Over the years, no consortium of educational universities has produced talent like the “AUC” or Atlanta University Center.
Consisting of Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University, in the last 20 years, the “AUC” has produced the likes of Bakari Sellers, ESPN personality Bomani Jones and actress Keshia Knight-Pulliam of “The Cosby Show” fame.
During this glorious time, one prominent “AUC” institution has been missing from the area in recent years; Morris Brown College.
Yes, the school featured in the hit movie “Drumline” starring Nick Cannon and based on the life of producer extraordinaire Dallas Austin, lost its accreditation at the turn of the century. As a result, the college also suffered a major economic downturn.
The loss of accreditation stemmed from debt and financial mismanagement.
But now things are looking up and school President Kevin James has the school on the right track. This week the historic HBCU is set to regain accreditation for the first time since 2000-01. This means students will be allowed to use federal loans at the institution.
In other news….. I visited the campus of Morris Brown College, and it felt so good to be HOME! Words will never express how grateful we are for @drkevinejames for his relentless pursuit of restoration! @POTUS @VP @soledadobrien @drkevinejames @SamuelLJackson @samsanders pic.twitter.com/8c15B4P84S
— Dr. LaTonya Martin Rogers (@drlmrogers) April 24, 2021
“After regaining accreditation, James said that he was “elated” about the school’s future.
James called the accreditation a “new day” for Morris Brown College and the community.
“We intend on making history as the first HBCU to regain its status after a 20-year hiatus and the first HBCU to have a flagged hotel on its campus for the hospitality education program.
“These achievements have sparked others closer HBCU’s to try again. Without the resilience, support, and prayers from the Board of Trustees, African American Episcopal church, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community, we would not be here. We have so many amazing projects coming up in the pipeline that will prepare our students for academic success and jobs.”
The resurgence of Morris Brown College is important to the health of the HBCU community. Morris Brown holds a special distinction as the only HBCU in the area to be founded by a Black person.
The next step for James and his colleagues will be to secure more funding. At it’s At its peak, the school hosted nearly 3,000 students, but it dropped to a dismal 42 students in 2019.
