Rescue Paine College: An Open Letter to Paineites and Friends

After two years under a warning status, on June 19, 2014, Paine College was placed on probation for nine violations of compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges’ (hereafter SACSCC) standards related to finances, governance, qualified personnel, and mismanagement of federal student financial aid. Those are the very same issues that caused the warning status. The immediate consequences for Paine College are a sharp decline in freshmen enrollment for the 2014 fall semester, a state of uncertainty of the value of education for current students, an exodus of current students, a decline in giving, and a severely diminished confidence in President Bradley’s leadership and administrative capabilities.

Because of a failure to adequately respond within the granted two year time frame under a declared warning status, it is reasonable to expect rigidity and inflexibility from SACSCC to any and all future submissions by the Bradley Administration. http://thepaineproject.net and other Paine College graduates have called for new leadership. George C. Bradley is not equipped for the job, will not honor requests for his resignation, and the Board of Trustees refuses to dismiss him. Time is of the essence because roughly ten months remain to satisfy conditions for continuing accreditation.

This sense of urgency has given birth to the Action Committee of Paineites and Friends. Like other efforts under way, the supreme aim of the Action Committee is the preservation of Paine College. However, this Committee is distinguished by the single goal of rescuing the school from the destructive grip of George C. Bradley. The only remaining course is to take him and the Trustee Board to court. Litigation will seek to pierce their veil of secrecy and ascertain whether or not they have been faithful to their mandated duties. Action is required sooner rather than later. A legal fund has been established solely for this purpose. The Committee’s account has been opened at (bank) with $1,000.00 contributions each from Tammye’ M. Lee, ’98, and Grady L. Cornish, ‘69. Disbursements from the account require signatures from the above names mentioned previously and must be associated with the established purpose, e.g., solicitations, maintaining donor lists, communication with donors, selecting an attorney, and initiating and sustaining legal action. Join the effort to rescue Paine College from the destructive grip of George C. Bradley.

Send a contribution to Tammye’ M. Lee, Chair, Action Committee of Paineites and Friends Fund, PO Box 492, Augusta, Georgia 30903. Donors will receive quarterly expenditure and progress reports on litigation efforts, as well as decide how unexpended funds will be used. Because of the time constraints, the account openers will select an Attorney within the next week. Email: actioncommittee_pf@yahoo.com (Please use the _ symbol between committee and pf) Tammye’ M. Lee, PhD, 1998 Graduate, Chair Action Committee of Paineites and Friends.

Tammye’ M. Lee, PhD, 1998 Graduate, Chair
Action Committee of Paineites and Friends                                                           P.O. Box 492                                                                                                     Augusta, Georgia 30903                                               actioncommittee_pf@yahoo.com