Sheldon Jackson College
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sheldon Jackson College | |
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| Established: | 1878 |
| President: | Rev. Dr. David Dobler |
| Faculty: | 17 |
| Staff: | 18 |
| Students: | 250 |
| Location: | Sitka, AK,, USA |
| Campus: | Rural |
| Website: | www.sheldonjackson.edu |
Sheldon Jackson College (SJC) was a small private college located on Baranof Island in Sitka, Alaska, United States. Founded in 1878, it was the oldest institution of higher learning in Alaska and maintained a historic relationship with the Presbyterian Church. Named in honor of Rev. Sheldon Jackson, an early missionary and educational leader in Alaska, the school was formerly accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
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[edit] History
| Sheldon Jackson School | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | Sitka, Alaska |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1896 |
| Architect: | Unknown |
| Architectural style(s): | Octagon Mode |
| Designated as NHL: | August 7, 2001[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | February 23, 1972[2] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 72000193 |
| Governing body: | Private |
Similar to the Carlisle Indian School, SJC was initially formed as a "training" school for Alaska Natives. The school was founded in 1878 by Fannie Kellogg and future Governor of Alaska John G. Brady for the Tlingit people. Initially known as the Sitka Industrial and Training School, it nearly closed in 1882 after its original facility, located over a military barracks, burned down. The Presbyterian missionary Sheldon Jackson came to the rescue of the school, raising funds through a national campaign, leading to the construction of a new building on the site of the present campus. In 1910, after Rev. Jackson died, the school was renamed in his honor.
SJC added a boarding high school in 1917, and a college program in 1944. The college program gained accreditation in 1966 and the high school was closed the following year. In 1972, the school was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[3]
The school was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001.[1][4]
Alaska Natives still made up over 25% of the last student body.
[edit] Recent events
The school's accreditation was recently under review by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and State of Alaska, a process that happens nationally with colleges and universities. About this process, President David Dobler said, "SJC’s current authorization to operate as an Alaska postsecondary institution has been extended until July 2006, and SJC, at that time, will be required to provide the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) with documentation of financial and administrative capacity in order for authorization to be renewed."[5] Similarly, the college is under a "show cause" order from the Northwest Commission and must "show cause" why its regional accreditation should not be revoked.
Sheldon Jackson College has a history of financial and retention issues. Due to extremely high turnover rates and poor financial management, the college has been forced to sell historic land and take out extensive loans just to cover expenses. Additionally, the college came under fire in the Fall of 2004 when a financial aid advisor they had hired misrepresented and over-awarded financial aid to nearly all students resulting in tens of thousands of dollars of debt owed to the college, by students.
On June 29, 2007 all academic operations were suspended and all faculty and staff were dismissed due to cash flow shortages. The Board of Trustees gathered together all staff and informed them that June 29th would be their last day of employment. They were also informed all health insurance benefits ceased to exist as of that moment.
On July 17, 2007 the Alaska Commission on Post-secondary Education (ACPE) announced the cancellation of Sheldon Jackson College's authorization to operate a college in Alaska. The College was reported to be appealing the Commission decision.
As of July 10th, there had been no written notification to students regarding the closure of the college.
The school was in fact closed. In March 2008, the official website for the school is off-line.
[edit] Campus institutions
The school's library is Stratton Library and the noted Sheldon Jackson Museum also sits on college grounds.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Elizabeth Peratrovich, civil rights activist
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Sheldon Jackson School. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ National Register of Historical Places - ALASKA (AK), Sitka County
- ^ Janet Clemens and Patty Henry (February 9, 2001), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Sheldon Jackson School / Sitka Industrial Training School, Sheldon Jackson Institute, Sheldon Jackson College / (AHRS Site No. SIT-026)PDF (268 KiB), National Park Service and Accompanying 19 photos, exterior and interior, from 1935, c.1940, 1998, 2000, and undated.PDF (1.51 MiB)
- ^ Sheldon Jackson College - Offline
[edit] External links
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