HOUSTON -- Texas Southern University has been placed on probation and had one year to get its finances on track, KPRC Local 2, Your Education Station, reported Thursday.

The university has been struggling with money missteps and a spending scandal involving the former president, but despite all of that the students and the administration said there are brighter days ahead.

"It's been enough dark clouds placed on this university and the people are tired of them," senior James Hollins said. "I see a new president coming in, the Board of Regents meeting to make necessary decisions and students going to classes."

Hollins said he definitely does not see TSU losing its accreditation and federal funding. But the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which is over 11 states, put the university on probation for not complying with four non-academic standards.

"We were notified in August that they were concerned," said Lachanda Jenkins, vice president of external affairs.

Jenkins is part of the new regime at TSU. She said TSU issued a complete response to the Southern Association of Colleges to no avail.

'We'd made so many improvements we were hopeful that they'd be satisfied with the response," she said. "While we are disappointed, we look at this as an opportunity to prove our financial stability."

University officials said they thought it was unlikely that they could avoid going on probation because of the publicity in former President Priscilla Slade's trial on charges of misspending taxpayer money. The jury was deadlocked and a new trial is scheduled to begin in early 2008.

TSU is adamant that the probation status is all based on old administrative problems.

"We are confident that the administration is working to fix those problems," Hollins said.

While on probation, TSU remains an accredited university with full financial aid for eligible students. If satisfactory changes are not made, the university could lose its accreditation.