Barber-Scotia Announces 5-Year Plan

DJ Simmons of The Charlotte Observer provides reporting on efforts by alumnae of Barber-Scotia College to regain accreditation, "With 4 students enrolled, this North Carolina HBCU bets on its 5-year comeback plan."

Roberta Pinckney, chair of the school’s Board of Trustees, announced a five-year plan to restore with financial and academic goals. The article notes that school officials were inspired when Morris Brown, an Atlanta-based HBCU, recently announced its accreditation was restored.

Visit the Barber-Scotia website to learn more.

Westminster College in Utah Adopts New Name

The trustees of Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT approved a name change for the institution and it will be known as Westminster University.

Westminster was founded as the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, a preparatory school. It began offering college classes in 1897 as Sheldon Jackson College. It adopted a new name as Westminster College in 1902. 

Lyon College Celebrates Sesquicentennial

 Lyon College in Batesville, AR is preparing to celebrate the sesquicentennial of its founding in 1872. 

Events will kick off with ScotsFest (Homecoming & Annual Arkansas Scottish Festival) on October 14th-16th, with daily activities throughout the following week. Founders' Week celebrations will culminate on October 22nd with the inauguration of Lyon College's 19th President, Dr. Melissa Taverner, and a Black Tie Gala.

You can read more about the history of Lyon College by visiting the Our History web page.

Batesville's NBC affiliate KAIT posted "Lyon College hosting multiple events to honor 150th anniversary," with reporting by Hayden Savage on October 11, 2022.

150th Anniversary for Trinity University

Trinity University in San Antonio, TX is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding in 1869. You can visit Trinity's 150th Anniversary web pages for historical information including a timeline, memories, and anniversary news & events.

Trinity was founded initially in Tehuacana, TX and was affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The institution moved to Wexahachie, TX in 1902 and was affiliated with Presbyterian Church U.S.A. after merger of Cumberland Presbyterians with the larger denomination. It then moved to San Antonio in 1942 and merged with a Methodist institution, the University of San Antonio. Trinity first occupied its Woodlawn campus for ten years until a move to current Skyline campus in 1952.

San Antonio's Spectrum News posted a video segment with Bryan Boes reporting from the Trinity campus, "Trinity University Highlights Rich History During 150th Anniversary Celebration."

Tusculum Class Project Receives Award of Excellence

A traveling exhibit honoring Tusculum's 225th anniversary recently received an award of excellence from the Tennessee Association of Museums. 

The exhibit was developed as a class project with students using photos and artifacts to explore three themes - the changes in student experiences on campus, the university's engagement with the broader community and Tusculum's connection with national and international events.

Tusculum celebrated its 225th anniversary in 2018 and traces its history to the founding of Martin's Academy in 1784, later renamed as Washington College. It was known as Tusculum College after 1844. Tusculum merged with Greeneville College in 1868 to become Greeneville & Tusculum College. The name was shortened to Tusculum College in 1912 and then changed to Tusculum University in July 2018.

You can read more about the exhibit in an article, "Tusculum 225 Exhibit created by students earns Award of Excellence from Tennessee Museum Group," published in the Johnson City Press on April 11, 2019.

Tusculum also posted an interesting "Treasuring our History" segment on YouTube where three museum studies students, Jonathon Nicholson, Josh Renner, and Lilli Wallace, describe the development of the exhibit. Dr. James Hurley, Tusculum president, and Dr. Peter Noll, associate professor of public history and museum studies, also provide context for the project.

Maryville College Bicentennial Year

Maryville College in Tennessee is celebrating the 200th anniversary of its founding in 1819 as Southern and Western Theological Seminary.  It was later chartered as Maryville College in 1842 and moved to its current location in 1867.

The bicentennial web pages offer an historical sketch and founding story, timeline, photographs, and a video gallery. There is also a calendar of events and much more, including information for ordering a new history of the college, Maryville College: Noble, Grand, and True for Two Centuries.

An earlier history of the college, Maryville College: A History of 150 years, 1819-1969, written by Ralph Waldo Lloyd is available for purchase or you can find it at the Internet Archive in a variety of formats.

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.

Centre College Bicentennial

Centre College received its initial charter on January 21, 1819 from the Commonwealth of Kentucky and will be offering a variety of celebratory events during the bicentennial of its founding.  You can visit the bicentennial web pages for more information and can view an interesting YouTube video, "Centre College: A History."

Centre also offers an historical sketch with links to more detailed information on the college.  A Centre College Digital Archives also offers selected late nineteenth and early twentieth-century photographs from the Centre College Special Collections.

Barber-Scotia College Alumni and Trustees at Odds over Future of the Campus

WSOC-TV of Charlotte, NC posted a video and transcript by reporter Kristin Leigh, "Concord leaders, alumni concerned about future of Barber-Scotia College."  Leigh interviewed Concord, NC city officials and several alumnae of the college as she explored the current status of the institution.

The institution was founded in 1867 as Scotia Seminary. The name changed to Scotia Women's College in 1916 and later merged with Barber Memorial College [founded in Anniston, AL] in 1930 to become Barber-Scotia College. The institution was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

The college lost SACS accreditation in 2004 and announced suspension of classes after 2004-05 academic year. It later reopened in fall 2008 and then suspended classes again January 2016, though the college website is now claiming to be enrolling students.

Those interested in the history of the college can find an interesting short video, "Long Live Barber-Scotia" on YouTube.

Founded as Florida Presbyterian College, Eckerd College Turns 60 Years Old

Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida was founded sixty years ago and Green Bench Monthly, the St. Petersburg magazine, published a short historical sketch, "From Florida Presbyterian to Eckerd College," written by Christina Juska.  Founded as Florida Presbyterian College, the name of the institution was changed to Eckerd College in 1972.  Juska article outlines institutional changes since the founding and includes a number of interesting photographs.

You can also visit the Eckerd College website for more information on institutional history and traditions.

Bloomfield College Celebrates 150th Anniversary of Founding

Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, NJ is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding in 1868.  The institution was established as the German Theological School and was affiliated with the United Presbyterian Church. The name change to Bloomfield Theological Seminary in 1913. The name change again to Bloomfield College and Seminary in 1926 and then to Bloomfield College in 1960. Enrollment is approximately 1,996 students.

You can visit the college website for web pages devoted to the anniversary that include a timeline, upcoming events, and other information.

Highland Community College Celebrates 160th Anniversary

Highland Community College in Highland, KS is celebrating the 160th anniversary of its founding in 1858 with a charter granted by the Kansas Territorial Legislature.  Highland Presbyterian Academy founded the previous year served as a foundation for the new institution.  The academy and small community that grew up around it served as a mission to Native Americans in the area. 

There have been a number of changes in name during the institution's history:

• 1857 - Highland Presbyterian Academy
• 1858 - Highland University
• 1910 - Highland College
• 1921 - Highland Junior College
• 1929 - Northeast Kansas Junior College
• 1937 - Highland Public Junior College
• 1959 - Doniphan County Junior College
• 1965 - Highland Community Junior College
• 1980 - Highland Community College 

Westeryears: Sketches Drawn from Westminster College (MO) Past

"Early Spiritual Life at Westminster College," is the latest post in a Westeryears series published on the Fulton, MO institution's website.  Posts typically offer an historical sketch accompanied by one or more photographs.

Westminster's Office of Marketing and Strategic Communications also posts links on Twitter using the #Westeryears hashtag.

There is also a "Westeryears: Memories of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri" group page on Facebook.

Tusculum College Approves Name Change to Tusculum University

Tusculum College in Tennessee announced this week that it will change its name to Tusculum University beginning July 1, 2018.  Tusculum is the "...oldest institution of higher education in Tennessee, the twenty-eighth oldest in the nation, and the oldest coeducational institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)."

Tusculum's traces its history to the founding of Martin's Academy in 1784, later renamed as Washington College.  It was later was known as Tusculum College after 1844.  Tusculum merged with Greeneville College in 1868 to become Greeneville & Tusculum College.  The name was shortened to Tusculum College in 1912.

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."

Closing Services at Brethren Service Center: Site was home to several colleges

The Carroll County Times published an article by Kevin Dayhoff, "Brethren Service Center in New Windsor holds closing worship service," on April 30, 2017.  Dayhoff reports on the closing of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, MD and he provides a short historical sketch of the campus that was home to several colleges from 1843-1942 [New Windsor College (Presbyterian), Calvert College (Catholic), and Blue Ridge College (Church of the Brethren)].

The Brethren have used the site to operate their various disaster relief efforts and will be consolidating those programs at another location in New Windsor.  Dayhoff indicates the site has been purchased by Shanghai Yulun Education Group that plans to operate a preparatory academy.

Remembering Mary Holmes College

WCBI-TV of Columbus, MS posted an interesting short video by reporter Victoria Bailey with reflections on the history and important role of the former Mary Holmes College.  The institution was founded as Mary Holmes Seminary in Jackson, MS in 1892 and was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.  After a fire in 1892, the institution moved to West Point, MS where it served the community until it closed in 2005.

For those who are interested, the College History Garden offers a couple of earlier posts on Mary Holmes College:

• Mary Holmes Seminary (MS)...a history at HBCUStory
• Mary Holmes College: Tenth Anniversary of the Closing

Tarkio College Reopening: Interviews with Key People

KBIA 91.3 FM offers an excellent 28 minute audio segment, "Tarkio College Reborn," that aired February 28, 2017 as an episode in KBIA's Thinking Out Loud series.  Reporter Trevor Harris interviewed a number of people from the Tarkio, MO community to describe the impact of Tarkio's closure in 1992 and the nature of the institution they are planning to open for the 2017 fall semester.

Previous College History Garden posts on Tarkio College may also be of interest:

• Tarkio, Missouri and Blair, Nebraska...sharing a common bond after colleges close
• Tarkio College: Alumni plan to reopen institution after 25 years
• Tarkio College (MO) Alumni Work to Reopen Institution

College of Emporia Featured in a series of Articles

The Emporia Gazette published several excellent articles by Bobbi Mlnar this week featuring the College of Emporia.  The institution, located in Emporia, Kansas, was founded in 1883 and operated until 1973.  The first article, "Birth of an institution," focuses on the founding and early history.  In "Success of the 'Fighting Presbies," Mlnar covers athletic programs.

"The booming glory days," are the focus of the third article.

Mlnar then explores the institution's decline in "Falling on hard times: The end of C. of E."

The series concludes with "Alumni keep the spirit alive."

Tarkio, Missouri and Blair, Nebraska...sharing a common bond after colleges close

"Tarkio and Dana: 2 closed colleges," reflects excellent reporting by Katie Rohman, Managing Editor of the Washington County Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise in Blair, Nebraska as she contrasts the situation facing her community with the closing of Dana College and that of Tarkio, Missouri, after Tarkio College closed in 1992.

Rohman traveled to Tarkio for interviews with alumni and supporters.  Her article includes extensive comments from Robert Hughes who is serving as president of Tarkio College and leads an effort to reopen the institution.