Hussian College No Longer Enrolling Students

Hussian College with locations in Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and California has announced that it will no longer enroll students.

Hussian College was founded by John Hussian as the Hussian School of Art in 1946 in Philadelphia.

In September 2014, Hussian first offered the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art. Also in the same year, a branch campus was opened a Los Angeles, California as the Studio School with programs in art, acting, contemporary musical theatre, digital content, commercial dance, and entrepreneurship.

In January 2015, the institutional name was changed from Hussian School of Art to Hussian College.

Then in November 2018, Hussian added the five campuses of Daymar College. With the acquisition of Daymar College, Hussian College became the successor institution for Draughons Business Colleges and for Southwestern Business College/Samuel Stephen College.

Daymar College was founded in 1963 as Owensboro Business College, offering courses in general business at its original campus location at 1126 Triplett Street in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 1973, Owensboro Business College was authorized to award associate degrees and in 1980, it earned accreditation as a junior college and changed its name to Owensboro Junior College of Business.

In 1995, Owensboro Junior College of Business was acquired by Daymar Learning, Inc. In July 1999, the college moved to a new campus located at 3361 Buckland Square. Then in 2001 the institutional name was changed to Daymar College. 

The Owensboro campus closed in June 2018 leaving Daymar College with 5 campuses located in Columbus, OH; Bowling Green, KY; and Clarksville, Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN. 

In November 2018, the Daymar campuses became branch campuses of Hussian College. In March 2022 the Bowling Green, KY campus ceased operations.

Historical Roots of Various Campuses

Draughons Junior College with campuses located in Clarksville, Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN had originally been founded around 1879 by John F. Draughon as Draughon’s Traveling Business College. After opening a permanent location in Nashville, the institution operated widely for many years as Draughons Practical Business College with 38 business schools bearing his name at the time of his death in 1921. After his death, many of the schools bearing his name merged with other schools or closed. 

The Draughons Business College in Nashville survived and was located on 8th Avenue North for more than 100 years. In August 1981, the college moved 6 miles southeast of downtown Nashville to Plus Park Blvd. It remained on Plus Park Blvd until September 2015 when it moved to the 560 Royal Parkway. In October 2020, the campus relocated to 750 Envious Lane.

In September 1987, Draughons Junior College established a branch campus in Clarksville, Tennessee located at 1860 Guthrie Highway. In 1994, Guthrie Highway was renamed Wilma Rudolph Boulevard. April 2013, the college moved to 2691 Trenton Rd.

In 1988, Draughons Junior College established a branch campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky located at 2424 Airway Ct. January 2004, the college moved to its current location at 2421 Fitzgerald Industrial Dr.

In September 2003, Draughons Junior College established a branch campus in Murfreesboro, Tennessee located at 1237 Commerce Park Drive. In January 2005, the college moved to 415 Golden Bear Court and in 2022 it relocated to 855 W. College Street.

January 1, 2010, Daymar College purchased Draughons Junior College. The Bowling Green campus changed its name to Daymar College and the Draughons Junior Colleges located in Tennessee changed their name to Daymar Institute. Along with the name change, the campuses expanded their educational offerings to include bachelor degree programs. On January 1, 2015, the Daymar Institute colleges changed their name to Daymar College.

On July 19, 2021, Daymar College in Clarksville, TN changed its name to Hussian College. On October 3, 2022 Daymar College in Murfreesboro, TN and Nashville, TN changed its name to Hussian College.

Southeastern Business College campus in Columbus, OH opened as a branch campus of the Southeastern Business College Chillicothe campus in 1994. The original Columbus campus location was 1522 Sheridan Dr., Lancaster, OH 43130.

In 2006, Southeastern Business College changed its name to Samuel Stephen College. 

On May 12, 2008, Daymar College purchased Samuel Stephen College and changed its name to Daymar College. The campus moved to 1579 Victor Road, Lancaster, OH 43130 in 2009. September 1, 2015, the campus moved to 2745 Winchester Pike, Columbus, OH 43232. On October 3, 2022 the college changed its name to Hussian College.

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.

75th Anniversary for Orange Coast College

 Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California is kicking off a celebration of its 75th anniversary. The first classes were held in 1948 and the campus was built on the former Santa Anna Army Air Base.

You can read more about history of the institution and planned activities in "OCC kicks off 75th anniversary celebration," posted February 21, 2023 with reporting by Liz Hanna.

You can also visit the 75th Anniversary web pages for links to a timeline, list of anniversary events, and memories of former students and staff.

Marymount California University Announces Closure

Marymount California University announced that it will be closing in August 2022. 

MCU was in the news recently when it was announced that a proposed merger with St. Leo University would not proceed as initially announced last year.

Marymount was founded in 1968 after what had been Marymount Junior College moved to join with Loyola University. The institution was affiliated with the Religious of Sacred Heart of Mary. The name changed to Marymount College Palos Verdes in 1986 and to Marymount California University in 2013. Closure was just announced for August 2022.

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.

Saint Leo University and Marymount California Announce Merger

Update:  Scott Jaschik reports in "Saint Leo and Marymount California Won’t Merge," posted April 22, 2022 by Inside Higher Ed.

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Inside Higher Ed posted "Saint Leo University to Merge With Marymount California" on July 30, 2021 with reporting by Emma Whitford. 

You can read more in "Saint Leo University Announces Merger With Marymount California University" posted on Saint Leo's website July 29, 2021 or "Marymount California University to Merge with Saint Leo University" posted on Marymount California's website.

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.

Mills College announces New Path as Mills Institute

Elizabeth L. Hillman, president of Mills College in Oakland, CA announced on March 17, 2021 that the institution will no longer enroll new students and will be shifting from a degree-giving college to an institute promoting women's leadership. 

Mills was founded in 1852 as the Young Ladies’ Seminary in Benicia, CA. Susan and Cyrus Mills bought the seminary in 1856. They moved the institution to Oakland and changed the name to Mills College.

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.

Caltech Campus in the early 1900s

Caltech Archives and Special Collections tweeted a couple of interesting photographs on their @CaltechArchives account this morning. 

The photo on the right is Pasadena Hall that served as the focal point of the campus for a number of years. The image on the left is a drawing from a 1908 campus master plan that proposed additional buildings.

Cal Tech was founded as Throop Polytechnic Institute in 1891. Classes were initially held in a four story building on the Wooster Block of downtown Pasadena. After moving in 1910 the institution transitioned to become a school of engineering and it became Throop College of Technology in 1912 and California Institute of Technology in 1920.

There is also a link you can follow for an interesting YouTube video, "The Greater Throop": Planning and Building a New Campus, a presentation where archivists discuss the growth of the campus from 1910-1930.

Allan Hancock College Celebrates Centennial

 KEYT-TV posted "Allan Hancock College kicks off Centennial Celebration" this past week.  

The institution was founded in 1920 as part of the Santa Maria, California public school district and was known as Santa Maria Junior College. It then became G. Allan Hancock Community College in 1954 with purchase of the Allan Hancock airport site.

The institution's centennial web pages include a brief history, upcoming centennial events, a number of historic photographs, and other resources.

Lessons from California College of the Arts on Closing an Historic Campus and Consolidating Programs at a New Location

Michelle Pitcher authored a fascinating article for the Oakland North website, "Campus Goodbye: California College of the Arts prepares to close its historic doors in Oakland," on December 12, 2019.

Students and staff were interviewed by Pitcher as they prepare for consolidation of programs at the institution's San Francisco campus and close the Oakland campus in 2022.

Pitcher also weaves interesting historical information into her narrative.

The institution was founded as School of the California Guild of Arts and Crafts in Berkeley in 1907. The name changed to California School of Arts and Crafts the following year and the institution  settled in Oakland by 1920s. The name was changed to California College of Arts and Crafts in 1936. A San Francisco location opened in the 1980s, offering architecture and design programs. The name changed to California College of the Arts in 2003.

Pitcher's article includes descriptions of a number of initiatives designed to preserve campus traditions. These include the formation of the Oakland Campus Legacy Committee, a group of faculty and alumni. There is work on a catalogue of plants from the community garden. Photographers are documenting events and everyday life on the Oakland campus. And, archivists are creating a log of campus relics and art objects with their respective histories.

The section describing collaboration of faculty members and administrators with the developers purchasing the campus, Emerald Fund and Equity Community Builders, to come up with a plan that preserves the legacy. The current plan includes a public park, the preservation of the college’s historical buildings, and new housing units.

Pitcher also describes a semester-long class, “Legacy Starts Here: Oakland Campus,” open to students of all majors and taught by Victoria Wagner as a way to help students understand the history of the college.

Mt. Sierra College, California For-Profit Abruptly Closes

The Monrovia Weekly reported that Mt. Sierra College in Monrovia, CA abruptly closed,
"Financial Woes Shutter Mt. Sierra College In Monrovia."  The article includes an embedded video segment with reporting on the closure by KTTV-11, the Fox affiliate in Los Angeles.

The for-profit institution was founded in 1990.  It was initially known as Computer Technology Institute and briefly as Pasadena Career Institute. The college changed its name to Mt Sierra Career College in January 1991. The most recent reported enrollment to IPEDS was 202 students.

The Mt. Sierra College website offers links for forms needed to order transcripts and academic records.

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.

Gavilan College Celebrates Centennial in 2019 Academic Year

Gavilan College in Gilroy, CA is preparing for the centennial celebration of its founding in 1919 and the centennial year will begin with a gala event on September 7, 2019.

The college was originally established as San Benito County Junior College and operated under this name until 1963, when a new community college district was drawn that included both San Benito and southern Santa Clara counties. The present campus was built after 1966 and serves 5,995 students.

The college website includes more centennial information including links to a photo archive and other resources.

UCLA Kicks off Centennial Celebration

UCLA is beginning a centennial anniversary celebration of its founding in 1919 as the University of California Southern Branch.

Visit the UCLA 100 web pages for a timeline with historical images and stories or to scan the extensive array of planned events.  The UCLA Centennial Fact Sheet and the essay, "Founders of UCLA would marvel at their creation today," provide quick overviews of the institutional history.

The UCLA Library Special Collections and University Archives are also an excellent source for materials relating to the history and administration of UCLA.

University of Redlands and San Francisco Theological Seminary Reach Agreement

The University of Redlands in Redlands, CA and San Francisco Theological Seminary located in San Anselmo, CA announced on February 25, 2019 that they have entered into a partnership that will serve as a foundation for a new Graduate School of Theology.

You can read more on the seminary's Pathways to Possibility webpage that includes a statement from Rev. Dr. Jim McDonald, President and Professor of Faith & Public Life, along with .pdfs of several partnership documents and a F.A.Q. section.

Other reporting on the agreement can be found at:

• Yet Another Seminary Merges by Greg Toppo for Inside Higher Ed on February 26, 2019
• San Francisco Theological Seminary, University of Redlands to begin ‘permanent partnership’ for Presbyterian Mission on February 25, 2019
• San Francisco Theological Seminary reaches “agreement in principle” to become part of University of Redlands by Leslie Scanlon for Presbyterian Outlook on February 25, 2019

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.

Academy of Art University in San Francisco Celebrates 90th Anniversary of Founding in 1929

The Positive Facts news site published, "Academy of Art University Celebrates Anniversary by Highlighting 90 Years of Graphic Design" by Paul Peters on February 18, 2019.

Academy of Art University of San Francisco, CA was founded in 1929 as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens, a fine art painter and Creative Director for Sunset Magazine. He was assisted by his wife, Mrs. Clara Stephens, and they opened the new school in a rented loft at 215 Kearny St.  

Dr. Elisa Stephens, granddaughter of the school’s founder, succeeded her father as President of Academy of Art College in 1992.  The institution later became the Academy of Art University after 2004.

The institution operates as a private for-profit and enrolls 11,672 students with 7,652 of those in undergraduate programs.

El Campanil History at Mills College and Julia Morgan's First Commission

The hoodline website offers an interesting post by Will Callan, "Julia Morgan-designed Mills bell tower counts down to its 115th anniversary," with the history of El Campanil, the 72-foot campus bell tower at Mills College...believed to be the first freestanding bell tower on a U.S. college campus.

The tower was designed by Julia Morgan, the sole woman in her college class at U.C. Berkeley to earn a civil engineering degree and the first woman licensed to practice architecture in California. The tower was Morgan's first commission in 1903 and she was innovative in using reinforced concrete for the structure. The tower was completed in April 1904 and it was one of the few structures to withstand the great 1906 earthquake...and, it helped launch Morgan's career.

Callan also explores the decision of Susan Mills, co-founder of the women’s college. She and her husband Cyrus, former missionaries, had purchased the former women's seminary in 1865, moving it to Oakland six years later.  Historian Karen McNeill noted that the college's earlier reputation had followed it to its new home and Mills was eager "make a statement" and shake her institution’s “finishing-school past." 

Mills College also offers an audio clip from KQED's Forum where you can listen to host Dave Iverson speaking with historian Karen McNeill and architect and attorney Julia Donoho about the Julia Morgan’s legacy in the Bay Area, including her groundbreaking work designing El Campanil.

Video History of Saint Mary's College of California

An excellent short video by Alexia Jarvis is available on YouTube, "History of Saint Mary's College of California."

Saint Mary's was founded in 1863 and was initially located in San Francisco, CA.  It moved to Oakland in 1928 and the to its current location in Moraga Valley in 1928.  You can visit the college website to read a brief historical sketch and learn more about institutional traditions.  The school became coed after 1970.

  

Education Corporation of America Closes over 75 Campuses

The Education Corporation of America headquarter in Birmingham, AL announced today that it will close more than 75 sites that enroll roughly 20,000 students.  The company began the process of notifying students and employees.  The sites include those operating as Brightwood College, Brightwood Career Institute, Ecotech Institute, Golf Academy of America and Virginia College.

You can read more at Inside Higher Ed in an article that was posted earlier today, "Large For-Profit Chain to Close."  WSFA-TV in Montgomery, AL posted a short video with an article, "Virginia College closing in Montgomery, nationwide."

KCRA-TV in Sacramento, CA posted "Brightwood College closing Modesto, Sacramento campuses" on its website.

Thirty-two sites are listed for Brightwood College in eight states on the IPEDS College Navigator site and twenty-seven sites in eleven states are listed for Virginia Colleges.

	Brightwood College Sites	Virginia College Sites
Alabama		4
California	10
Florida		3
Georgia		4
Indiana	2
Louisiana		2
Maryland	3
Mississippi		2
Nevada	1
North Carolina	1	1
Ohio	1
Oklahoma		1
South Carolina		5
Tennessee	1	2
Texas	13	2
Virginia		1
Totals	32	27
# states	8	11

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.

Saddleback College 50th Anniversary Celebration

Saddleback College in Mission Viejo is beginning a yearlong celebration marking the 50th anniversary of its founding. The Saddleback Community College District was initially approved in 1967 and the first classes were held in the fall of 1968.

Enrollment in the first year reached 1,500 students with staff of 34 full-time instructors and 30 part-time teaching faculty, along with 26 other employees. Today, over 27,000 students are served by approximately 1,300 faculty and staff.

The college website offers a variety of historical resources that include, Making History, the First Years of Saddleback College, compiled by Lynn Wells and Julie Brady-Jenner and published in 2001. The college library maintains an archive of transcripts and videos from oral interviews documenting institutional history.

You can read more in an article from The Orange County Register, "Saddleback College celebrates its golden anniversary — and the school’s first homecoming queen returns for the occasion," in late September.

Tumbleweeds to Roses: Orange Coast College History

Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA was founded in 1947 and held its first classes the following year.  A history of the institution, "Tumbleweeds to Roses" covers the period from inception to 1963 and is available for viewing or download on the college website.

A webpage created for OCC's 70th anniversary includes links to a variety of other information on the history of the college and the stories of students, faculty, and staff.

The 70th anniversary pages include a link to a short four-minute video, "Tumbleweeds to Roses," that includes a number of historical images. 

You can also find Orange Slices, over 140 columns chronicling OCC’s history and many of its more remarkable and significant characters.  The columns were written by OCC’s long-time Director of Marketing and Public Relations – Jim Carnett between 2004 and 2008.

Coleman University Announces it Will be Closing

Coleman University in San Diego, California announced last week that it will be closing.  Coleman was founded in 1963 as the Automation Institute of San Diego.  It later changed the name to Coleman College and then to Coleman University after graduate programs were added in 1982.  Gary Robbins reported in The San Diego Union Tribune on July 30, 2018, "San Diego's Coleman University closing after 55 years." 

Matt Hoffman reporting for KPBS on August 3, 2018, "San Diego's Coleman University is Closing After 55 Years" includes a short audio clip.

The Coleman University website offers a fact sheet on the closure, answers for frequently asked questions, and other information for students.

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.

Santa Rosa Junior College Celebrates Centennial

Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, CA is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1918.  You can visit an anniversary web page with links to activities and other resources.

The Santa Rosa Junior College archives page describes various historical resources and services offered and includes a link to view historical images in the college digital archives.

Readers with Facebook access can consider liking and following the Historical Society of SRJC - Santa Rosa Junior College.