s status did for current and future students:
“We want to get things moving at Cheyney in a much more aggressive fashion now that this cloud has been lifted off of us. Cheyney University provides a very special, nurturing HBCU experience that is consistent with its history.” – Senator Hughes
Cheyney University is the oldest HBCU in the country and has provided a quality education to a number of young leaders. Alumni include civil rights activists Octavius Catto and Bayard Rustin, the journalist Ed Bradley, and the newspaper publisher Robert W. Bogle.
It’s important to remember and honor the legacy of this institution and look to the many ways leaders can continue making Cheyney one of the best HBCUs in the country.
“In a world where people are getting less and less sensitive to Black and brown students, we need to make sure that universities with the traditional and historic mission of our HBCUs are invested in and that families know that they’re very viable options for their children.” – Senator Hughes
