UNCF gives nearly $1.5 million to Morris Brown College and announces reinstatement of Texas College

Jet, April 14, 2003

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) recently announced that its 39 member presidents unanimously voted to provide Morris Brown College with nearly $1.5 million to help the college overcome its current financial challenges.

UNCF also announced that Texas College has been reinstated as a member of the College Fund.

"The presidents of the member institutions recognize the challenges that Morris Brown is currently facing," said Dr. Sebetha Jenkins, president of Jarvis Christian College and chair of UNCF member presidents. "We felt that it was important for us to do as much as possible to support Morris Brown in its recovery efforts."

The decision came in response to a request from Morris Brown to help alleviate its financial difficulties. The college is about $27 million in debt. The request to assist Morris Brown was voted on during the annual meeting of the members, which consists of the presidents of the 39 member colleges and universities. The decision was later announced during the United Negro College Fund's 59th Annual Awards Dinner at Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers.

Texas College in Tyler, TX, was one of the charter UNCF institutions and lost its accreditation in 1996. UNCF bylaws state that when an institution loses its accreditation, it can no longer be a member. Texas College regained its accreditation in January 2001, and has now met all requirements for readmission.

William H. Gray, III, president and CEO of UNCF, said, "We are very happy to welcome Texas College back into our consortium of colleges and universities."

Founded in 1944, the United Negro College Fund is the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. UNCF has raised $2 billion to support its 39 member institutions and has helped more than 300,000 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees.