By Maeve Kiley, Contributing Writer
On Dec. 9, 2024, students’ minds were filled with research papers and finals looming over the horizon.
The only good news they could comprehend was the professor changing a grade or canceling a class, but expectations were exceeded when an email from the Office of the President arrived.
The past two years have been challenging for our private university. Since the university was facing serious financial difficulty, The Southern Association of Colleges and Universities Committee on Colleges (SACSCOC) took away the university’s accreditation.
Specifically, the university failed to comply with Standard 13.3 of the Principles of Accreditation, which deals with financial responsibility.
This resulted in an extreme budget cut which terminated the contracts of several staff members, reduced class sizes, and discontinued several sports teams (men’s and women’s track, men’s and women’s cross country, and men’s and women’s swimming teams).
This was an unexpected and upsetting blow to the student population who were discouraged by the loss of accreditation and concerned about their school’s future.
However, President Ed Dadez remained firm that the university would escape the dark cavern of financial debt and emerge victorious. Since the loss of accreditation was due to financial difficulty, Dadez actively sought new revenue opportunities for our university.
Alliances were formed with other organizations and sponsorships with nearby businesses. In 2024, the university received sponsorship from Xerox and Neumann Construction and Roofing, LLC. New degree programs were launched as well, including the Bachelor of Arts in Business, Master of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence, and a new minor in entrepreneurship.
In addition to in-person, the Saint Leo University Online Program received updates with an online BA in Veteran Studies launched in Fall 2024. During all of this, Dadez assured students, staff, and faculty through regular updates, which kept morale strong.
Dadez’s promises came to fruition when The Office of the President proudly proclaimed that the SACSCOC reestablished Saint Leo University’s academic accreditation after a Texas meeting.
“I am very pleased with the recent positive news regarding Saint Leo’s accreditation status with SACSCOC and am excited for St. Leo’s future” said Dr. Diane Bell, Assistant Vice President of Accreditation and New Program Integration.
“I am grateful for Dr. Dadez’s leadership, the leadership team, and the dedication of the entire University community to ensure Saint Leo’s future success” she continued.
Students, staff, and faculty rejoiced at the welcomed news which paved the path for a potential Golden Age for their beloved university. With accreditation reacquired, the administration can now focus solely on program investments and financial stability. This will allow expansion in campus programs, services, and outreach.
Although Fritz the Lion may be dancing a celebratory jig, the woods have not been completely cleared. Breaking free from financial instability is a challenging endeavor, one that may take another few years to reach fruition.
Some students are even doubtful if the university will be able to reemerge after all the budget cuts and spending concerns, but Dr. Dadez’s resolve remains unwavering.
“The University is quite pleased that we have been able to do the difficult work to regain our good standing with SACSCOC,” Dr. Dadez stated, “We still have much work to do to strengthen our university to thrive for another 136 years.”
A fruitful tree has blossomed and with a little more elbow grease, that tree’s branches will spread throughout the entire campus.
