Selma University

Last updated
Selma University
"Dinkins Memorial Chapel, Alabama Colored University, Selma, Ala." (NBY 6999).jpg
Former names
Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological School
Type Private, HBCU, Bible college
Established1878;146 years ago (1878)
Accreditation ABHE [1]
Religious affiliation
 Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention
President Stanford E. Angion
Students50 [2]
Undergraduates 31
Postgraduates 19
Location
Selma
,
Alabama
,
United States

32°25′12″N87°01′55″W / 32.41997°N 87.03205°W / 32.41997; -87.03205
Colors Blue and White
Website https://www.selmau.edu/
Selma University Historic District
NRHP reference No. 100009126 [3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 14, 2023
Designated ARLHJune 19, 1997 [4]

Selma University is a private historically black Baptist Bible college in Selma, Alabama, U.S.. It is affiliated with the Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention.

Contents

History

The institution was founded in 1878 as the Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological School to train African Americans as ministers and teachers. The school purchased the former Selma Fair Grounds later that same year, moving into the fair's old exposition buildings. Noted ministers such as William H. McAlpine, James A. Foster and R. Murrell were among the founders. At a meeting in Mobile, Alabama in 1874, the first trustees were elected: C. O. Booth, Alexander Butler, William H. McAlpine, Holland Thompson and H. J. Europe. The convention voted to locate the school in Selma in 1877. The school opened four years later in the Saint Phillips Street Baptist Church of Selma (which later became the First Baptist Church). [5]

Charles L. Purce was the president of Selma University from 1886 to 1894 Charles L Purce1887.jpg
Charles L. Purce was the president of Selma University from 1886 to 1894

In 1881, the school was incorporated by an act of the legislature under the name of Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological School of Selma. In 1886, Charles L. Purce succeeded Edward M. Brawley as president at Selma. [6] Purce was successful as president, and helped the university pay off a debt of $8,000. In 1894, he accepted the presidency of Simmons College of Kentucky, then known as the State University at Louisville [7]

On May 14, 1908, the name was officially changed to Selma University.

In the late 1980s, Selma University developed from a four-year bachelor program in religion and two-year liberal arts program to a four-year institution. However, in the autumn of 2000, Selma University began its transformation from a Christian liberal arts college to a Bible college. In February 2001, Selma University received applicant status, and in February 2005 the school received candidate status with the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education in Orlando, Florida. On February 20, 2009, Selma University received Initial Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education in Canada and the United States.

After receiving full accreditation in 2014, Selma University lost Title IV funding in 2019. The university failed financial responsibility audits in 2016, 2017 and 2018 receiving low composite Title IV financial responsibility scores each year. The university also failed to repay a debt of over $730,000 after defaulting on three payment arrangements agreed on between then university president Dr. Alvin A. Cleveland, vice-president of fiscal affairs Robin Thomas and the department of Education. The Department of Education also cited four IRS tax liens and two State of Alabama tax liens against Selma University as evidence that Selma University was unable to meet its financial responsibility therefore lacking the requisite financial responsibility to administer Title IV and HEA programs.

Selma was also cited for failed administrative capability after allowing their student information system contract to expire without replacement leaving the university unable to adequately record and document student records and financial transactions.

The debt was initially incurred when the university was cited for providing inadequate records on enrolled students and continued to fail to meet the standards required by the department of education in regards to maintaining those records through the 2018–19 school year.

Selma University was notified on February 21, 2020, that it was in violation of six of the Association for Biblical Higher Education's (ABHE) Institutional Accreditation Standards. The school did not request a review or appeal and was placed on probation by the ABHE's Commission on Accreditation, effective March 3, 2020. [8]

Alvin A. Cleveland served as president for more than twenty years, [9] until replaced by Eddie Hill in June 2020. Hill was recruited from outside the university to deal with its financial difficulties. He had been retired for more than four years, and is the first president who was not also a minister. [10]

Eddie Hill after 8 months as president resigned from the post in February 2021. [11] Dr. Stanford Angion was appointed as interim president. [12]

Buildings and improvements

The Women's Baptist State Convention was organized in 1886 and built a girls' dormitory in 1889. This dormitory was named Stone Hall in honor of Miss Susie Stone, Secretary of the Women's Convention.

The Dinkins Memorial Chapel was completed in 1904. It was named in honor of the Reverend C. S. Dinkins, one of the presidents of the school. This building was rebuilt in 1921 after having been destroyed by fire. It was renovated in 1980.

Foster Hall was built in 1910, and named in honor of Susie C. Foster, president of the Women's Convention at the time of its construction.

Cleveland Hall was built in 1948 and was named in honor of M. C. Cleveland, Sr. The building contained materials that were taken from the Vickers Home and the Old Arcade Hotel in Selma.

Gibbs Dining Hall was constructed in 1953 and named after Henrietta M. Gibbs.

The Stone-Robinson Library was erected in 1960 and named for Susie Stone, Secretary of the Women's Convention and Reverend U. J. Robinson, President of the Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention.

The Jemison-Owens Auditorium/Gymnasium was completed in 1966. This building was named in honor of the Reverend D. V. Jemison, who was president of the convention, and James H. Owens, president of the school at the time of its construction.

The Hood-Ware Dormitory for men and the Jackson-Wilson Dormitory for women were completed in 1970.

The A. W. Wilson Science and Computer Hall was completed in 1979.

In 1988, the science complex was expanded with the addition of an annex that houses an auditorium, several instructional laboratories, and two computer facilities, with offices for faculty. The computer-equipped writing laboratory in Dinkins Hall, the mathematics laboratory in the Science addition (completed in 1989), and the expanded library facility which houses a center for audiovisual instruction and computer-aided self-study (completed in 1990) are among the more significant improvements to the campus.

Portions of the campus were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pillsbury Baptist Bible College</span>

Pillsbury Baptist Bible College was an independent Baptist college in Owatonna, Minnesota, United States (1957–2008). Pillsbury described itself as a "biblical arts college." It offered a four-year program leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Bachelor of Science in Bible, as well as several associate degrees and a Bible certificate program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama School of Mathematics and Science</span> Residential secondary school in Mobile, Alabama, United States

The Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) is a public residential high school in the Midtown neighborhood of Mobile, Alabama. ASMS is a member of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS). It graduated its first class in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samford University</span> Baptist university in Homewood, Alabama, US

Samford University is a private Baptist university in Homewood, Alabama. It was founded in 1841 as Howard College by Baptists. In the fall of 2023, the university enrolled 5,791 students from 49 states, 1 U.S. territory, and 16 other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedarville University</span> Private, non-profit Baptist Christian college in Ohio, United States

Cedarville University is a private Baptist university in Cedarville, Ohio. It is chartered by the state of Ohio, approved by the Ohio Board of Regents, and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwest Baptist University</span> University in Bolivar, Missouri

Southwest Baptist University (SBU) is a private Baptist university in Bolivar, Missouri. It is affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention, which is part of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 2023, it had a total enrollment of 2,168 students enrolled.

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is an accredited Christian Baptist institution in Irving, Texas with multiple sources of funding and a self-perpetuating board of governors. It is named after Benajah Harvey Carroll and teaches Baptist principles and practices. It operates in cooperation primarily with Baptist churches, and also cooperates with other Great Commission Christians. The institution offers classes in both conventional classroom settings and by innovative means. It trains students in "“teaching churches” located in multiple Texas cities, as well as through interactive lessons taught over the Internet", with 20 such "teaching churches" in operation throughout Texas as of November 2006. The school plans to focus on the use of distance education to make it easier for students to obtain theological education. As of 2006, the school's second year of operation, B. H. Carroll Theological Institute had 300 students taking courses and an additional 300 students auditing courses. Bruce Corley was Carroll's first president; Gene Wilkes is Carroll's second president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. J. Jemison</span> American clergyman and civil rights activist

Theodore Judson Jemison, better known as T. J. Jemison, was the president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. from 1982 to 1994. It is the largest African-American religious organization. He oversaw the construction of the Baptist World Center in Nashville, Tennessee, the headquarters of his convention.

Mission University (MU) is a private Baptist Bible college in Springfield, Missouri. Founded in 1950, MU focuses on training Christian professionals and ministers. It offers accredited associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.

The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), formerly The Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC) is an evangelical Christian organization of bible colleges in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It is a member of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education. The ABHE is interdenominational but requires annual affirmation of a common statement of beliefs. It is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Baptist College</span> Private college in Nashville, Tennessee

American Baptist College is a private, Baptist college in Nashville, Tennessee, affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA. Founded in 1924, its predecessor in black Baptist education was Roger Williams University, a Nashville college begun in the late-19th century and closed in the early 20th century. Upon full accreditation by the American Association of Bible Colleges, ABTS dropped use of the term "Theological Seminary" and renamed itself American Baptist College. The college has an 82% acceptance rate. In Fall 2019, 77% of students were retained after the first year of attendance.

Concordia College Alabama was a Private historically black college associated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and located in Selma, Alabama. It was the only historically black college among the ten colleges and universities in the Concordia University System. The college ceased operations at the completion of the spring 2018 semester, citing years of financial distress and declining enrollment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clear Creek Baptist Bible College</span>

Clear Creek Baptist Bible College (CCBBC) is a private Baptist Bible college in Pineville, Kentucky. It is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. CCBBC provides a Bible-based education focusing on Christian service. The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association for Biblical Higher Education. CCBBC was founded by Lloyd Caswell Kelly in 1926.

Penn View Bible Institute is a nationally accredited 4 year Bible College with the Association for Biblical Higher Education preparing preachers, missionaries, Christian school teachers, child evangelism workers, and musicians in the conservative holiness movement since its beginning in 1966; the main campus also has a KG through 12th grade Christian Academy. It is located on 60 acres in rural Penns Creek in the central part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is governed by God's Missionary Church and is affiliated with the Interchurch Holiness Convention. Penn View Bible Institute is Wesleyan-Arminian (Methodist) in belief.

Temple Baptist Seminary is the graduate school of Christian theology of Piedmont International University. Originally established as "Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary" in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1948, the name was changed to Temple Baptist Theological Seminary five years later, after the Southern Baptist Convention founded its own Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The seminary became a part of Piedmont when its parent school, Tennessee Temple University, merged with it in 2015.

Northpoint Bible College and Seminary is a private Pentecostal Bible college and seminary in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The college's sole purpose is to teach and train students for Pentecostal ministry for the spread of the Christian gospel. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biblical Studies and Practical Theology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Baptist Theological Seminary</span> Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, USA

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) is a Baptist theological institute in Louisville, Kentucky. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. The seminary was founded in 1859 in Greenville, South Carolina, where it was at first housed on the campus of Furman University. The seminary has been an innovator in theological education, establishing one of the first Ph.D. programs in religion in the year 1892. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to a newly built campus in downtown Louisville and moved to its current location in 1926 in the Crescent Hill neighborhood. In 1953, Southern became one of the few seminaries to offer a full, accredited degree course in church music. For more than fifty years Southern has been one of the world's largest theological seminaries, with an FTE enrollment of over 3,300 students in 2015.

Yellowstone Christian College is a four-year, confessional Christian liberal arts college with 2 campuses in Billings, Montana and Kalispell, Montana. The college is affiliated with the Montana Southern Baptist Convention. Founded in 1974, it was called Yellowstone Baptist College until 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williamson College</span>

Williamson College is a private nondenominational Christian college in Franklin, Tennessee. It was founded in 1997 as Williamson Christian College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles L. Purce</span>

Charles L. Purce was an educator in Louisville, Kentucky, and Selma, Alabama. He was a leader in the Baptist church and president of Selma University and Simmons College of Kentucky, both Baptist institutions.

Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College is a Baptist university-level institution in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, founded in July 1987. It offers both graduate theological programs and undergraduate programs. CSBS&C is affiliated with the Canadian National Baptist Convention (CNBC).

References

  1. ↑ "Institution Profile: Selma University". Association for Biblical Higher Education. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "College Navigator - Selma University". United States Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. ↑ "The Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage" (PDF). Alabama Historical Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ "On this day in Alabama history: Selma University welcomed first students". Alabama News Center. January 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Simmons, William J., and Henry McNeal Turner. Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising. GM Rewell & Company, 1887. p454-456
  7. ↑ Richings, G. F. Evidences of progress among colored people. GF Ferguson, 1903. p57-59
  8. ↑ "Notification of Accreditation Probation" (PDF). Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation. March 3, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  9. ↑ Alvin A. Cleveland (November 2019). "CASE for Support". Selma University: The Chronicle. p. 7. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  10. ↑ Brooks, Nick (1 July 2020). "Former Wiregrass educator named president of Selma University". WTVY. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  11. ↑ Powell, Adam (16 February 2021). "Hill resigns post as president of Selma University". Selma Times Journal. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  12. ↑ McDonald, George (20 February 2021). "Selma University President Resigns, Interim Appointed". Alabama News Network. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.