Truett McConnell University

Truett McConnell University
Type Private
Established 1946 (first classes offered: September 1947)
Affiliation Georgia Baptist Convention
President Dr. Emir Caner (President)
Students 2,141 (On Campus/Online)[1]
Location Cleveland, GA, USA
Campus Small
Colors
  Blue and Gold
Mascot Bears (since 2005) (Previous: "Mountaineers" (1951-1965), Great Danes (shortened form: "Danes"; female sports teams: "Danettes", "Lady Danes") (1966-2005))
Website www.truett.edu

Truett McConnell University is a private, Christian, coeducational liberal arts University in Cleveland, Georgia, United States. It is operated under the auspices of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and controlled by a Board of Trustees elected by the Convention. The college was named to honor George W. Truett and Fernando C. McConnell.

History

On July 23, 1946, the Georgia Baptist Convention held ceremonies at Cleveland, Georgia, to mark the establishment of a new two-year liberal arts college named for Truett and McConnell. Truett-McConnell College, operating in temporary quarters on or near the town square in Cleveland, first opened its doors to students in September 1947, when it enrolled a class of 55 students.[2] The school was first accredited in 1966 to issue two year degrees.[3] In December 2002, the institution was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer four-year degrees.[4]

In fall 2003, a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in church music, which was followed by the December 2005 approval for a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in early childhood education. Truett McConnell University offers 13 Bachelor's degrees with various concentrations in the fields of Business, Christian Studies, English, Education, History, Humanities, Music, and Science. The most recent degree to be approved by SACS is the Bachelor of Arts in World Missions.[5] In spring 2010, Truett-McConnell College received approval from SACS to offer online degrees in Business and Christian Studies.

Enrollment declined from 2033 in 2000 to 468 in 2008 (due to the closure of its satellite campuses);[6][7] then the trend was reversed. In fall of 2010, the school saw its largest enrollment of 751 students, increasing its enrollment by 62% since 2008.[8] In Fall of 2010, Truett-McConnell College announced a new building project, the largest building project in 40 years. It included additions to the Miller Building, a new dorm that would sleep 173 students, as well as an addition to the current dining hall. Ground breaking began late 2010 and construction started in early 2011.[9] The current enrollment is over 2100 students,[1] including residents, commuters, online, and ACCEL students. The administration broke ground in 2015 on the site of the new Student Recreation Center, set for completion in 2016. Following this project, a new chapel and fine arts facility will be underway as well as a new academic building.

In 2018 the university stopped selling Nike products because the company runs ads featuring Colin Kaepernick. TMU President Emil Caner said that Kaepernick, "a person known for wearing pigs on his socks, mocking law enforcement, kneeling against our flag, and mocking our troops, is reprehensible to my family and to the Truett McConnell family."[10]

Athletics

Truett McConnell teams are known as the Bears; the college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). Men's sports include track and field, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer and wrestling; women's sports include track and field, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The initial name of sports teams, "The Mountaineers," was changed to Danes in 1965, and is now the Bears. The new gym and athletic center was built in 1963 and first basket was scored by Barron Pilgrim.

Notable alumni

NameKnown forRelationship to Truett-McConnell
Matt PapaChristian recording artistBA, 2005; First two four-year degree graduates.
Xavier RobertsCreated the Cabbage Patch Kids toy linestudied art at Truett-McConnell
Mitchell WigginsNBA Player and father of NBAer Andrew Wigginsplayed basketball at Truett-McConnell from 1978-1979[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Home - Truett McConnell University". Truett-McConnell University. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  2. ↑ "History of Truett-McConnell College". Truett-McConnell College. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  3. ↑ "Truett-McConnell College". Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  4. ↑ "Revised Actions" (PDF). Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 2002. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  5. ↑ "SACS grants Truett-McConnell degree in World Missions". Truett-McConnell College. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  6. ↑ "Fall Enrollment at ASBCS Member Schools 2000 and 2001" (PDF). Association of Baptist Colleges and Schools. 2002. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  7. ↑ "Average 2008 Fall Enrollment at IABCU Schools" (PDF). International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities. 2009. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  8. ↑ "TMC Sees Record Enrollment for Fall 2010". Truett-McConnell College. 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  9. ↑ "Truett-McConnell College Sees Largest Expansion in Forty Years". Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  10. ↑ Boren, Cindy (11 September 2018). "Two small Christian colleges take a stand against Nike over its Colin Kaepernick ad campaign". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Mitchell Wiggins: Andrew Wiggins' Father; Mitchell Wiggins Bio". www.andrewwigginsbasketball.net. 2015. Retrieved 2015-01-20.

Coordinates: 34°35′46″N 83°44′53″W / 34.596°N 83.748°W / 34.596; -83.748

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