wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Barber-Scotia shuts down on-campus housing

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Note #8846 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05421
August 18, 2005

Barber-Scotia shuts down campus housing

Financially strapped college looks to save money, restore accreditation

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - In a cost-cutting move, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)-related
Barber-Scotia College has decided that it will house no students on campus
this fall.

	The financially troubled four-year college in Concord, NC, near
Charlotte, also is pushing the start of classes back to Sept. 14.

	The historically black institution said on July 12 that it would
refund deposits students had made and provide referrals to those who wanted
to attend other schools.

	However, it is not clear how many students will be affected by the
decision about on-campus housing. Nor is it clear how many students are
enrolled. The school declined to say how many students had made housing
deposits or pre-registered for fall classes.

	The college is trying to find alternate housing.

	"What we're doing is, we're surveying the apartments and condos in
the area, and people have actually come up to the plate," said
Barber-Scotia's director of community relations, David Belton. "One person
has even offered room and board at a very inexpensive rate for the year - and
transportation." 

	Thomas G. Robinson, chairman of the board of trustees, issued a
statement in which he said the college must dramatically reduce expenses to
"preserve the academic program."

	He said the moves would save about $1 million as the college works to
restore its accreditation, which was withdrawn in June 2004 after an
academic-fraud scandal.

	"It is important that this 138-year-old, historically black college
remain open to students while at the same time, regain a solid financial
footing," Robinson said. 

	The financial setbacks raised fears that Barber-Scotia may be forced
to close, like another racial-ethnic school related to the PC(USA), Mary
Holmes College in West Point, MS, which was shut down on March 3.

	Barber-Scotia President Gloria Bromell-Tinubu said last year's
revocation of the college's accreditation by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools had severe repercussions, including the loss of federal
funding and a major reduction in enrollment.

	Enrollment has dropped more than 80 percent in the past year. As of
January, Barber-Scotia had only 91 remaining students, and 16 full-time and
two part-time employees. Last spring it had 33 full-time employees and seven
part-time workers. Eleven students graduated on May 7.

	In April, the college asked 42 students living on campus to "vacate
the premises" for failure to pay their bills. The students were expelled and
not allowed to take final exams.

	The institution receives money from the PC(USA)'s annual Christmas
Joy Offering, which supports the seven Presbyterian-related racial-ethnic
schools and colleges.

	Beneva Bibbs, the PC(USA)'s associate for racial ethnic schools and
colleges, said Monday that Barber-Scotia's 2005 allocation from the offering
was $323,419, of which $100,000 was retained by the church to cover property
liability insurance.

	Bromell-Tinubu said, "By scaling back, the college plans to continue
serving students while exploring new ideas - such as a planned focus on
business administration, entrepreneurship and distance learning - to restore
the college's long-term viability." 

	A plan of action and a multi-year timetable for meeting strategic
goals is in the works, the college said. The board and the administration are
being aided by professional consultants whose costs have been underwritten by
the PC(USA).  

	"The board and the administration are optimistic about the future of
the college with this plan of action," Robinson said.  

	"Our constituents are eager for us to return to the prestigious past
Barber-Scotia College once had," Bromell-Tinubu said. "To do so, we must
patiently scale down and find other means to become viable."

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