Bermudians attending the cash strapped Morris Brown College in Atlanta are making alternative arrangements to complete their tertiary education following a decision last year to revoke the institution's accreditation.

The College had been on academic probation, pending resolution of serious financial and management problems. In December, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) stripped the historically black college of its accreditation.

The 121 year old private school is facing debts of $27 million and allegations of financial fraud. It plans to appeal the decision at a hearing in March but at the start of the current Spring semester just half of its 2,500 students returned to campus.

Hundreds of students had decided to transfer to other colleges. Roneeka Burgess, a 19 year old sophomore year student majoring in international business was one of the holdouts - until she decided to fly home yesterday.

“I knew when I went back in August that they were having financial problems but I was getting reassurance from the administration that everything was going to be fine although we were on probation,” she said. “Then the last week of school this semester during the finals we were informed that our accreditation was withdrawn.

“They couldn't reassure us that the next semester we would be accredited so I chose to come home. There was no assurance that the work I had done would be worth anything. I didn't feel that was a risk I wanted to take.”

Ms Burgess is applying to transfer to other colleges but she said she would happily go back to Morris Brown if they pull off a successful appeal and regain their accreditation.

“Morris Brown College provides excellent education for blacks - it's an excellent school, it's a family.”

The SACS decision was a “big shock” she said. “I didn't think it would happen and when I found out I was very upset, distraught even. We knew we were on academic probation but we never thought it would happen. We've been there since 1881 and I thought we would be there for another hundred years.”

She said there are about five Bermudians in total at the school and three of them decided to stay and do double course work without any guarantee that they will be accredited.

“It's good to be home with my family but I like being in school, with my friends in Atlanta.”