A RESOLUTION Honoring Simmons College of Kentucky Upon Its First National Accreditation

UNOFFICIAL COPY AS OF 09/16/1814 REG. SESS.14 RS BR 1991

A RESOLUTION honoring Simmons College of Kentucky upon its first national accreditation and official recognition as the nation's 107th Historically Black College and University.

WHEREAS, the dream that became Simmons College began in the days following the Civil War by former slaves in Louisville seeking to provide opportunity and learning for their children and for future generations as yet unseen; and

WHEREAS, the dream became an awakening reality in 1869 as the Kentucky Normal Theological Institute, and emerged in 1890 as a blossoming liberal arts college dedicated to providing opportunity, hope, and enlightened learning to African Americans across Louisville, the Commonwealth, and the nation; and

WHEREAS, from the 1920s until the 1880s, under the leadership of Dr. William J. Simmons, the institution grew from 13 students to more than 500 and with an array of thriving academic programs for those for whom college may have seemed only an implausible aspiration; and

WHEREAS, beginning in the 1920s Simmons College encountered the challenges of the Great Depression resulting in a testing time of uncertain enrollments and a relocation due to overwhelming financial encumbrance; and

WHEREAS, through sheer tenacity the college survived and, in 2007, returned to its original location at Seventh and Kentucky Streets in Limerick, in order to renew its presence in, and commitment to, one of Louisville’s most afflicted districts; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, Simmons College has enjoyed an institutional renaissance of increased academic offerings built upon the strong foundation of a Christian liberal-arts education and an enduring faithfulness to students for whom college may yet be an implausible aspiration; and

WHEREAS, that renaissance is now crowned with accreditation from the nationally recognized Association for Biblical Higher Education, the first such accreditation in Simmons College history; and

WHEREAS, with the national accreditation, the United States Department of Education now officially recognizes Simmons College as the nation’s 107th Historically Black College and University; and

WHEREAS, such recognition and accreditation not only affirm the quality and comprehensiveness of the College, but enable Simmons College to provide its students with the support and resources required to ensure that their educational dreams may indeed come true;

NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby honor and congratulate Simmons College of Kentucky on its accreditation from the nationally recognized Association for Biblical Higher Education and its official recognition as the nation’s 107th Historically Black College and University.

Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to President Kevin W. Cosby, Simmons College of Kentucky, 1018 South Seventh Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203.

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BR199100.100 - 1991 - 5008Jacketed