Paine College
Paine College Seal
Former names
Paine Institute (1882–1903)
Motto"Emerging Anew"
TypePrivate historically black college
EstablishedNovember 1, 1882 (1882-11-01)
Religious affiliation
United Methodist Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
PresidentCheryl Evans Jones [1]
Students241 (2023)[1]
Location
Augusta
,
Georgia
,
United States
CampusUrban
64.4-acre (260,617.6 m2)
ColorsPurple and white
   
NicknameLions
Sporting affiliations
NCCAA
Websitewww.paine.edu

Paine College is a private, historically black Methodist college in Augusta, Georgia.[2] It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Paine College offers undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts, business administration, and education through residential, commuter, and off-site programs.[3] The college is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).[4]

History

Early history

Bishop Lucius Henry Holsey started planning for the school in 1869, and asked for leadership help through Methodist Episcopal Church South (MECS).[5][6] The new school was named after the late Bishop Robert Paine.[5] Paine College was founded on November 1, 1882 by the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (now Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, a historically black denomination), and the Methodist Episcopal Church South (now United Methodist Church, a historically white denomination).[5] According to The Augusta Chronicle, "The Paine College Board of Trustees is the oldest interracial body in the nation".[7]

The first president was Morgan Callaway, who worked hard for fundraising.[5] Classes started in 1884 in a rented space at 10th and Broad Street in Augusta, and in 1886 Paine was moved to its current location, which at the time was rural land outside of the city.[5][6] It also functioned as a high school until 1945, when the first public high school opened for African Americans in Augusta.[6]

Finances and accreditation revoked (2016–2018)

The college is experiencing financial issues and had its regional accreditation revoked by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 2016.[8]

In November 2015, following an initial recommendation from SACS to revoke its accreditation, Paine College launched the "Build it Back Campaign", which raised over half a million dollars in six months.[9] This was to support its fundraising goal of $3.5 million, of which $2.5 million in cash was raised. The college plans to use the money to offset the debt of $5.4 million.[10] Following a March 2016 onsite visit, SACS found the college in compliance with one of the standards that was previously problematic, leaving a total of three standards in question: financial resources, financial stability, and control of sponsored research/external funds.[9] In May, the college celebrated meeting its fundraising goal. However, one month later SACS recommended that the college lose its regional accreditation.[11] The college unsuccessfully appealed to the accreditor[12] and federal courts.[13][14]

The college subsequently applied for and was granted candidate status with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) in 2018.[15]

Presidents

Campus

The campus, c. 1910, Haygood Memorial Hall and the president's residence

Paine College has a 64.4-acre (260,617.6 m2) campus in the heart of Augusta. Most of its buildings, including residence halls, classroom buildings, and the library, are located in the main campus area. The athletic field, gymnasium, tennis court, and the chapel/music building are included in the rear campus area. The Collins-Calloway Library and Resources Center houses the Paine College Digital Collections, which feature historical images of Paine College and oral history interviews of Paine College alumni and presidents.

A historic district within the campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 26, 2012, for its contributions to education and African-American heritage.[27]

Athletics

Paine College's athletic teams are nicknamed as the Lions. The college currently competes as a member of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA). Men's sports include baseball and basketball; women's sports include basketball, softball, and volleyball.

Paine formerly competed in the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) from 1985–86 to 2020–21.

The college's football team was dropped after the 1963 season, but returned to play in 2014.[28] In their first season back, the football team finished 2-8[29] before the program was again shut down.[30]

Notable alumni

This is a list of notable alumni of Paine Institute and/or Paine College.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Name Class year Notability Reference(s)
William Augustus Bell 1906 president of Miles College in Alabama for two terms [31][32]
John Wesley Gilbert 1886 first African-American archaeologist [33]
Emma R. Gresham 1953 mayor of Keysville, Georgia (1985-2005) and the second African American female to be elected as a chief official in Georgia [34]
Louis Lomax 1942 journalist, first African American to appear on television as a newsman [35]
Joseph Lowery president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference 1977-1997 [36]
Mike Thurmond 1975 attorney and first African-American elected as Georgia Labor Commissioner [37]
Channing Tobias 1902 civil rights activist and appointee on the President's Committee on Civil Rights [38]
Pastor Troy rapper [39]
Woodie W. White 1958 bishop of the United Methodist Church [37]
Frank Yerby 1937 author and film writer [40]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Paine College". US Department of Education. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Brooks, F. Erik; Starks, Glenn L. (September 13, 2011). Historically Black Colleges and Universities: An Encyclopedia. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 99–100. ISBN 978-0-313-39416-4.
  3. ^ "Paine College". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  4. ^ "Bennett College, an HBCU for women, ends a long fight for its financial future". December 3, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "A history of Paine". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. July 17, 2015. ISSN 1539-7459. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c O'Connor, Allison (January 7, 2010). "Paine College (1882- )". BlackPast.org. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  7. ^ D.A.H, Mallory K. Millender. "Paine College's rich history is a monument to pioneering racial relations". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Doug Lederman (June 20, 2014). "A College Loses Accreditation". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Paine College Office of Communications & Marketing Blog". www.paine.edu. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009.
  10. ^ "Paine nearing fundraising goal". Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  11. ^ Tom Corwin (June 16, 2016). "Paine to lose accreditation". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  12. ^ "Paine College Accreditation to Be Revoked" Inside Higher Education June 17, 2016
  13. ^ "Disclosure Statement Regarding the Status of PAINE COLLEGE" (PDF). September 20, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  14. ^ Wise, Dawn (April 20, 2020). "Paine College loses appeal to be accredited with SACS". News Channel 6. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "Paine College TRACS accreditation status" (PDF). Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Paine College". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  17. ^ Range, Willard (August 1, 2009). The Rise and Progress of Negro Colleges in Georgia, 1865-1949. University of Georgia Press. p. 229. ISBN 978-0-8203-3452-3.
  18. ^ "Betts, Albert Deems". Who's Who in America. A.N. Marquis. 1922. p. 374.
  19. ^ "Lucius Pitts, Educator, Is Dead; President of Paine College, 59". The New York Times. February 27, 1974. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  20. ^ "Paine College to celebrate life of president emeritus". WRDW. August 23, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  21. ^ "Paine College President George Bradley Announces Resignation". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  22. ^ Jaschik, Scott. "President of Paine, Under Fire, Resigns". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  23. ^ "Paine College Names Samuel Sullivan as Its President, But Not for Long". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. May 9, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  24. ^ Owens, Liz (June 6, 2017). "New Paine College President Hardee: "Felt God was telling him to take the job"". wrdw.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  25. ^ McCord, Susan. "Paine president stepping down". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "Dr. Cheryl Evans Jones named Paine College president". The Augusta Chronicle. October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  27. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Program: African American History Month Feature 2013: Paine College Historic District, Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia". National Park Service. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  28. ^ "Paine football position draws interest". Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  29. ^ "Paine College Athletics - @PaineAthletics Football Claw the Way to Victory Over Tigers, 45-34". Paineathletics.com. November 10, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  30. ^ Gay, Chris. "Paine College is one and done in football | The Augusta Chronicle". Chronicle.augusta.com. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  31. ^ Caldwell, Arthur Bunyan (1920). History of the American Negro: Georgia Edition. A. B. Caldwell publishing Company. pp. 395–.
  32. ^ Murphy, Larry G.; Melton, J. Gordon; Ward, Gary L. (November 20, 2013). Encyclopedia of African American Religions. Routledge. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-135-51338-2.
  33. ^ "1884 John Wesley Gilbert :: Paine College Library Digital Collection". Contentdm.auctr.edu. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  34. ^ "Georgia Magazine". Georgiamagazine.org. September 5, 2002. Archived from the original on October 28, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  35. ^ "Lomax, Louis; The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed". Blackpast.org. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  36. ^ "Joseph Lowery : Biography". Biography.com. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  37. ^ a b "Alumni Spotlight | Paine College Alumni". Paine.edu. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  38. ^ "Tobias, Channing H. (1882-1961) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed". Blackpast.org. January 17, 2007. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  39. ^ "Happy Birthday Pastor Troy". XXL.com. November 18, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  40. ^ "Frank Yerby (1916-1991) | New Georgia Encyclopedia". Georgiaencyclopedia.org. Retrieved March 16, 2015.

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