University Convocation
Monday, August 14, 2006, 10:00 A.M. Smith Auditorium
President Larry Kennedy announces name change to William Carey
University
At its February meeting the William Carey College Board of Trustees
authorized the school’s attorney to initiate the legal process for
changing to university status. In a regular session on May 10, 2006 the
Board of Trustees unanimously approved the recommendation to change the
name of the institution to William Carey University to honor its growth
and enhance its potential in an increasingly global environment. The
charter has been approved. This name is the fourth in the one hundred
year history of the institution.
With this announcement, William Carey will now offer expanded
educational opportunities to students. Additional graduate programs, off
campus classes, and increased use of technology will provide more course
offerings for both undergraduate and graduate students. In recent years
the enrollment had continued to increase on all campuses prior to the
devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
In addition to the 120 acre main campus in Hattiesburg, William Carey on
the Coast is located in Gulfport and the School of Nursing has a program
on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Plans are
underway to relocate the campus of William Carey on the Coast inland
near Interstate 10. Presently, sixteen modular units are on the Beach
Boulevard location where classes will be conducted until facilities are
built at a new location.
In 1906 South Mississippi College was established as a co-educational
institution. Its president was Dr. W. I. Thames, a prominent Mississippi
educator. The impressive building program of the young college was short
lived when a major fire destroyed much of the campus. In 1911 W. F. S.
Tatum, a highly successful timberland owner and operator, acquired the
property housing two wooden structures. He gave it as a gift to
Mississippi Baptists with the stipulation that it would operate as a
Christian college for girls.
In 1911 Mississippi Woman’s College opened with Dr. W. W. Rivers serving
as interim president until Dr. J. L. Johnson of Virginia was named
president.
Under the presidency of Dr. I. E. Rouse, the college became
co-educational and the name was changed to William Carey College in 1954
to honor the Father of the Modern Missionary Movement. In 1956 Dr. Ralph
Noonkester became president and served for 32 years
Dr. Larry W. Kennedy has been president since 1998.
The official change to University status will take place on Monday,
August 14, the first day of the fall trimester. A formal convocation
will be held at 10:00 a.m. in Smith Auditorium of Thomas Hall. Alumni,
friends, and the public are invited to join the university family and
special guests for the event.
"On this special day we honor all of those who in our hundred year
history invested their lives and resources in this beloved institution.
We honor thousands of alumni, past presidents, faculty and staff, and
the faithful donors and supporters of William Carey. We honor residents
of the area, Mississippi Baptists, and friends who through the decades
realized the importance of maintaining a faith-based college in south
Mississippi," said President Kennedy.
The University celebrates its centennial in 2006 with the theme
"Celebrating The Past; Embracing The Future" and will host a Celebration
Reception in October at the Mississippi Baptist Convention.
William Carey University is a private university accredited with the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Master’s degrees are
offered in education, business administration, psychology and nursing.
Seven baccalaureate degrees are offered in 24 major fields.
Post-graduate courses will be offered in the future. For more
information, visit www.wmcarey.edu or call 1-800-962-5991.
|