Historically Black Morris Brown College in Atlanta was founded in 1881 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 2002, the college lost its accreditation due to an unstable financial position. The college filed for and later re-emerged from bankruptcy. Enrollments slowed to a trickle. The campus fell into disrepair. (See JBHE post.)
But 2021 will be a year to remember in the college’s history. The college announced a $30 million investment from CGI Merchant Group, a minority-owned global investment management firm. The funds will be used to convert existing facilities into a 150-key upscale hotel and hospitality management training complex. In April, the college announced that it has received accreditation candidacy by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, a Virginia-based accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
As a result of the accreditation candidacy status, the United States Department of Education has now announced that college is eligible to administer federal financial aid. Morris Brown students will now be eligible for Pell grants and other federal financial aid programs. This status should greatly enhance the college’s ability to boost enrollments.
“We have been waiting for this day for a very long time,” said Kevin James, president of Morris Brown College.
