Gallaudet University Off Probation, President Says

Gallaudet University is no longer on probation, the college's president said late today.

The school in Northeast Washington, known internationally as a center for deaf education, was put on probation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education last summer after a turbulent year. Last October, protesters angry over the choice of a new president took over buildings, marched on the U.S. Capitol and shut the campus down for several days, blocking the entrances. The unrest brought greater scrutiny of academic, enrollment and other problems at the school, and accrediting agency warned that the school was out of compliance on eight of 14 standards.

Since then, President Robert Davila, staff, faculty, trustees and students have been working to turn those problems around. A commission met today and unanimously voted to take the school off probation and give it a warning, the interim step as the school works toward reaccredidation.

"The community just came together," administrator Richard Lytle said today. "We worked hard and exceeded all of those expectations . . . The probation was a wake-up call. We heard it, took it very seriously and tried very hard to address those issues."

Davila sent a message to the campus community tonight, reading in part, "I thank you for all of your hard work especially what each of you has contributed to a new and better Gallaudet."