Morris Brown Reopens $1 Million Richer, But Without Accreditation
By Tracie Powell

ATLANTA

Atlanta's Morris Brown College reopened its doors late last month to fewer than 150 students, without a marching band, football team or accreditation.

They are, however, $1 million richer. The million-dollar donation from the Tom Joyner Foundation, headed by the syndicated radio personality the foundation is named for, will help returning students pay outstanding balances so that they may continue their education at Morris Brown. Priority will be given to returning seniors, say school administrators.

But despite the recent generous donation, Morris Brown is still without accreditation, which means students cannot receive federal financial aid or transfer credits to other accredited institutions.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) stripped the college of its accreditation last winter, citing the school's mounting debt, institutional ineffectiveness, poor record-keeping, and difficulties with processing financial aid. Most of the 1,500 enrolled students transferred to other colleges or universities when the school's bid to appeal the SACS decision failed in April (see Black Issues, April 24).

Students and current administrators say there are no plans to close Morris Brown now or in the future, despite uncertainties about how the school will continue to operate.

At press time, there were 68 students on campus. Administrators say they expected to have between 150 and 200 students by the end of August when registration ended.

Seventeen professors were on hand to greet new students last month. Linda Myler, the school's new chief operations officer and a 1969 alumna, said volunteer faculty may be needed depending on how many students registered. Current faculty and administrators are at Morris Brown "not because they can't find jobs anywhere else, but because they are dedicated to the school's survival," she said. Myler added that the school, which has already reduced salaries and staff by 75 percent, was expecting to face another two rounds of layoffs in late August and at the end of September.