When Paul Quinn College moved its campus to Dallas, major corporations showed their support by pouring money and executive manpower into the historically black institution.

But this show of civic goodwill was relatively short-lived. And for nearly two decades since, community negligence has contributed to the college's decline.

The cumulative effect of Dallas' indifference emerged last week with the announcement that Paul Quinn had lost its accreditation. Despite having an energetic and well-regarded leader in Michael Sorrell, the college has not been able to pull itself out of the ditch dug long before he arrived.

Sorrell notes that he has tried to overcome almost 20 years of inadequate funding during his two-year tenure. But the financial and academic problems cited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as the blight evident on Paul Quinn's crumbling campus, reveal that serious challenges remain.

Paul Quinn is appealing the accreditation ruling. But to succeed long-term, the school needs more than the college association's seal of approval. The school must have strong community backing. And, more than anything, Paul Quinn needs money.

When Sorrell took the helm, many declared him to be the college's best hope. Local leaders lauded his willingness to lead a school that seemed to be in a death spiral. But too few people offered more than moral support.

Bolstering Paul Quinn is not just a community service project. Ensuring that the college survives and eventually thrives is important, not just to students but also to nearby neighborhoods and even the entire city.

If Paul Quinn can upgrade its campus and expand its student body, that success should emanate outward, creating a market for improved housing and retail in the struggling areas that surround the campus near Interstate 45 and Interstate 20. Dallas also benefits from having strong colleges and universities, as they contribute to a city's vibrancy and provide an educated workforce.

But the devastating blow delivered by the accrediting agency has underscored the fact that incremental progress will not suffice. Big ideas – and big checks – are needed urgently.

Shoring up the school's finances and bringing campus buildings up to minimum standards will require significant investments and sustained support. Bold thinking is also needed to improve academic programs.

Paul Quinn is already pursuing partnership options with Southern Methodist University and the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. The University of North Texas' nearby Dallas campus also presents an opportunity for collaboration. Creating strong partnerships with other higher-education institutions will allow tiny Paul Quinn to offer its students a wider range of academic options.

With his school's future in grave danger, Sorrell faces the dual challenge of making the case for Paul Quinn to the accrediting agency and the public. He must build confidence in the administration's ability to shore up the college's foundation.

But if Paul Quinn is to survive, this can't be a one-man job.