By Kristina Goetz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CRESTVIEW HILLS - After two years on warning, Thomas More College on Monday had its accreditation fully reaffirmed.

The school's accrediting agency, the College Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), announced its decision Monday at its annual meeting in San Antonio.

"We made it," president Dr. E. Joseph Lee II said. "We're relieved, excited. I thought we had a very compelling case, but you never know how the outcome will turn out."

The four-year private Catholic college of 1,554 students never lost its accreditation, but was put on warning in December 2000 after a review process that began in fall 1999.

The review committee raised a number of concerns related to the financial solvency of the institution and long-range planning.

The college has made a number of changes since Dr. Lee's arrival on campus.

The institution established a five-year strategic plan, created a new management team, implemented new internal budget controls and increased outside funding.

Balancing the books

To help balance the budget, school officials also cut 11 nonfaculty positions, raised tuition 7.58 percent in March, offered early retirement packages and allowed some faculty to teach half-time. In addition, emphasis has been placed on fund raising, with a goal of collecting $1.5 million in unrestricted funds per year.

"We have also increased financial stability of the institution, including increasing the endowment by 17.5 percent in the last year," Dr. Lee said. "We are proud of what we have accomplished and will continue to grow and prosper as an institution."

Brad Bielski, chairman of the faculty general assembly, said the atmosphere on campus is going to change.

"Living under the SACS shadow has kind of put a damper on the spirit and creativity of the faculty over the past two years," he said. "Now that that's over we'll be able to move forward in a very positive direction."

Fully affirmed accreditation will also help sell the college's programs to potential students.

"Our students always believed we were a quality institution," Mr. Bielski said. "But it could have had an impact on recruiting if it had come down otherwise."

E-mail kgoetz@enquirer.com