Accreditor Puts Mary Baldwin U on Probation Over Finances

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges placed Mary Baldwin University on probation for good cause for 12 months, according to a disclosure statement released last week, putting the institution at risk of losing its accreditation.

The private university in Virginia has been under monitoring for two years and showed progress toward complying with the accreditor’s standards, according to the disclosure notice. But Mary Baldwin hasn’t made enough progress. The accreditor said in the statement that the university failed to meet the commission’s financial responsibility standard, which outlines the expectation that an institution manage its financial resources and operate in a fiscally responsible manner. 

Students’ degree and enrollment status and financial aid remain unaffected, according to frequently asked questions on Mary Baldwin’s accreditation page. The university’s president, Todd Telemeco, said in a June 26 statement provided by SACS that Mary Baldwin “takes pride” in its progress and is committed to complying with all of the accreditor’s standards.

Probation for good cause is SACS’s most serious public sanction short of stripping an institution of accreditation. SACS opted to continue Mary Baldwin’s accreditation for now in part because the university provided evidence it will remedy compliance issues within the next year. The SACS board will review the university’s status next June, and pulling its accreditation is one of several options on the table. 

SACS didn’t offer more specifics about how Mary Baldwin is out of compliance with the financial responsibility standard. Telemeco noted in his statement that in fiscal year 2026, the university “has implemented strong controls on expenditures, reorganized operations in response to a smaller workforce, strengthened its fundraising efforts, and invested in the development of new revenue-generating programs and activities.” 

Telemeco added, “We intend to continue and accelerate this work in [fiscal year 2027] as we focus on identifying and growing revenue streams while maintaining disciplined, prioritized planning, spending, and investment.”

But Telemeco won’t be overseeing that work. He said in January that he would resign after leading the institution for several months, for family and personal reasons, The Staunton News Leader reported. Gary Daynes took over as president as of July 1.