Point University

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Coordinates: 32°52′45″N 85°11′13″W / 32.8791°N 85.1869°W / 32.8791; -85.1869
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Not to be confused with High Point University in North Carolina, or Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Point University
Seal of Point University
Former names
Atlanta Christian College (1937–2011)[1]
Motto
Κήρυξον τὸν λόγον
Motto in English
Preach the Word
TypePrivate university
Established1937
Religious affiliation
Christian churches and churches of Christ[2]
PresidentDean C. Collins[3]
Academic staff
52[2]
Students2,015[4]
Location
West Point
,
Georgia
,
United States
CampusSuburban 54 acres (0.22 km2)
ColorsNavy Blue & Gold[5]
   
NicknameSkyhawks[6]
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – Appalachian
Websitewww.point.edu

Point University is a private evangelical Christian college in West Point, Georgia and was founded in 1937 as Atlanta Christian College in East Point.[2] The college announced its name change to Point University in 2011 and relocated its main campus to West Point in June 2012.[1] As of 2022, over 2,000 students are enrolled both onsite and online.

History[edit]

Atlanta Christian College[edit]

Atlanta Christian College was founded in 1937 by Thomas Olin Hathcock (1879–1966), a prominent Fulton County, Georgia judge from 1914 until 1942.[1] He and his wife, Nora Head Hathcock, were members of the Christian churches and churches of Christ, the denomination that the institution has always been affiliated with. The property for the campus was from a 300-acre farm Nora Hathcock had inherited.[1]

Following its 1937 founding, Atlanta Christian College devoted itself mainly to the education of ministers, missionaries, and other church-related workers.[7] In 1965, the college became an accredited member of the American Association of Bible Colleges (AABC)..[7] In 1990, in conjunction with a broadening of its curriculum, the college was accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.[7]

Point University[edit]

In 2011, the institution's name was changed to Point University.[1] The following year, the college relocated its main campus to West Point, Georgia, an hour southwest of the previous main campus near Atlanta.[8] Adult learning classes were continued to be held at the East Point location, as well as an adult learning program and dual-credit enrollment program for high school students at the off-site locations in Peachtree City with an eventual location also in Savannah.[9]

In addition to renovating the former West Point-Stevens headquarters for use as the primary academic building for traditional program studies in West Point, the institution also has been working with partners to offer apartment-style student housing in the surrounding area[3] with a recent project underway for even more student housing located directly adjacent to the Lanier Academic Center.[10]

In addition to moving its main campus in 2012, the institution was also accepted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).[11] The institution's athletics program expanded as part of the transition from the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) to the NAIA, including the addition of intercollegiate football, softball and cross country beginning in fall 2011.[12] The athletics nickname was also changed from the Chargers to the Skyhawks. In Spring 2014, the Point University Skyhawks were admitted to the recently started Sun conference as a charter member.[13]

Presidents[edit]

  • George W. BonDurant (1937–1947)
  • Orvel C. Crowder (1947–1955)
  • James C. Redmon (1955–1978)
  • Paul K. Carrier (1978–1984)
  • James C. Donovan (1984–1993)
  • R. Edwin Groover (1993–2006)
  • Dean C. Collins (2006–present)

Academics[edit]

Point University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees.[14] The teacher education programs are approved by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) of the State of Georgia.[15] The institution has been growing their online programs by partnering with businesses that provide tuition assistance to their employees through their Elevate subscription program.[10][16] The subscription program which was launched in early 2022, has resulted in over 375 businesses joining with students enrolled from 41 states.[17] The university was also recently awarded $1.25 million from the Lilly Endowment to create a Center for Compelling Preaching to meet the educational needs of ministry leaders.[10]

Athletics[edit]

Main article: Point Skyhawks

The Point athletic teams are called the Skyhawks and were previously known as the Atlanta Christian Chargers. In 2022, the Skyhawks mascot did not have an official name and through a voting process, students and alumni voted on Charger for the name of the Skyhawks mascot.[18] The institution is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) for most of its sports since the 2011–12 academic year.[19][20] Its football team was a member of The Sun Conference for the 2014 and 2015 fall seasons, before moving to the Appalachian Division of the Mid-South Conference (MSC) where they competed from the 2017 to 2021 fall seasons (2017–18 to 2021–22 school years).[21][22] They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division II level.[23]

Point competes in a variety of intercollegiate varsity sports with 19 men and women's sports:[10] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, distance track, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, distance track, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading.[11] The sports are supported by 75 coaches and support staff.[24]

On August 9, 2022, Point was invited and unanimously approved to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), effective July 1, 2023.[25][26]

Accomplishments[edit]

The Skyhawks have won a number of regional and national championships, most recently the 2010 NCCAA Division II national championship in baseball.[27]

Notable alumni[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Reames, Charlotte. "WHAT'S IN A NAME: Point University". LaGrange Daily News.
  2. ^ a b c "Institution Profile". Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences.
  3. ^ a b Trahan, Cole. "Point University president reflects on past, present, and future". Valley Times-News.
  4. ^ "College Profile". College Navigator. U.S. Department of Education: Institute of Education Sciences.
  5. ^ Writer, Staff. "Membership". Appalachian Athletic Conference.
  6. ^ Estremera, Cody. "Point University Athletic Director Alan Wilson retires after 25 years". Valley Times-News.
  7. ^ a b c "History of the University". Point University. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  8. ^ "Atlanta Christian to locate in West Point". Newnan Times-Herald. February 4, 2011. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  9. ^ Thompson, John. "Atlanta Christian College to change name and head west". Cox Enterprises. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  10. ^ a b c d Clark, Wayne. "Point University president speaks on college's plans, future outlook". Valley Times-News.
  11. ^ a b "The NAIA Announces New Members at 70th Annual Convention". NAIA. April 19, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  12. ^ "Christian college to open at West Point". Birmingham, Alabama: WBRC. February 3, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  13. ^ "Point University Athletics - Point football joins The Sun Conference". Pointskyhawks.com. March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "Institutions - SACSCOC". Decatur, Georgia: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
  15. ^ "Institutional Accreditation". U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  16. ^ Silliman, Daniel. "Evangelical School Strikes Deal with Chick-fil-A Franchises". Christianity Today.
  17. ^ Reames, Charlotte. "Education made accessible for employees by Point University". Valley Times-News.
  18. ^ "Meet our new Mascot, Charger!". Point University.
  19. ^ "Atlanta Christian/Point University Joins AAC". Appalachian Athletic Conference. May 9, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  20. ^ "Schools". NAIA.ORG. NAIA. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  21. ^ Wilson, Michael (February 25, 2016). "Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  22. ^ "Members". Thesunconference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  23. ^ "Membership". Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  24. ^ Jean-Marie, Bryna. "Rooted in Faith and Sports, Jaunelle White Has Found Her Perfect Home at Point University". Sports Illustrated.
  25. ^ "Point University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24". SSAC. August 9, 2022.
  26. ^ "Point to join Southern States Athletic Conference in 2023-24". Point University. August 9, 2022.
  27. ^ "Point University Athletics - 2016 Baseball Coaches". pointskyhawks.com.
  28. ^ Brown, Melony. "Jamie Grace: Ready to Fly". Salem Interactive Media. KFAX-AM.
  29. ^ "Artist: Jamie Grace Harper". GRAMMY Awards. Recording Academy.
  30. ^ Schmitz, Stephanie. "Dr. Stephen Waers announced as Milligan's 16th president". Milligan University.
  31. ^ Daniel, Anslee. "Stephen Waers to be next Milligan University president". Nexstar Media Inc. WJHL.
  32. ^ Perkins, D. Clay. "Profile". LinkedIn Corporation.

External links[edit]

32°52′45″N 85°11′13″W / 32.8791°N 85.1869°W / 32.8791; -85.1869

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