Florida A&M on year probation

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Florida A&M University has been placed on a year's probation for failing to meet basic educational standards, the school's accrediting agency said.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges, meeting in Dallas, Tuesday, highlighted deficiencies in the school's finances, school safety, operational "integrity" and leadership and was sparked in large part by the hazing death of marching band drum major Robert Champion in 2011, the Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday.

Larry Robinson, interim president of the Tallahassee college, called an emergency meeting of the board of trustees, and stressed in a news conference the school's academic programs were not in question.

"These are very serious issues and we're going to be working on them. None of them pertain to academic standards at the institution," he said.

The accrediting commission also determined FAMU failed to comply with a key standard meant to ensure student safety, and Robinson said that finding probably is related to Champion's beating death after a football game.

The group also said the school failed to operate with "integrity in all matters" and did not comply with standards of "qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience and competence to lead the institution," commission documents said.