Thomas University

Last updated

Thomas University
Thomas University logo.gif
Former names
Birdwood Junior College (1950–1976)
Thomas County Community College (1976–1986)
Thomas College (1986–2000)
Type Private university
Established1950
President James Andrew Sheppard
Students1,012
Location
Thomasville, Georgia
,
U.S.
Colors Hunter Green, Black & White
     
Nickname Night Hawks
Sporting affiliations
 NAIA – SSAC
Website www.thomasu.edu

Thomas University is a private university in Thomasville, Georgia. It offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.

Contents

History

The main building and grounds were originally a portion of Birdwood Plantation, the winter house of W. Cameron Forbes, U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1930 to 1932 and Governor General of the Philippines from 1909 to 1913.

The Primitive Baptist Church purchased the property in 1949 and chartered Birdwood Junior College in 1950. Classes began in 1954 with nine students, and in 1956, three of these students became the first graduates. In 1976, the Primitive Baptists relinquished control, and the name was changed to Thomas County Community College. [1]

In 1979, the college became non-sectarian, private, and independent. In 1986, the name was changed to Thomas College, and in 1988, the first four-year degree was offered.

In December 1998, Thomas College received approval from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to move from Level II to Level III status, allowing Thomas College to offer graduate degrees.

In January 2000, Thomas College changed its name to Thomas University. [2] In the fall of 2013, Smith-Bonvillian Hall, TU's newest academic building, opened on the Forbes Campus. The 19,000 square-foot building includes a state-of-the-art tiered classroom, faculty offices, and additional classrooms. In the fall of 2012, Thomas University opened its Magnolia Campus, which is located at the corner of Pinetree Boulevard and Magnolia Street in Thomasville about one mile from the main campus. The Magnolia Campus includes TU's gymnasium and new Student Life Center, which is home to the fitness center and athletic training room.

In December 2016, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSOC) placed Thomas University under Warning Status, despite having its accreditation reaffirmed. [3]

Campus

Forbes Hall/Birdwood Birdwood, Forbes Hall, Thomas University, Thomasville, GA, US.jpg
Forbes Hall/Birdwood

The twenty-nine acre Forbes Campus (located at the intersection of Pinetree Boulevard and Millpond Road) has now been augmented by a forty-five acre Magnolia Campus (located at the intersection of Magnolia Street and Pinetree Boulevard). Facilities at the Magnolia Campus include a gymnasium, athletic offices and training facilities. In the fall of 2016, the Magnolia Campus expanded to include additional classroom spaces, two residence halls, and a new soccer practice field. [4]

Faculty

After ten years of service, Dr. Gary Bonvillian was replaced as president by Dr. James Andrew Sheppard in July 2016. [5] During Bonvillian's tenure, Thomas grew from 685 students to 1,182 (2015), more than doubled the size of the campus, and opened satellite campuses. In addition, he initiated international cooperative agreements with schools in China which have added about 1,000 students in China. [6]

Library

The Thomas University Library serves students and faculty, and includes a Learning Commons where students can receive tutoring. [7] [8] In 2017, the Thomasville Genealogical Library moved onto the Forbes Campus of Thomas University. [9] The Genealogical Library is open to the public. [10]

Students

Thomas focuses on non-traditional students and high school students getting an early start through the Move On When Ready (MOWR) program. [11] Over thirty per cent of the student body (and the majority of on-campus students) are athletes. [6] As of the fall of 2017, TU had an enrollment of 1,202 students on campus and online.

Athletics

The Thomas athletic teams are called the Night Hawks. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), [12] primarily competing in the Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after the 2007–08 school year) since the 2012–13 academic year. [13]

Thomas competes in 15 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, [14] soccer, swimming and track & field, while women's sports include basketball, cross country, flag football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and track & field.

On July 1, 2022, Thomas announced that they will leave the Sun Conference and they will join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), starting in the 2023–24 academic year. [15]

Overview

Thomas University takes the Night Hawk as its nickname and mascot, and the school colors are Hunter Green and White. In 2004, the softball team won the NAIA national championship. In the 2013–14 season, basketball returned to Thomas after a 13-year hiatus. In the inaugural game, the Night Hawks men were victorious over visiting Florida National University by a score of 82–71. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Polytechnic State University</span> Former state university in Marietta, Georgia, US

Southern Polytechnic State University was a public, co-educational, state university in Marietta, Georgia, United States approximately 20 miles (32 km) northwest of downtown Atlanta. Until 2015, it was an independent part of the University System of Georgia and called itself "Georgia's Technology University."

The University of Mobile is a private Baptist university in Prichard, Alabama, in Mobile County. It is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist Convention.

Bethel University is a private Cumberland Presbyterian-affiliated university in McKenzie, Tennessee with satellite campuses in Jackson, and Paris. It is accredited to award degrees up to the master's level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring Hill College</span> Jesuit college in Mobile, Alabama, US

Spring Hill College is a private Jesuit college in Mobile, Alabama. It was founded in 1830 by Michael Portier, Bishop of Mobile. Along with being the oldest college or university in the state of Alabama, it was the first Catholic college in the South, is the fifth-oldest Catholic college in the United States, and is the third-oldest member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Columbia College is a private college in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1854 by the United Methodist Church as a women's liberal arts college, Columbia College became fully coeducational in 2020 welcoming its first coed residential class in Fall 2021. It also offers evening, graduate, and online programs for women and men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Tennessee Southern</span> Public university in Pulaski, Tennessee

The University of Tennessee Southern is a public college in Pulaski, Tennessee. Founded in 1870, for over 150 years it was a private institution until joining the University of Tennessee system in 2021. For many years it was a junior college but is now a baccalaureate institution providing more than thirty academic majors. The college also has an MBA program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stillman College</span> Historically black private college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

Stillman College is a private historically black Presbyterian college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It awards Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 22 programs housed within three academic schools. The college has an average enrollment of 728 students and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faulkner University</span> Christian university in Montgomery, Alabama, US

Faulkner University is a private Christian university in Montgomery, Alabama. It is affiliated with the Churches of Christ.

Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private university with its main campus in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded as a business school in 1914 by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales, JWU enrolled 7,357 students across its campuses in the fall of 2020. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TranSouth Athletic Conference</span>

The TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) was a college athletic conference for smaller colleges and universities located in the Southern United States. It was affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes in that organization's Region XI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shorter University</span> Baptist college in Rome, Georgia, US

Shorter University is a private Baptist university in Rome, Georgia. It was founded in 1873 and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through six colleges and schools. In addition Shorter operates the Robert H. Ledbetter College of Business and the School of Nursing at off-campus facilities in the Rome area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of the Virgin Islands</span> Public university in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

The University of the Virgin Islands is a public historically black land-grant university in the United States Virgin Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego Christian College</span> Private evangelical college in Santee, California

San Diego Christian College (SDCC) is a private, evangelical university in Santee, California. Founded in 1970, SDCC offers traditional, non-traditional, and graduate programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern States Athletic Conference</span>

The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The 13 member universities that compete in 19 sports are located in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Basketball teams compete as a single division in the NAIA.

Brewton–Parker College is a private Baptist college in Mount Vernon, Georgia, United States. Brewton–Parker was founded in 1904 and is affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point University</span> Private Christian college in West Point, Georgia, United States

Point University is a private evangelical Christian college in West Point, Georgia and was founded in 1937 as Atlanta Christian College in East Point. The college announced its name change to Point University in 2011 and relocated its main campus to West Point in June 2012. As of 2022, over 2,000 students are enrolled both onsite and online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of Coastal Georgia</span> Public college in Brunswick, Georgia, US

The College of Coastal Georgia is a public college in Brunswick, Georgia. It was established in 1961 and opened in 1964, making it one of Georgia's newest state colleges. The college transitioned from a community college into a four-year college and conferred its first baccalaureate degrees on May 7, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Truett McConnell University</span> Baptist college in Cleveland, Georgia, US

Truett McConnell University is a private Baptist college in Cleveland, Georgia. It is operated under the auspices of the Georgia Baptist Convention and controlled by a board of trustees elected by the convention. It was named to honor George W. Truett and Fernando C. McConnell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Conference</span> College athletic conference

The Sun Conference (TSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Eight of the ten full member institutions are located in Florida, with two in Georgia. The Sun Conference competes in the NAIA in all sponsored sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Night Hawks</span> Athletic teams representing Thomas University

The Thomas Night Hawks are the athletic teams that represent Thomas University, located in Thomasville, Georgia, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).

References

  1. ↑ "History". Thomas University. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  2. ↑ Boyd, Thressea (January 9, 2018). "Thomas University Remains Committed to an Education that Engages, Empowers, Transforms". South Georgia Magazine. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Commission on Colleges". www.sacscoc.org. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Thomas University to Break Ground for New Residence Halls". WVGA ValdostaToday.com. September 14, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Thomas University announces new president". The Moultrie Observer. March 2, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Thomas University President Bonvillian to Retire June 2016". WCTV. April 22, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  7. ↑ "TU Library & Learning Commons". Thomas University. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Services". Thomas University. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  9. ↑ Donahue, Pat (April 24, 2017). "Genealogical Library finds a new home at TU". Thomasville Times-Enterprise. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Genealogical Library". Thomas University. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Move on When Ready program at TU opens". Thomasville Times-Enterprise. April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Schools". NAIA.ORG. NAIA. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Members". Thesunconference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Mitjans Named Head Coach of Thomas University's New Football Team". January 25, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  15. ↑ "TU Set to Join SSAC in 2023-24". TU Night Hawks Athletics (Press release). July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Thomas University | Thomas University holds inaugural men's basketball game". www.thomasu.edu. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

30°48′58″N83°58′07″W / 30.8160°N 83.9686°W / 30.8160; -83.9686

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.