COMMERCE — Texas A&M University-Commerce has been placed on a warning status by a Southern accreditor because the university could not document that they had sufficient numbers in full-time faculty members.

The university was one of 13 placed on warning status by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges on June 23.

The university was placed on a six-month warning following the review of its fifth year interim report. The SACS commission conducts a comprehensive review of each accredited institution every 10 years.

“While we have not yet received detailed information on the nature of the commission’s concerns, we do know that the deficiency relates to Core Requirement 2.8, which states that, ‘The number of full-time faculty members is adequate to support the mission of the institution and to ensure the quality and integrity of its academic programs,’” a letter from President Dan Jones’ office to faculty stated.

“A&M-Commerce remains fully accredit. The warning does not jeopardize our ability to operate, the eligibility of our students to receive financial aid, or our authority to award degrees,” the letter stated. “Our students graduating in August and December will receive their diplomas from an institution that is fully accredited by SACS.”

According to the letter, the data presented in the report was from Fall 2010.

“The data presented in the fifth year report was based on Fall 2010 enrollment numbers, a semester during which we recorded the highest enrollment in university history. Accommodating that growth required the hiring of an unusually large number of adjunct instructors,” the letter stated.

 “As a university, we have committed to reducing our dependence on adjunct instructors. During the current academic year, department have moved quickly to fill 12 existing, vacant faculty lines, and 16 new (not replacement) faculty positions have been budgeted for 2011-12. Based on further review and analysis, additional lines may be created.

“These actions, among others, will be an important part of formulating our response to SACS.”

Texas A&M Univeristy-Commerce is the only Texas university on the list.

Other Universities on the list are: Barton College, Bauder College and Brewton-Parker College in Georgia; Bennet College for Women, Mcdowell Technical Community College, Mount Olive College and Pamlico Community College in North Carolina; Birmingham-Southern College, Shelton State Community College and the University of West Alabama; Southern University at Shreveport in Louisiana; Miami Dade College and Florida Christian College; Tougaloo College in Mississippi; Fisk University in Tennessee; Saint’s Paul’s College in Virginia and Virginia Intermont College.