Morris Brown College’s first graduating class since the school regained accreditation is getting ready to walk the stage this spring, and they are not exactly slipping out quietly. The group, nicknamed the “Restoration Class,” is a highly visible milestone for the historic Atlanta HBCU as it works to rebuild campus programs and student enrollment after years without accredited status. Many of the graduates enrolled after the college’s 2022 reaccreditation and are the first to complete degrees under the restored status.
Student Spotlight
Senior Faith Shamley, an Atlanta native who returned to college after a brief stint in 2019, will graduate with a 3.9 GPA and has been accepted to Columbia University’s graduate program in nonprofit management, according to WSB‑TV. Shamley told the station her experience at Morris Brown has been “life‑changing,” and she credited small classes and close faculty attention for her success. She plans to move to New York in September, though she is still working out how to cover moving and living costs.
Leadership Calls It A Comeback
President Dr. Kevin James has labeled Shamley and her 91 fellow spring graduates the “Restoration Class,” a total of 92 students the administration says are finishing in the post‑accreditation era. James has framed the cohort as proof that the school’s resurgence is taking hold and has pointed to student outcomes as a sign of progress. "We are excited about the student success here at Morris Brown. This is what a resurgence and a comeback look like," he told WSB‑TV.
What Reaccreditation Made Possible
Morris Brown regained full accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools in April 2022, a shift the college says restored access to federal student aid and reopened recruiting to a wider pool of applicants, per Morris Brown College. That return to accredited status is the foundation for the school’s reported small but steady enrollment gains and made it possible for this spring cohort to complete financially supported degree programs. College leaders also highlight renewed partnerships, fundraising and campus investments as pieces of a broader rebuilding plan after years without accreditation.
Small Classes, Big Impact
Students and faculty say the relatively small size of recent cohorts has translated into more individualized attention and a campus culture where leaders and professors are easy to reach. For many graduates, the degree represents not only a credential but also a practical gateway to graduate study, careers and the financial aid that helps make those next steps realistic.
This spring’s commencement will be watched closely by alumni, donors and Atlanta’s wider HBCU community as a highly visible marker of progress. For the "Restoration Class," the ceremony will serve both as the culmination of a long recovery effort and a launching pad toward careers and further study.
