Bryan College

Bryan College

Bryan College logo
Former names
 William Jennings Bryan University (1930–1958), William Jennings Bryan College (1958–1993)
Motto "Christ Above All"
Established 1930
Type Private
Affiliation Christian
Endowment $6 million
President Stephen D. Livesay
Academic staff
 204 (48 full-time)
Administrative staff
 169 (131 full-time)
Students 739
Postgraduates 131
Other students
 840
Location Dayton, TN, USA
35°29′51″N 84°59′57″W / 35.497574°N 84.999139°WCoordinates: 35°29′51″N 84°59′57″W / 35.497574°N 84.999139°W
Campus Small town
Colors Red and gold          
Athletics NAIA
Sports Baseball, Basketball, Cross-country running, Soccer, Track and field, Volleyball, Softball, Fishing, Golf, Cheerleading
Nickname Lions
Mascot Lion
Affiliations Appalachian College Association, Association of Christian Schools International, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Council for Higher Education Accreditation, Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
Website www.bryan.edu

Bryan College is a Christian liberal arts college in Dayton, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in the aftermath of the 1925 Scopes Trial to establish an institution of higher education that would teach from a Christian worldview.

History

During the Scopes Trial in 1925, William Jennings Bryan expressed the wish that a school might be established in Dayton, "to teach truth from a Biblical perspective".[1] Following his death on July 26, 1925, a national memorial association was formed to establish such an institution in Bryan’s honor.

William Jennings Bryan University was chartered in 1930. Its stated purpose was to provide “for the purpose of establishing, conducting and perpetuating a university for the higher education of men and women under auspices distinctly Christian and spiritual, as a testimony to the supreme glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Divine inspiration and infallibility of the Bible,”[2] and its mission statement is "Educating Students to become Servants of Christ to make a Difference in Today's World."[3] In 1958, it was designated William Jennings Bryan College, and the name was shortened to Bryan College in 1993.[4]

Affiliations

Bryan College is a member of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA),[5] the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA),[6] the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities,[7] the Appalachian College Association (ACA),[8] and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).[9]

Campus

The Bryan College campus in Dayton is 128 acres (0.52 km2) with 20 buildings, 7 of which are residence halls.

Its association with the Scopes Trial has led to its addition as a stop along the Southeast Tennessee Religious Trail.[10]

Accreditation and ranking

Bryan has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1969.[11]

Bryan ranked 20 for U.S. News & World Report for Baccalaureate Colleges in the South[12] and 4 for Up and Coming Regional Colleges in the South.[13]

Academics

Bryan offers the associate's degree, the bachelor's degree in 20 majors with over 60 distinct options,[14] and two Masters degrees: the Master of Business Administration degree and the Master of Arts in Christian Studies degree.[15] 77% of their professors hold terminal degrees in their fields of study.[16]

The Adult and Graduate Studies programs are designed for adult learners to attend school part-time. Students can earn degrees online and onsite, and options include Associates, Bachelors, and Master's degrees.[17]

Statement of belief

In February 2014, the statement of belief, which is included in the employment contract of professors, was clarified to declare that Adam and Eve "are historical persons created by God in a special formative act, and not from previously existing life-forms." Hundreds of students including the student body president criticized this change, several professors left the institution, and two tenured faculty who had their contracts terminated filed a lawsuit against the college, which was settled in October 2014.[18][19]

Athletics

Bryan College Lions logo

Bryan College athletic teams, nicknamed athletically as the Lions, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).[20] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, fishing, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball.

Publications

Bryan Life is the college's alumni magazine and is published quarterly.[21] Illumine is a publication of the Bryan Institute for Critical Thought and Practice.[22] E-Lumine is an e-newsletter for alumni and friends of Bryan, and is published each month except July.[23] The Triangle is a bi-weekly student newspaper containing articles and stories written by Bryan College students. It also includes stats and updates on the college's sports teams. It is available in print on campus and electronically.[24]

Presidents (1930–present)

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "College History". Bryan.edu. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  2. ↑ iPad iPhone Android TIME TV Populist The Page (1930-08-18). "Education: Bryan University". TIME. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  3. ↑ "Mission and Distinctives". Bryan.edu. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  4. ↑ From the Heart of a Lion: Thoughts from the Spiritual Journey of the Bryan College Family (Dayton, TN: Bryan College Press, 2000) p. 367.
  5. ↑ "TICUA". TICUA. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  6. ↑ "Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) (2012)". CHEA. 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  7. ↑ "Council for Christian Colleges & Universities – Members & Affiliates". Cccu.org. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  8. ↑ "Appalachian College Association – Member Institutions". Acaweb.org. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  9. ↑ "ACSI". ACSI. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  10. ↑ "Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association". Southeasttennessee.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  11. ↑ "Commission on Colleges". Sacscoc.org. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  12. ↑ "Regional College South Rankings | Top Regional Colleges South | US News Best Colleges". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  13. ↑ "Up and Coming Schools | Top Regional Colleges South | US News Best Colleges". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  14. ↑ Programs offered at Bryan College
  15. ↑ "Graduate Programs". Bryan.edu. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  16. ↑ "Faculty". Bryan.edu. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  17. ↑ "Adult and Graduate Studies Programs". Bryan.edu. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  18. ↑ Alan Binder (May 20, 2014). "Bryan College Is Torn: Can Darwin and Eden Coexist?". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  19. ↑ Kendi Anderson (October 8, 2014). "Bryan College, professors settle lawsuit". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  20. ↑ Appalachian Athletic Conference
  21. ↑ "Bryan Life – Fall 2012". Bryan.edu. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  22. ↑ "Illumine". Bryan.edu. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  23. ↑ "e-Lumine Newsletter". Bryan.edu. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  24. ↑ "Triangle". Bryan.edu. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  25. ↑ "Valor awards for Mastin M. Robeson". Military Times. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  26. ↑ Johnson, Kimberly (2011-09-30). "Peace Keeper". Town magazine. Greenville, South Carolina. Retrieved 2012-11-07.

External links