BOSTON – The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) has placed Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology on two-year probation, as TNH had already revealed in its recent commentaries.
Specifically, in a joint Press Release of New England Commission of Higher Education and Hellenic College-Holy Cross issued late on Thursday evening, January 9, 2020 it was announced that “at its meeting on November 21, 2019, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) voted to place Hellenic College, Inc. on probation for a period not to exceed two years because the Commission found that Hellenic College, Inc. does not now meet the Commission’s standards on Institutional Resources and Planning and Evaluation. The Commission also issued a Notation to the College that it is in danger of not meeting the standards on Organization and Governance and The Academic Program.”
The Commission will monitor the conditions at Hellenic College, Inc. during the period of probation. While on probation, the institution remains accredited and maintains eligibility for federal funding, including student financial aid.
It is emphasized here that Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology were led to a dire condition which almost caused them to lose their academic accreditation due to the failures of the previous administrations of the Archdiocese and the Theological School.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America saved the School with his prudent interventions, assurances, and promises to the Academic Authorities with the pivotal assistance of George M. Cantonis who was then vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees.
TNH/ Theodore Kalmoukos)
Now Cantonis, who is HCHC’s new president, said in a statement included in the joint News Release that “we want to reassure our students, faculty, staff, donors and larger community that under our new leadership, Hellenic College Holy Cross is taking appropriate action to address NECHE’s recommendations. We are implementing plans to increase giving and improve revenue streams, simplify and make effective our governance structure, and focus our degree programs. Our financial situation is improving. We ended Fiscal Year 2019 with an excess of revenue over expenses from operations and we are currently operating a balanced budget. We look forward to working with NECHE to address the areas of probation and notation expeditiously and continue our tradition of developing the best clergy and lay leaders.”
In the meantime, he sent a separate letter to the entire HCHC Community announcing the decision of NECHE about the two year probation. He wrote among other things that “NECHE and HCHC are jointly announcing that the Commission has decided to place us on probation and work with us to fix our challenges. HCHC remains fully accredited with both NECHE and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and we remain eligible for federal funding, including student financial aid.”
He also wrote that “we want everyone to know that we are more dedicated than ever to our students and the future of the Church. We are currently building a new management team that will address these issues and move the School forward. We also have new board leadership in place. Fr. Jon Magoulias from Modesto, CA was recently appointed as Vice Chairman of the Board. Father Jon’s years of experience and wisdom will bring a renewed sense of importance to the work of the board and everything we have to accomplish. Over the next few months, the administration, together with the board, will work to bolster our governance, operations, and finances; advance a major fundraising campaign; and renew our academic programs and enrollment strategy. The board, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of HCHC are fully invested in this turnaround. Over the next twelve months, we have an opportunity to secure a vibrant future for HCHC and to respond successfully to the Commission’s expectations of compliance with its Standards for Accreditation.”
It is reminded here that The National Herald had been reporting for two years that HCHC had gone into a dire condition academically, administratively, and certainly financially. As a result, the president of the institution, Fr. Christopher Metropulos, was dismissed two days before Holy Week began in 2019 by the then-Archbishop Demetrios, and he was replaced by interim president Metropolitan Methodios of Boston. Fr. Metropulos was even prohibited from participating as a liturgist in Holy Week services at Holy Cross Chapel. No explanation has been given thus far as to what exactly prompted Fr. Metropulos’ dismissal, which was presented as a “resignation.” All of the above-mentioned, Metropoulos, Demetrios, and Methodios have been removed from their positions at the School of Theology.
The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly operating as the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, NEASC, is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority as to the quality of education. The Commission accredits 220 degree-granting institutions in the six New England states and eleven American-style institutions in other countries.
Hellenic College, Inc. was first accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (now NECHE) in 1974. It is a private, independent institution encompassing the undergraduate Hellenic College and the graduate Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
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