By Horace Henry
The announcement was made on April 13, 2021.
In a letter from Morris Brown President Dr. Kevin James, he stated that he had just appeared before the Board of Accreditation, and that after 20 years, Morris Brown College had been approved by the board for accreditation candidacy.
The last year that Morris Brown College held graduation where the students received fully accredited degrees was in 2002. Amazingly, from 2002 until now, Morris Brown has always had a yearly commencement, homecoming, held academic classes with on-staff instructors, and as former president Dr. Stanley Pritchett used to say “Our doors have never been closed.”
During this crucial expansion of time, many naysayers had killed Morris Brown College, placed her in a coffin, and had all but nailed it shut. Statements like “Morris Brown is gone,” or “that school is finished” could be heard resonating throughout the communities and also within the halls of other academic institutions of higher learning. Almost no one expected the college to survive.
Many of the buildings on campus were shut down there was a land dispute between Morris Brown College, the City of Atlanta, and Clark Atlanta University. The once beautiful state-of-the-art football stadium at Morris Brown was abandoned and street artists were using it as a canvas for their graffiti. People had literally gone into the stadium and taken whatever they could take that was not bolted down. There was talk of homeless people actually living in Gaines Hall and also Morris Brown’s famous Fountain Hall which houses the clock tower and was the central focus of the campus when it thrived. It seemed that everything was falling apart.
Yet, the school was still educating students and holding regular classes. Through all of these challenges, the school was still fulfilling its mission to educate those who would come seeking to be educated. There were many dedicated alumni who would come to the campus at homecoming to re-connect with other MBC alums and to once again, enjoy the homecoming festivities. There was always a “Miss Morris Brown College” crowning ceremony, a homecoming parade, and just about everything that a regular college would have, but there was also an “emptiness” that could be felt on the campus. Something that was crying out to the faculty, staff, and students. A voice that was saying “Morris Brown College wanted more.” That it deserved more than just barely “hanging on” in an atmosphere that was not the full, academic atmosphere that it should be.
Although the Board met regularly and the MBC FOCUS Group along with the Women of Morris Brown had regular meetings, the school still lacked accreditation and simply put, was not very competitive, academically speaking. How could it be? There were fewer than fifty students enrolled, very few classes being taught, a very small number of majors for students to pursue, and no funds for financial aid that students could apply for on the federal level. No UNCF funds… Nothing.
But through it all, Morris Brown College survived! After President Dr. Stanley Pritchett’s tenue and with the young, new dynamic President Dr. Kevin James coming on board, the school saw new life. With Dr. James, Morris Brown received that “boost” that she needed. That “jump-start” that would put her on the way back to a faster recovery. On April 13, 2021, President Dr. Kevin James wrote, “I just completed my appearance before the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), and I am excited to announce that we just received candidacy accreditation!!!” Such a bold and historic accomplishment. Morris Brown College is now on track to receive full accreditation. As a college, she belongs to the people. The people should embrace her. As an institution that is located within The Atlanta University Center, she is one of you. Each of her sister institutions should reach out to her, and assist her in any way possible to welcome her back into the AUC so that she will once again be able to meet the qualifications and take her rightful place as a member of the Atlanta University Center Consortium.
To all HBCUs, she should serve as an example that, with a belief in God, a firm desire to achieve, and a steadfast commitment, you can obtain your goal.
Last updated on April 16, 2021
