Clarks Summit University Announces Closure

 Clarks Summit University in Pennsylvania announced on July 1, 2024 that it will be closing.

The institution was founded as Baptist Bible College and Seminary in 1932 in Johnson City, New York. It moved to Pennsylvania in 1968 and changed its name to Clarks Summit University in 2015.

You can read more in "Grief, gratitude at Clarks Summit University as school announces closure," posted by West Virginia's public radio affiliate WVIA.

If you are interested in recent trends for closures, mergers, and acquisitions access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page. There are separate tabs for non-profit closures, for-profit closures, and one for mergers and acquisitions. Each tab includes basic information for the institutions, i.e., Carnegie Classification, sector, accrediting agency, and the IPEDS unitid.

Union University Bicentennial

Union University in Jackson, TN is beginning a bicentennial celebration. Union is an heir of three antebellum Tennessee schools, West Tennessee College and its predecessor, Jackson Male Academy, both located at Jackson, and of Union University, located at Murfreesboro.

Visit the institution's 200th anniversary web pages for a calendar of bicentennial events and other resources including a short YouTube video, "Union University: 200 Years."

The History page on Union's website includes more detailed information on predecessor institutions along with links to list of institutional presidents and other historical resources.

Reflections as a Christian College Prepares to Celebrate Its Sesquicentennial

Chris Gehrz offers interesting reflections on five key turning points in Bethel University's 150-year history, "Persevere: A Christian College Turns 150."

Bethel is affiliated with the Baptist General Conference with roots in Swedish Pietism. Bethel was founded as the Scandinavian Department of Baptist Union Theological Seminary of the University of Chicago. It later moved to St. Paul, MN, becoming Bethel Academy and Seminary in 1914. The name changed to Bethel Institute in 1920, to Bethel College and Seminary in 1945, to Bethel College in 1974, and finally, Bethel University in 2004.

Chris Gehrz is a thoughtful and prolific writer with a wide ranging interest in higher education and Christian colleges. Previous College History Garden posts featuring writing by Gehrz include: 

• March 29, 2013 Writing Institutional History
  
• November 14, 2014 Bethel & Adelphia: Two Institutions with a Common Foundation in Swedish Pietism
• November 13, 2015 Bethel at War...excellent example of a digital history and institutional stories
• February 26, 2020 Reflections on Challenges of Church Related Colleges and Universities

Bluefield College Changes Name to become Bluefield University

 Bluefield College announced that they have now changed their name to Bluefield University. The Board of Trustees met in special session in June 2021 to approve the new name.

The institution, located in Bluefield, VA, was founded in 1922 and is currently preparing for its centennial celebration. 

An institutional history, Lighthouse on the Hills: The Bluefield College Story, can be viewed on the college's web site. A brief historical sketch and information on presidents of the institution can be found on the "History" web page.

Bluefield College Prepares to Celebrate Centennial

WVNS-TV reported on June 20, 2021 that "Bluefield College prepares to celebrate centennial anniversary." Festivities begin on August 18, 2021 and the institution is currently asking alumni and friends to share memorabilia and stories. 

Bluefield College is located in Bluefield, VA and opened in 1922 to meet the needs for higher education in southwestern Virginia by the Baptist General Association of Virginia. 

An institutional history, Lighthouse on the Hills: The Bluefield College Story, can be viewed on the college's web site. A brief historical sketch and information on presidents of the institution can be found on the "History" web page.

Judson College Announces Decision to Close

Judson College in Marion, AL posted a press release earlier today, "Judson College board of trustees vote to close 183-year-old institution." The statement cites declining enrollment and an inability to secure adequate resources to support operations. As a result, the College will suspend its academic operation after the summer term ending July 31, 2021.

The Alabama Baptist posted an article by Jennifer Davis Rash with more detailed reporting on the decision, "Judson College board of trustees votes to close school."

If you are interested in recent trends for closures, mergers, and acquisitions access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page. There are separate tabs for non-profit closures, for-profit closures, and one for mergers and acquisitions. Each tab includes basic information for the institutions, i.e., Carnegie Classification, sector, accrediting agency, and the IPEDS unitid.

Faith Baptist Bible College Celebrates Centennial

Faith Baptist Bible College & Theological Seminary is celebrating the centennial of its founding this year. 

The centennial web page includes planned events, a timeline, names of presidents, and several historic photographs.

The institution was founded as Omaha Bible Institute in 1921 and is now located in Ankeny, Iowa.

Omaha Bible Institute changed its name to Omaha Baptist Bible Institute in 1953 and was affiliated with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. 

The institution changed its name to Omaha Baptist Bible College in 1960 and moved to Ankeny in 1967 as Faith Baptist Bible College.

Piedmont International University is now Carolina University

The Chronicle of Winston-Salem, NC reports that Piedmont International University is now Carolina University.

You can learn more about this recent name change and the institution's history by visiting the university website.

The institution was founded as Piedmont Bible Institute in 1945. The name changed to Piedmont Bible College in 1948 and to Piedmont Baptist College prior to 2006. A merger with Atlantic Baptist Bible College of Chester, VA occurred in 2008. The name change again to Piedmont International University in 2012. Piedmont merged with Southwestern Bible College of Birmingham, AL in 2017 and with John Wesley University of High Point, NC in 2018.

Linfield College will become Linfield University

The Board of Trustees of Linfield College voted this past weekend to change the name of the institution to Linfield University. You can read more about the decision and plans for implementing the name change by the start of the next academic year in a post on the college website, "Linfield Board of Trustees votes to change from college to university."

Linfield College was founded as the Baptist College at McMinnville, Oregon in 1858. The name was shortened to McMinnville College in 1883 and it became Linfield College in 1922.

New and used copies of Inspired Pragmatism: An Illustrated History of Linfield College written by Marvin Henberg and published in 1970 are available through AbeBooks.

Two Texas Universities Share Common Ancestry and Celebrate 175th Anniversaries

  

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX and Baylor University in Waco, TX both begin yearlong celebrations of their common founding in 1845. 

On February 1st of that year, Republic of Texas President Anson Jones signed the Act of Congress that officially established Baylor University.

The institution was initially located in Independence, TX and offered a Preparatory Division in addition to co-educational classes for college students. In 1851, under the same charter, a Female Department and a Male Department were created, ending co-education.

In 1866, the Female Department obtained a separate charter as Baylor Female College and its own board of trustees. It became the Baylor College for Women in 1924. The name changed to Mary Hardin-Baylor College in 1934 and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1978.

A decision was also made in 1886 to relocate both institutions. The Male Department consolidated with Waco University in Waco, Texas, retaining the name Baylor University, while the Baylor Female College moved to Belton, Texas.

  

You can visit the the Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections or the Townsend Memorial Library Digital Collections at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to find extensive collections of historical resources.

Baptist Theological Seminary Announces Closure in 2019

The Trustees of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond announced on November 13, 2018 that it will be closing at the end of the academic year in June 2019.







Baptist News Global posted an excellent article by Bob Allen, "Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond to close in 2019."

Allen provides a brief history of the institution since its founding in 1991 and places the seminary's decision within the context of pressures faced by other seminaries.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch published an article almost six years ago on January 19, 2013, "Private K-12 school to buy seminary property in North Richmond," as the seminary worked to reduce fixed costs.

If you are interested in recent trends for closures, mergers,and acquisitions access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page. There are separate tabs for non-profit closures, for-profit closures, and one for mergers and acquisitions. Each tab includes basic information for the institutions, i.e., Carnegie Classification, sector, accrediting agency, and the IPEDS unitid.

The Baptist College of Florida Celebrates 75th Anniversary

The Baptist College of Florida, located in Graceville, FL, is preparing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding.  

The institution began in 1943 as Florida Baptist Institute and was initially located in Lakeland, FL. The name changed to Baptist Bible Institute in 1949 and it moved to Graceville. Control was assumed by the Florida Baptist State Convention in 1957. The name changed to Florida Baptist Theological College in 1988 and to The Baptist College of Florida in 2000.

You can read more about the history of The Baptist College of Florida by visiting, "From BBI to BCF: The History of BCF."

Collection of Historical Photographs for Florida Memorial University

A Florida Memorial University photographic collection is available through the University of Miami Libraries Collaborative Archive from the Africa Diaspora.  The web site offers approximately 25 historical photographs from the larger collection described in several finding aids.

Florida Memorial University traces its roots to the founding of Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak, FL in 1879.  Racial tensions led to a move to Jacksonville, FL in 1892 and the founding of Florida Baptist Academy. It later moved to Saint Augustine in 1918 and in 1963 became Florida Memorial College. The institution moved to a new campus located in Miami in 1968 and adopted the name of Florida Memorial University in 2006.

Memories of Shurtleff College that Closed 60 Years Ago: 1st College in Illinois

The Telegraph of Alton, IL published an article this week commemorating the closure of Shurtleff College, "Shurtleff College, opened in 1827, closed 60 years ago."  The author, Tom Emery, provides an interesting historical sketch.  The institution evolved from Rock Spring Academy or Rock Springs Seminary in Rock Springs, IL which closed in 1831 and moved to Alton. It was initially known as Alton Seminary or Alton College before the name changed to Shurtleff College in 1836. Classes were suspended after 1956, though institution didn't officially close for several years permitting several students to complete degree requirements. The campus was taken over by Southern Illinois University and for use as an offsite center until SIU-Edwardsville opened in 1972. Part of the Shurleff campus site is now used by SIU Dental School.

Shurtleff College is considered by some to be the first college in Illinois and the first founded between the Alleghenies and the Mississippi River.  The Internet Archive offers The Pioneer School: A History of Shurtleff College, the Oldest Educational Institution in the West written by Austen Kennedy De Blois in several formats.

You can also read a brief sketch on Shurleff College on the America's Lost Colleges web site.

Williams Baptist University: New Name for Williams Baptist College

Williams Baptist College of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas announced this week that it will change its name to Williams Baptist University by July 1, 2018.  

Williams Baptist celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding last year.  The institution was founded in 1941 as Southern Baptist College and was initially located in Pocahontas, AR.  The campus was relocated in 1947 to a former World War II military base at Walnut Ridge. 

A report on the change was also published this week by the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, "Williams Baptist alters name."

Piedmont International University and John Wesley University will Merge

Piedmont International University of Winston-Salem, NC and John Wesley University of High Point, NC announce that they will be merging by 2018 and will retain the PIU name.

Additional reporting can be found at the Winston-Salem Journal, "Piedmont International University to merge with John Wesley University in High Point," or at Inside Higher Ed, "John Wesley Merging into Piedmont International."

If you are interested in recent trends for closures and mergers, access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page.  There are separate tabs for non-profit and for-profit closures.  Each tab includes basic information for each institution, i.e., Carnegie Classification, sector, accrediting agency, and the IPEDS unitid.

Spelman College: Breaking Boundaries since 1881

There are several excellent short videos providing overviews of Spelman history and the social environment in which it has operated since its founding in 1881.  "Breaking the Boundaries: The History of Spelman College," was published to YouTube in March 2016 and runs for approximately 10:00 minutes.

C-Span offers a 15:00 minute segment focusing on the institution's history that was filmed during a 1994 campus visit.  The video features an interview with Ms. Guy-Sheftall who served as director of the Spelman Women's Resource Center.  

You can visit the Spelman College website for a detailed outline with key historical dates and events.

College and University Names: Origins of Four Georgia Institutions

The Atlanta Journal Constitution posted an article on August 21, 2017, "Shorter, Spelman and Brenau namesakes reflect their history," providing the origins for institutional names at Brenau University, Shorter University and Spelman College.

An earlier article from March 20, 2017 focused on the history behind the naming of Agnes Scott College, "Agnes Scott College in Decatur honors benefactor's mother."

Arlington Baptist College will become Arlington Baptist University

Arlington Baptist College in Arlington, TX announced that it will become Arlington Baptist University in June 2017.  The institution traces its roots to the Fundamental Bible Institute founded in Dallas, TX in 1927.  The Fundamental Baptist Bible Institute was later chartered in 1939 in Ft. Worth, TX.  It evolved to become Bible Baptist Seminary after 1945.  The name was changed to Arlington Bible College after relocation to Arlington, TX in 1955.  The institutional page on the NCES College Navigator site indicates that there are 204 students enrolled with 186 of these students enrolled as undergraduates.

Williams Baptist College Celebrates 75th Anniversary

Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, AR is celebrating its 75th anniversary.  The institution was founded in 1941 as Southern Baptist College and was initially located in Pocahontas, AR.  The campus was relocated in 1947 to a former World War II military base at Walnut Ridge.  WBC began as a two-year college.  Baccalaureate programs were added after 1984. The name was changed to Williams Baptist College, in honor of its founder, in 1991.  The institution enrolls roughly 550 students.