PRINCE HALL
New Member
By ANDREA JONES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
APRIL 2, 2003
APPEAL DAY FOR MORRIS BROWN
In recent months, Morris Brown College has raised cash and held prayer sessions, speeded up a semester and graduated a class of seniors.
Wednesday, the college faces what some say could be its most daunting task to date: trying to convince the governing body that yanked its accreditation in December to give it back.
And those who will speak for the college at its appeals hearing -- including Morris Brown President Charles Taylor and former mayor, congressman and ambassador Andrew Young -- won't be able to introduce any new evidence, according to the hearing's rules.
Instead, they'll have to prove that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools violated its own policies and procedures. Only one school in recent years has been successful in the appeals process, accrediting officials said.
James Rogers, executive director of the accrediting agency, said the burden of proof rests with the school. He declined to be interviewed, but released a statement detailing how appeals are handled.
"The policy is very clear that the presentation of any new or remedial evidence -- regardless of its nature or significance -- may not be considered as the appeals committee makes its decision," his statement said. "The appeal is only judging the reasonableness of the commission's decision in December 2002."
Despite the odds, Morris Brown board spokeswoman Deb McGhee Speights said the mood at the school remained upbeat Tuesday.
"It is a big day and we are prepared," Speights said. "We have a very strong appeals team, and we are looking forward to a favorable outcome." If the school does lose its appeal, McGhee Speights said, Morris Brown will "immediately try to reapply for accreditation."
That would be another challenge. Under the Southern Association's rules, the college would have to wait one year and be completely debt-free before it could reapply. While Morris Brown has retained its accreditation during the appeals process, this week's decision will be final.
If the appeal fails, the private school will lose its eligibility to offer federal financial aid to students. Nearly 90 percent of the student body receives some type of financial aid.
The Southern Association is the recognized regional accrediting body for 11 Southern states.
In December, a 77-member commission revoked Morris Brown's accreditation, citing ongoing problems with student financial aid, record-keeping and institutional ineffectiveness. Twelve college presidents -- all members of the Southern Association -- will hear the appeal.
"The commission has been monitoring [Morris Brown's] progress for over three years, two of which were spent on public sanction," Rogers' statement said.
"The commission offers numerous opportunities for assistance in helping institutions resolve their problems and maintain their accredited status."
In almost every situation, Rogers said in the statement, schools straightened out their problems before it became necessary to remove their accreditation.
Morris Brown's debt currently totals $27 million. School officials say their most urgent concern has been to repay the short-term debt of $10 million by June.
Taylor said last week that the school has raised a significant amount of money toward that goal.
"We're getting close to $5 million," he said.
Rogers said it likely will be at least five days before the appeals decision is made public. In the meantime, students and staff at the school will be weighing their options. About half of the school's student body already has transferred to other schools, and many of the 1,130 remaining students have said they plan to leave if the school is unsuccessful in its appeal.
Regina Parker, whose daughter, Kennet Jones, is a rising junior at Morris Brown, said she's disappointed that students have had to suffer because of the "decisions of others."
Parker, who lives in Long Beach, Calif., said her daughter probably will attend Morris Brown regardless of the hearing outcome.
Still, she said, "I'm praying that they don't lose the accreditation. I'm in hopes that they won't."
-- Staff writer Dana Tofig contributed to this article.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
APRIL 2, 2003
APPEAL DAY FOR MORRIS BROWN
In recent months, Morris Brown College has raised cash and held prayer sessions, speeded up a semester and graduated a class of seniors.
Wednesday, the college faces what some say could be its most daunting task to date: trying to convince the governing body that yanked its accreditation in December to give it back.
And those who will speak for the college at its appeals hearing -- including Morris Brown President Charles Taylor and former mayor, congressman and ambassador Andrew Young -- won't be able to introduce any new evidence, according to the hearing's rules.
Instead, they'll have to prove that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools violated its own policies and procedures. Only one school in recent years has been successful in the appeals process, accrediting officials said.
James Rogers, executive director of the accrediting agency, said the burden of proof rests with the school. He declined to be interviewed, but released a statement detailing how appeals are handled.
"The policy is very clear that the presentation of any new or remedial evidence -- regardless of its nature or significance -- may not be considered as the appeals committee makes its decision," his statement said. "The appeal is only judging the reasonableness of the commission's decision in December 2002."
Despite the odds, Morris Brown board spokeswoman Deb McGhee Speights said the mood at the school remained upbeat Tuesday.
"It is a big day and we are prepared," Speights said. "We have a very strong appeals team, and we are looking forward to a favorable outcome." If the school does lose its appeal, McGhee Speights said, Morris Brown will "immediately try to reapply for accreditation."
That would be another challenge. Under the Southern Association's rules, the college would have to wait one year and be completely debt-free before it could reapply. While Morris Brown has retained its accreditation during the appeals process, this week's decision will be final.
If the appeal fails, the private school will lose its eligibility to offer federal financial aid to students. Nearly 90 percent of the student body receives some type of financial aid.
The Southern Association is the recognized regional accrediting body for 11 Southern states.
In December, a 77-member commission revoked Morris Brown's accreditation, citing ongoing problems with student financial aid, record-keeping and institutional ineffectiveness. Twelve college presidents -- all members of the Southern Association -- will hear the appeal.
"The commission has been monitoring [Morris Brown's] progress for over three years, two of which were spent on public sanction," Rogers' statement said.
"The commission offers numerous opportunities for assistance in helping institutions resolve their problems and maintain their accredited status."
In almost every situation, Rogers said in the statement, schools straightened out their problems before it became necessary to remove their accreditation.
Morris Brown's debt currently totals $27 million. School officials say their most urgent concern has been to repay the short-term debt of $10 million by June.
Taylor said last week that the school has raised a significant amount of money toward that goal.
"We're getting close to $5 million," he said.
Rogers said it likely will be at least five days before the appeals decision is made public. In the meantime, students and staff at the school will be weighing their options. About half of the school's student body already has transferred to other schools, and many of the 1,130 remaining students have said they plan to leave if the school is unsuccessful in its appeal.
Regina Parker, whose daughter, Kennet Jones, is a rising junior at Morris Brown, said she's disappointed that students have had to suffer because of the "decisions of others."
Parker, who lives in Long Beach, Calif., said her daughter probably will attend Morris Brown regardless of the hearing outcome.
Still, she said, "I'm praying that they don't lose the accreditation. I'm in hopes that they won't."
-- Staff writer Dana Tofig contributed to this article.