Bethune-Cookman to seek University status

Dr. William Lindsey, vice president of Academic Affairs, said officials are taking the steps to transform the college into a university. Currently, officials are awaiting accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges, he said.
"Possibly after February, the B-CC sign in front of Faith Hall will read Bethune-Cookman University," Dr. Lindsey said.

Lindsey said the move to university status has nothing to do with the number of students enrolled in the college. Which plans to enroll 4,000 students by 2011. The college's Master of Science Degree in Transformative Leadership, which began this August, is the main source behind the change to university, Lindsey said.
In February, the Southern Associate of College's will come to Cookman to do a review of the Masters Degree program, Lindsey said. At that time, the college must have met certain standards of education within the Masters program, he said.

Once the college passes the review and the program becomes officially accredited, Cookman will move into a different category within the accreditation council that will give the college with the ability to become a university, said Lindsey.

The college plans to, soon, begin offering additional graduate programs. Among those in consideration are the Divergent Learning Program for Teachers, Environmental Science and the African Diaspora.