North Carolina women's college surpasses fundraising goal

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A historically black women's college in North Carolina has soared past the fundraising goal it set in hopes of avoiding losing its accreditation.

Bennett College President Phyllis Worthy Dawkins announced Monday that the school has raised $8.2 million. She made the announcement before students, alumnae and supporters in the school's chapel. College leaders said the total doesn't include cash and checks that arrived Monday.

The Greensboro school set last Friday as a deadline to raise $5 million to avoid losing its status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Dawkins says the school has raised enough to produce additional resources and "should be in good shape.