*As we previously reported, Bennett College had until February 1 to raise $5 million in order to receive accreditation and remain open.
“The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges voted in December to end Bennett’s accreditation, citing major budget deficits over the years. (The school had already been on probation for two years). Now the institution is tasked with coming up with $5 million dollars before a Feb. 1 deadline. If they don’t meet the fiscal goal, Bennett will close,” NBC News reported.
The HBCU, one of the two remaining Black private women’s colleges in the nation, is now suing to keep its doors open after losing its appeal to have its accreditation restored.
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Bennett College filed a federal lawsuit last Friday (02-22-19), the same day the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges announced it would uphold its Dec. 9 decision to revoke the North Carolina school’s accreditation.
“Our fight continues,” said Bennett College president Phyllis Worthy Dawkins. “The accreditation process can be slow and even disappointing at times. The negative decision by SACS to remove Bennett from membership will not interrupt the daily operations of the college. We will continue to educate our young women to be analytical thinkers, effective communicators and phenomenal leaders.”
Dawkins says her team was “devastated” with the appeal’s outcome, especially after far exceeding its fundraising goals to prove Bennett could survive financially, per WITN.com.
Back in December, Bennett launched a $5 million fund-raising campaign to save the school and ultimately collected more than $9 million … but apparently it wasn’t enough.
So where will all that money go?
According to reports, the funds will be used to pay down debt, fulfill scholarships and put towards general operations, per ajc.com.
But the revocation of accreditation could result in the school closing.
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