MOBILE, Ala.
Alabama College System chancellor Bradley Byrne has created for Bishop State Community College a transition team, lead by the administrator to replace outgoing president Dr. Yvonne Kennedy, to help the college recover from the financial scandal that has threatened the predominately Black institution’s accreditation.

The Alabama College System board created the team, known as Project Phoenix, the same day it also accepted the resignation of school president Dr. Yvonne Kennedy.  Dr. Jim Lowe Jr., the vice chancellor for college operations at ACS, will start as Bishop’s interim president in August as well as lead the recovery team. Lowe, who has been with the two-year college system for more than five years, was also part of the state’s department of education for more than 15 years.

Several critics had called on Kennedy, the college’s president of 25 years, to retire over the financial problems dogging the school. Although Kennedy has not been charged for the college’s financial scandal, the Alabama College System said she had overpaid certain administrators. Kennedy’s resignation will go into effect at the end of the month.

So far 27 people, including former students and employees at the college, have been charged with stealing more than $200,000 in financial aid and athletic funds.  

In December the Southern Association of College and Schools placed the college on a six-month probation, which was extended to six more months last month for violation of five of its accreditation standards.

The U.S Department of Education had earlier put restrictions on its distribution of financial aid, prohibiting Bishop State students from receiving financial aid before producing documentation of enrollment. Now, Jordan said, the department is completely withholding funds from the college.

However, Jordan said that the college is not in debt. “The college is currently functioning, and Dr. Lowe will assist the situation according.”

Other members of the Project Phoenix team include Dr. James Cornell, president of Central Alabama Community College;  James Fitz-Gerald, dean of administrative services at Faulkner State Community College; Dr. Latitia McCane, associate dean of instructor at Jefferson Davis Community College; and Ann Mantel, chair of the nursing and allied health division at JDCC; and Dr. Charles Nash, vice chancellor for academic affair for the University of Alabama System.

- Margaret Kamara

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