Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, one of only two historically Black colleges for women, is on the verge of losing its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Bennett President Phyllis Worthy Dawkins said in a recent statement that the school has appealed the decision for which a hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 18.
The school, which currently enrolls 429 students, remains open and accredited by the commission until the outcome of the hearing.
“While we did not get the news we wanted from [commission] officials, I remain optimistic that Bennett will make the necessary strides to demonstrate we deserve to remain accredited,” Dawkins said.
The school was first placed on probation in 2016 over concerns about its finances, but it was extended last December. According to the United Negro College Fund, of which Bennett is a member, it has experienced a 10 percent increase in fundraising, improvements in infrastructure, a 2 percent increase in enrollment and grant assistance to aid with accreditation efforts.
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