St. Andrews Presbyterian College has gotten a one-year reprieve from its accreditation woes as its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation has been continued through May 2011, it was announced on Thursday

“I’m pleased to announce that with the active and helpful assistance of the U. S. Department of Education, we have reached an agreement to continue our accreditation with SACS through the end of the next academic year (May 2011),” College President Paul Baldasare said.

The agreement must be approved by the courts. But Baldasare does not expect that to be a problem.

"This agreement will preserve complete access to federal student financial aid, and full, active membership in NCAA," he said. "Over the course of next year, the college will work closely with the Department of Education to develop and implement a plan that will resolve on a more permanent basis the accreditation and federal financial aid issues that the college has been dealing with for the past three years.”

St. Andrews officials said they have been working on the establishment of strategic partnerships with institutions and organizations that share the college’s educational philosophy and commitment to student success.

"A great deal of work has been done since the time of the initial agreement with SACS five months ago," Baldasare said ."In addition to its direct benefits for students, such affiliations will make St. Andrews stronger by putting the college in a better position to meet the challenges and also profit from the opportunities that lie before St. Andrews and all of American higher education.

The college has strengthened its contractual relationship with the Hudson Pacific Group which will focus its efforts on redesign and optimization of the college’s website, student recruitment especially internationally, development of on-line and off-campus programs, and assistance with long-range financial planning. Finally, significant progress has been made in restructuring the college’s debt.

“The extension of the college’s accreditation through May 2011 will permit the college to finalize the work now in progress, and put in place a genuine, long-term solution – one that not only strengthens the College’s financial position in the short run, but also leaves the college even better prepared to offer the array of educational programs and opportunities that today’s students and today’s professional marketplace expect.” Baldasare said. “I am convinced that St. Andrews will emerge from this period of uncertainty and anxiety academically and financially stronger than ever; and that my periodic updates will soon focus on new and expanded programs and opportunities for students, and other enhancements in various areas of the college.”