LaGrange College

LaGrange College is a private college<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in LaGrange, Georgia. Founded in 1831 as a female educational institution, LaGrange is the oldest private college in Georgia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church<ref>Template:Cite periodical</ref> and offers more than 55 academic and pre-professional programs, including graduate degrees in education.

History

The chapel (left) and the Cason J. Callaway Science Building (right).

The college began as a women's academy (high-school level), housed in a large white building down the street from where the current campus was developed. A few years later, in 1851, the institution moved to its present location on "the Hill," the highest geographical point in the city of LaGrange.<ref name="auto4">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="auto1">Template:Cite periodical</ref>

In 1847, the school was renamed as "LaGrange Female Institute", and the charter was amended to allow the school the power to confer degrees. The name was changed to "LaGrange Female College" in 1851, with the adoption of a four-year curriculum.<ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto1"/>

The Georgia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South took ownership of the college in 1856. Today, it is an institution of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.<ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto3">Template:Cite periodical</ref>

As discussions continued about admitting men, LaGrange Female College became "LaGrange College" in 1934. In 1953, the institution's Board of Trustees officially made it coeducational.<ref name="auto3"/>

The size of the campus doubled in 1992 thanks to the donation of land and facilities from the Callaway Foundation, which included Callaway Auditorium, Callaway Education Building, six tennis courts, two softball fields, sites for Cleaveland Baseball Field and the soccer field, and a swimming pool that was converted into Charles D. Hudson Natatorium in 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Academics

LaGrange operates on the modified (4-1-4) semester system for day classes,<ref name="auto1"/> which provides for fall and spring semesters, separated by a January Interim Term.

Servant Scholars Program

Begun in the fall of 2012, the Servant Scholars Program is exclusively for juniors and seniors who have demonstrated high academic achievement, engagement, and leadership on campus.<ref>Template:Cite periodical</ref> The program is housed in the newly renovated Broad Street Apartments, a local landmark built in 1936<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite web</ref> and located halfway between the campus and downtown LaGrange. Among the only apartments in the city at the time, they filled a vital housing gap and provided a first home for many families.

After falling into disrepair, the apartments were purchased by Callaway Foundation, Inc., in December 2009. The foundation funded their renovation, and the work was completed by Batson-Cook Co. of West Point. The property was turned over to the college in the spring of 2012.<ref name="auto2"/>

Evening classes

Students enrolled in Business Administration or Human Development programs normally attend classes on Monday through Thursday evenings. Students may enroll in September, January, or March. Students in the above programs also may earn a minor in Sociology, Psychology or Human Resource Management.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite periodical</ref>

Transfer students with 60 hours of acceptable credit are eligible to apply for enrollment in the Degree Completion Programs in Public Health or Health and Human Services. Classes in the 23-month cohort programs are scheduled one night per week.<ref name="auto"/>

Accreditation

LaGrange College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.<ref name="auto5">Template:Cite periodical</ref>

LaGrange College is also approved by the United Methodist University Senate.<ref name="auto5"/> It has membership in the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges.

LaGrange College's teacher education (undergraduate and graduate) programs are accredited by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission<ref name="auto5"/> to recommend candidates for certification in the areas of early childhood, middle grades or secondary education.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.<ref name="auto5"/>

The undergraduate programs in business administration, business management, and accounting are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).<ref name="auto5"/>

Athletics

LaGrange Panthers wordmark

LaGrange College is a member of NCAA Division III and the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS), formed in July 2022 by an amicable split of the previously 19-member USA South Athletic Conference.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The college's nickname is Panthers and its colors are red and black. Intercollegiate teams compete in women's soccer, basketball, cross country, volleyball, softball, swimming, lacrosse, and tennis; and men's baseball, football, lacrosse, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, and tennis. The CCS does not sponsor football or women's lacrosse; under the terms of the conference split, all CCS members that sponsor those sports, including LaGrange, are USA South associate members in those sports.

Under NCAA guidelines, no athletic scholarships are offered at Division III schools.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Panthers football program was launched in 2006, and women's lacrosse was added in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The school also has a host of intramural activities. LaGrange athletic facilities include a $2 million baseball stadium, a natatorium, and a softball complex.

In 2008, the Panthers football team rewrote NCAA Division III history when it went from its first two seasons of 20 straight losses to a 9-1 conference championship and a trip to the national playoffs,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a turnaround record that stands to this day.

In 2014 & 2016 the Men's Lagrange College Basketball team won the Conference Championship.

The LaGrange College Softball team won the Conference Championship from 2007 to 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web </ref>

The 2003 Baseball and Men's Golf teams won the USCAA National Championships. The 2003 baseball team set a school record for most wins in a season (36) and fewest losses (10).

Alumni

Notable alumni include Dean W. Young<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> (1960), nationally syndicated cartoonist of the "Blondie" comic strip; Dwayne Shattuck (1983), Emmy Award-winning producer of "Mad Men"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and "Magic City;" Elizabeth Carlock Harris (1961), former First Lady of Georgia;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Terry Kay (1959), best-selling author ("To Dance with the White Dog");<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Blake Clark (1969), television and film actor ("Home Improvement," "The Waterboy" and "Boy Meets World").Template:Cn

External links

• Template:Oweb
• Athletics website
• New Georgia Encyclopedia