After near death, Morris Brown College bounces back, receives largest grant in 20 years

After financial woes led to the loss of its accreditation in 2002 and enrollment dwindled down to just dozens of students, Historical Black College Morris Brown College is getting nearly $3 million in federal funding for academic programs and the restoration of a historic building.

This represents the largest grant the Atlanta school has received in decades. $2.4 million is dedicated to supporting academic programs, while part of the funding will be used to create a center for teaching and learning for current students to get academic help. The school also plans to continue investing in academic programs that will keep its students competitive on the job market, including e-sports, computer science and hospitality.

The private, historically Black college’s accreditation was revoked in 2002 over heavy debt and financial mismanagement. For 20 years, its students couldn’t apply for federal loans or Pell grants. Enrollment went from more than 2,500 students to fewer than 50, and the campus shrank to three buildings. But in April 2022, the school’s accreditation was restored. More than 270 students are currently enrolled at Morris Brown, but the president of the school, Kevin E. James hopes enrollment will top 400 students by next year.

The new funding comes from congressionally directed spending requests, which let lawmakers earmark money for specific uses. Joined on Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff to announce the award, President Kevin E. James said, “This is our first multimillion-dollar grant in 20 years. These funds will absolutely help to catapult Morris Brown College into its glorious future.”

Ossoff saud, “The funds will “help kickstart the renaissance that’s going on at this institution.” In his campaign for the U.S. Senate, Ossoff pledged to support historically Black colleges and universities. He also credited U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., with helping to secure the funds for Morris Brown.

Founded by the Georgia Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1881, Morris Brown is the first historically Black college in the state to be founded by Black people.