Local8now.com May 6, 2015 Knoxville College plans restructuring The Knoxville College Board of Trustees announced a self-imposed moratorium on offering classes for the Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters. Stating that the board's decision will allow the college to fully focus on future students' needs, Board Chair Dr. James F. Reese emphasized that the school is not closed. Currently enrolled students are being assisted in identifying options to continue their matriculations. "Essential operations of the college will be carried out with a reduced staff, as we undertake a period to strategically discuss and review the college's status and direction." Under the guidance of Dr. Jane Redmond and an appointed commission, members of the college's management team will assess the school's core operations in developing a comprehensive restructuring plan that will enable it to begin readmittance of students for the Fall of 2016. Dr. Redmond, a retired Associate Vice Chancellor of the University of Tennessee and Knoxville College alumna, noted that, "The commission will bring specialized expertise to aid in evaluating KC's core operations and, through the restructuring process, enable us to emerge with a stronger, sustainable plan of action." Knoxville College continues to operate as an authorized higher education institution. The college's management team maintains contact with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and will remain in consultation with the commission through the reorganization period. The institution has graduated alumni who have distinguished themselves in various fields, including civil rights leader and former Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) President Joseph Lowery; Dr. Edith Irby Jones, first female president of the National Medical Association; legendary former Florida A&M football coach, Alonzo "Jake" Gaither; C. Virginia Fields, president & CEO of the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS; Robert Booker, first African-American to serve in the Tennessee State Legislature from Knox County; and Tuskegee, AL Mayor Johnny L. Ford. Annual graduation and convocation services will be held Saturday, May 9, 2015, 11:00 AM, at Rogers Memorial Baptist Church, 520 College Street, Knoxville. The public is invited to attend. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.