Point University

Point University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university in West Point, Georgia. It was founded in 1937 as Atlanta Christian College in East Point. The college announced its name change to Point University in 2011 and relocated its main campus to West Point in June 2012.

This article is about the university in West Point, Georgia. For the university in High Point, North Carolina, see High Point University. For the university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, see Point Park University.

Point University
Seal of Point University
MottoΚήρυξον τὸν λόγον (Greek: Preach the Word)
TypePrivate
Established1937
AffiliationNondenominational
PresidentDean C. Collins
Academic staff
21
Students1,582 (Fall 2015)
Location
West Point
,
Georgia
,
United States
CampusSuburban 54 acres (0.22 km2)
ColorsBlue and Gold[1]
   
NicknameSkyhawks[2]
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – AAC
Websitewww.point.edu

History

Atlanta Christian College

Atlanta Christian College was founded in 1937 by Thomas Olin Hathcock (1879–1966), a prominent Fulton County, Georgia judge from 1914 until 1942. 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.[3] The property for the 300-acre campus was from a farm Nora Hathcock had inherited.[3][4]

Following its 1937 founding, Atlanta Christian College devoted itself mainly to the education of ministers, missionaries, and other church-related workers.[3] In 1965, the college became an accredited member of the American Association of Bible Colleges (AABC).[3] 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.[3]

Point University

On February 2, 2011, student leaders and administrators of Atlanta Christian College announced a name change to Point University, which became effective on July 1, 2011.[5] In addition to the name change, the college announced the 2012 relocation of its main campus to West Point, Georgia, an hour southwest of the current campus near Atlanta.[6] Adult learning classes will continue 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 current off-site locations in Peachtree City, Savannah, and Birmingham, Ala.[7]

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 University also has apartment-style student housing in nearby Valley, Alabama.

In addition to the relocation announcement, the university was accepted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).[8] The university also announced the athletics program would undergo expansion 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.[9] The athletics nickname was also changed from the Chargers to the Skyhawks.[2] In Spring 2014, the Point University Skyhawks were admitted to the recently started Sun conference as a charter member.[10]

Presidents
  • 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

Point University offers degrees in biblical studies, biology, exercise science, business, marketing, accounting, management, child and youth development, counseling and human services, sociology, criminal justice, early childhood education, middle grades education, English, history, humanities, music, and psychology. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award the associate and baccalaureate degrees. Its accreditation was most recently affirmed in 2016.[11] The early childhood education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) of the State of Georgia.[12]

Athletics
Main article: Point University Skyhawks

Point University athletic teams are known as the Skyhawks. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Football was a member of The Sun Conference for 2014 and 2015, moving to the Appalachian Division of the Mid-South Conference in the fall of 2017. The rest of its sports compete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).[13] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer and tennis; women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, lacrosse, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.[8]

The university was formerly a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I. The Skyhawks (previously known as the Atlanta Christian College Chargers) have won a number of regional and national championships, most recently the 2010 NCCAA Division II national championship in baseball.[14]

Notable students and alumni

References
  1. "Brand Standards - Point University". Point.edu. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  2. "School Year Launches with New Mascot, New Name, Record Enrollment". Point University. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  3. "History of the University". Point University. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  4. "Judge Thomas Olin Hathcock". Find a Grave. October 14, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  5. "ACC is now Point University". Point University. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  6. "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.
  7. Archived February 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "The NAIA Announces New Members at 70th Annual Convention". NAIA. April 19, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  9. "Christian college to open at West Point". Birmingham, Alabama: WBRC. February 3, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  10. "Point University Athletics - Point football joins The Sun Conference". Pointskyhawks.com. 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  11. "Point University: Accreditation". Archived from the original on 2016-07-31. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  12. "Institutional Accreditation". U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  13. "Atlanta Christian/Point University Joins AAC". Appalachian Athletic Conference. May 9, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  14. "Point University Athletics - 2016 Baseball Coaches". pointskyhawks.com.

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