FAMU is working toward reaccreditation, but now 10 journalism professors are paying the price.

Their contracts won't be renewed in the fall.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the governing body that approves accreditation.

They told FAMU that all professors should have a minimum of a masters degree, and 10 journalism professors don't.

So come fall, they're gone.

William Jiles knows his stuff.

The man spent more than 20 years in the TV news business... and also started his own public relations and television production company.

But he left all that to teach at the FAMU School of Journalism.

FAMU Journalism Professor William Jiles says, "I actually took a cut in pay to come here because this was an opportunity for me to return home."

But Jiles is being let go.

FAMU is seeking reaccreditation, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools gave the university a list of recommendations.

One of them being that all faculty must have a minimum of a master's degree.

That means Jiles and nine other Journalism professors will not return in the fall.

"In the short term, the program is likely to suffer. And I regret that," says Jiles.

Students feel professors don't need a paper to prove their profession.

FAMU Senior Craig Tucker says, "Experience to me outweighs degree. They've been in the field, they've been out there, they know what needs to be done."

FAMU will learn if it's reached reaccreditation in December, and it's striving to follow all suggestions from SACS.

FAMU Senior Xion Lester says, "You can't really argue with them, so it's a bittersweet deal."

The school's dean is also disappointed by the decision.

He says one option is for faculty to take on more classes to fill the gap.

Many students are in an uproar.

Georgia Dawkins with the FAMU Chapter of the National Assocation of Black Journalists says, "We really feel like the students are being neglected in this whole situation. No one's really considering our feelings or our ultimate careers."

Dawkins has also contacted the National Association of Black Journalists about the decision.

She says students will try to meet with the Provost Tuesday to voice their opinion.

As for Jiles and the others who will be cut, FAMU says experience still counts, and they hope to use people like them to talk to students as guest lecturers.

Professor Jiles says he's exploring several options which include restarting his old business.

FAMU officials say this decision only impacts the School of Journalism.