Luther Rice University

Williams Hall on campus of LR

Luther Rice College and Seminary is a private Christian college and seminary in Lithonia, Georgia, part of Metro Atlanta. The school was founded in 1962 by Robert Gee Witty in Jacksonville, Florida. It has an enrollment of about 1,400 students. Through the college and seminary the institution offers bachelor, master's, and doctoral degrees in leadership, counseling, apologetics, Christian worldview, Christian studies, and Christian ministry.[1] The school's catalog states that the university is Southern Baptist in doctrine.

Luther Rice specializes in external and distance education online and is listed under "The Best Alternative Programs/Nontraditional Education" in the Comprehensive Guide to the Best Colleges and Universities in the United States, published by the American Council for University Planning and Academic Excellence (ACUPAE).[2]

History

Graduation day

Robert Gee Witty and five other pastors founded Luther Rice Seminary in 1962 in Jacksonville, Florida. The school was founded to meet the needs of pastors and Christian leaders who could not quit their jobs and uproot their families to go away to seminary. From its inception, Luther Rice Seminary has focused on distance education (online) and external Christian education. Luther Rice delivers distance education through online studies. All degrees except the DMin are available completely through online studies.

The State of Florida granted the school's charter on June 14, 1962. Dr. Witty was elected President of the college in 1970, a position he held until 1982, when he retired to become Chancellor. In May 1993, Dr. James Flanagan became president of Luther Rice Seminary. He holds an earned doctorate (Ph.D.) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In August 1991, the college moved from Florida to its current location in Metro Atlanta, Georgia.

The school is recognized as being theologically conservative.[3]

Accreditation

Luther Rice is accredited by Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). ABHE is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).[4]

Luther Rice University is also a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.[5] TRACS is an accrediting body that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the United States Department of Education, and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education.

Degrees offered

According to the Luther Rice website, degrees offered are: Undergraduate

Graduate

Seminary

Notable alumni

References

External links