In June 2014, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools placed Paine College, a historically Black educational institution in Augusta, Georgia, on accreditation probation. In June 2015, the probation was extended for an additional year to give Paine College time to address the remaining problems that pertain to financial resources and financial stability.
But in a major blow to the college’s effort to demonstrate financial stability, Paine has announced that it was unable to meet its most recent payroll commitment. The college composed a letter for employees to use with their own creditors. In that letter the college said it would pay employees no later than January 8, 2016. However, the college said it hoped to meet its payroll much earlier, perhaps within a week.
Sunya L. Young, vice president of institutional advancement at Paine College, said, “We were unable to meet payroll today. We are making every effort to pay our employees as quickly as possible. No final decisions have been made concerning future pay, at this time. We are focusing on the current situation.”
