Northeast Lakeview College closer to accreditation

The Audit, Budget and Finance Committee recommended Northeast Lakeview College's annual financial report for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11 be forwarded to the Alamo Colleges board of trustees for approval.

The committee voted 3-1 Tuesday in Killen Center.

District 7 trustee Blakely Fernandez voted against the measure because she was concerned that the report did not properly address the possibility of further state funding cuts and requested that a disclaimer stating the report was not intended for bond holders run on its cover.

Fernandez said she does not want bond holders to think the district is hiding something if some information is omitted from the financial statements of either the district's or Northeast Lakeview.

The Ranger reported in 2009 that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools denied Northeast Lakeview accreditation in December primarily because it did not have an audit separate from the other institutions in the district.

Northeast Lakeview opened in 2007 and operates under this college's accreditation to offer federal financial aid.

Independent auditing firm Ernst and Young LLP gave the college an unqualified opinion, signaling proper handling of finances.

Dr. Eric Reno, president of Northeast Lakeview College, said SACS considered the fact the college did not have an auditing process separate from the district "a deal breaker."

"We can't go any further until we get this document," he said.

Chancellor Bruce Leslie asked when the college would resubmit its application.

Reno said they would resubmit the application in mid-February.

Roberto Zárate, District 5 trustee and committee chair, asked Reno where the completion of the independent audit put the college in the accreditation process.

Reno said the audit was only part of the application.

District 2 trustee Denver McClendon asked when SACS will grant Northeast Lakeview accreditation.

Reno said it depends on how many other institutions are applying ahead of Northeast Lakeview.

He said after SACS evaluates Northeast Lakeview's application, the agency will send a team to visit the campus, and the earliest SACS could act on the application is December.

District 1 trustee Joe Alderete asked how accreditation would change Northeast Lakeview's relationship with the other district colleges.

Chancellor Bruce Leslie said accreditation would allow Northeast Lakeview to offer federal financial aid independently instead of relying on this college's accreditation to do so.

In an email today, Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor of planning, performance and information systems, said about 4,700 students who are officially registered at this college attend classes at Northeast Lakeview.

Alderete and McClendon voted in favor of the item, and Fernandez voted no.

The motion will go before the full board Tuesday.

The full board will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 24 in Room 101 of Killen Center at 201 W. Sheridan.