MOBILE – The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges removed Bishop State Community College from academic probation on Tuesday, two years after it first cited the school for a myriad of problems.

The commission voted for the move during its meeting in San Antonio, Texas after finding that the Mobile school is in compliance with accreditation standards.

“This is a huge step forward for Bishop State and the Alabama Community College System,” system Chancellor Bradley Byrne said in a statement. “We congratulate Dr. (James) Lowe and the staff at Bishop State for a job well done.”

But Byrne said there are more improvements to be made and the school is participating in a Malcolm Baldridge Quality program.

SACS first put Bishop State on probation in December 2006 after numerous financial and academic problems were discovered at the two-year college.

The accrediting agency extended that status twice in 2007.

– The Associated Press