JACKSONVILLE, TX (KLTV) -
After battling financial issues all summer, officials at Lon Morris College announced Friday they will not hold classes this fall.
The school is still searching for a financial partner or someone to purchase the college.
On Thursday, KLTV reported that the college had been denied federal financial aid funds, because of its bankruptcy.
Students say they were notified a few days prior to the formal announcement from the college. Classes were slated to begin next Wednesday.
Lon Morris Student Body President Roxanne Deal said Friday afternoon that she had just finished making last minute plans to attend another school after being notified on Thursday that classes would not be starting next week.
She said she was disappointed and sad that she won't be coming back to Lon Morris.
"The school is something I hold very near and dear to my heart, but it's just sad, because it's such an old school and so many people love it, and it's kind of gone now," Deal said.
Lon Morris officials were not available to speak on camera Friday, but they said in a press release that they were denied access to federal financial aid funds because the Department of Education announced students could not use federal aid at the college due to its bankruptcy status.
The college said in the release they had been working with the Department of Education to have financial aid processed through other means, but they could not find a timely or workable solution.
Ally Perez, 22, of Jacksonville, was about to start her first semester at Lon Morris College, and has since made other plans to attend Jacksonville College.
"It's coming together," Perez said, "I'm already enrolled. I'm signing up for classes on Monday, so I mean, as long as I'm in school this fall, it's fine with me."
But reaction from the students was mixed when we asked if they would consider returning to Lon Morris, should the college be able to reopen next spring.
"I don't know. I would have to know on good faith that they weren't going to face any more problems," Deal said.
"I think I would come back here, actually, because they have a hospitality program and that's what I was trying to go for. I would consider it, yes," said Perez.
Lon Morris said previously admitted students are being notified, and that Jacksonville College and TJC are working to accommodate students now.
Fred Peters, Tyler Junior College spokesperson, says all registration is complete for the Fall 2012 semester, as classes begin on Monday.
Lon Morris students that have already registered with TJC will be fine, Peters says, but for students who were solely registered with Lon Morris College, their next opportunity to begin at TJC will be a 12-week "mini-mester" in October.
Peters added that any students interested in enrolling in the October mini-mester should contact TJC immediately to being the registration process.
Lon Morris intends to continue working with its investment bankers, Capstone, to find a partner.
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