Bennett College works to raise $5M in less than 40 days to keep accreditation

GREENSBORO, N.C. — A North Carolina college is fighting  for survival and asking for help to hold on to its accreditation.

Bennett College is an all-women's historically black school in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The school is encouraging people to spread the hashtag #StandwithBennett and help raise money.

It said the school has less than 40 days to raise roughly $5 million.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools removed Bennett's accreditation earlier this month.

The commission reports the college failed to maintain financial stability and did not improve during a two year probation period.

Bennett appealed.

Leaders said the school has increased fundraising, enrollment, and retention over the last two years.

[ALSO READ: Barber-Scotia College appeals for alumni donations]

So far, they have raised more than $1 million and the deadline is February 1.

Last week, Channel 9 reported the historic HBCU Barber Scotia College is also struggling with debt.

The centuries old HBCU has been deteriorating since 2004 when it lost its accreditation and defaulted on a federal loan.

Concord City Councilman Brian King has formed a task force to research how to keep the school from foreclosing.

King told Eyewitness News Anchor Kristin Leigh he wants Barber Scotia to be a priority for Concord city leaders in 2019.

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