Bryan College

Short description: Christian college in Dayton, Tennessee, US

Bryan College

Former names

| William Jennings Bryan University (1930–1958)
William Jennings Bryan College (1958–1993)
Motto| "Christ Above All"
Type| Private college
Established| 1930

Religious affiliation

| Christian

Academic affiliations

| Appalachian College Association, Association of Christian Schools International, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
Endowment| $6 million
President| Douglas F. Mann

Academic staff

| 164 (42 full-time)

Administrative staff

| 169 (131 full-time)
Students| 1,656
Postgraduates| 174

Other students

| 840
Location|

Dayton

Tennessee

United States

[ ⚑ ] : 35°29′51″N 84°59′57″W﻿ / ﻿35.4976°N 84.9991°W﻿ / 35.4976; -84.9991
Campus| Small town
|u}}rs|
Red, Gold & White
Nickname| Lions
Mascot| Lion
Website| www.bryan.edu

Bryan College is a private Christian college in Dayton, Tennessee. It was founded in the aftermath of the 1925 Scopes trial to establish an institution of higher education that would teach from a Christian worldview.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Presidents
* 2 Campus
* 3 Academics
* 3.1 Accreditation and ranking
* 3.2 Affiliations
* 4 Statement of belief and academic freedom
* 5 Athletics
* 6 Publications
* 7 Notable alumni
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

During the Scopes trial in 1925, William Jennings Bryan expressed the wish that a school might be established in Dayton, Tennessee, "to teach truth from a Biblical perspective".[1] On July 26, 1925, he died in his sleep in Dayton, five days after the trial ended.[2] Following his death, a national memorial association was formed to establish such an institution in Bryan's honor.

William Jennings Bryan University was chartered in 1930. Its stated purpose was to provide “for the purpose of establishing, conducting, and perpetuating a university for the higher education of men and women under auspices distinctly Christian and spiritual, as a testimony to the supreme glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Divine inspiration and infallibility of the Bible,”[3] In 1958, it was designated William Jennings Bryan College, and the name was shortened to Bryan College in 1993.[4]

### Presidents

* George E. Guille (1930–1931)
* Malcolm M. Lockhart (1931–1933)
* Judson A. Rudd (1933–1955)
* Theodore C. Mercer (1956–1986)
* Kenneth G. Hanna (1986–1992)
* William E. Brown (1993–2003)
* Stephen D. Livesay (2003–2020)
* Douglas Mann (2020- )[5]

## Campus

The Bryan College campus is located in Dayton, Tennessee, on a 128-acre (52 ha) hilltop.[6] The campus is within walking distance of downtown Dayton and the historic Rhea County Courthouse.

Bryan College's campus consists of six public buildings, five residence halls, and 12 townhouses.[7] The newest addition to the campus, the Stophel Welcome Center, opened on October 4, 2019. The Stophel Center is a two-story building that encompasses 18,000 square feet. The building is home to 25 offices, including admissions, advancement, marketing, and executive offices, as well as a banquet facility.[8]

In the fall of 2000, the administration building was greatly damaged by a fire that spread to its third floor, but has since been repaired.[9]

Its association with the Scopes trial has led to its addition as a stop along the Southeast Tennessee Religious Trail.[10]

As of 2019, Bryan College has an on-campus physical therapy clinic.[11][12]

## Academics

Bryan offers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees in 20 majors with over 60 distinct options,[13] and three master's degrees - the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Arts in Christian studies, and the Master of Education.[14] 77% of their professors hold terminal degrees in their fields of study.[15] Bryan College also has over 26 different minors[16] available to students with varying interests. Minors include biblical studies, business administration, leadership studies, and theater.[16]

The Adult and Graduate Studies programs are designed for adult learners to attend school part-time. Students can earn degrees online and onsite, and options include associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.[17]

In February 2018, Bryan College announced the opening of the Vogel School of Engineering, enabling students to obtain an undergraduate degree in mechanical or civil engineering.[18]

On April 14th, 2023, Bryan College hosted an open house and a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the Clara Ward School of Nursing, allowing Bryan College students to pursue an undergraduate degree in nursing.[19]

### Accreditation and ranking

Bryan has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1969.[20]

Bryan ranks 71st in the U.S. News & World Report for Regional Universities in the South as of the 2019 rankings.[21] In 2015, the college ranked 22nd[22] and was formerly ranked fourth among the "Up and Coming" institutions in its category by the same publisher in 2012.

### Affiliations

Bryan College is a member of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association,[23] the Council for Higher Education Accreditation,[24] the Appalachian College Association,[25] and the Association of Christian Schools International.[26]

The Bryan College campus in Dayton, Tennessee, on Sept. 3, 2015

## Statement of belief and academic freedom

In February 2014, college administrators supplemented the original statement of belief, which is included in the employment contract of professors, with the declaration that Adam and Eve "are historical persons created by God in a special formative act, and not from previously existing life forms." Hundreds of students, including the vice president of student government, opposed the change. They petitioned trustees, and several professors left the institution.[27]

The same month, the faculty voted 30-2 "no confidence" in the college president, Stephen Livesay.[28]

Two tenured faculty had their contracts terminated after refusing to agree to the revised statement of belief, and filed a lawsuit against the college in May 2014. The college settled out of court in October 2014.[29]

The college cut 20 staff members in May 2014, claiming dwindling enrollment. Two months later, five members of the board of trustees resigned in response to the controversy. The following year, Livesay instituted procedural rules that faculty members claimed made it extremely difficult for them to hold meetings.[28][30]

## Athletics

The Bryan athletic teams are called the Lions. The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, primarily competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference since the 2001–02 academic year.[31][32][33] They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, primarily competing as an independent in the Mid-East Region of the Division I level.

Bryan competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and track and field; women's sports include basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, fishing, martial arts and shooting.

## Publications

Bryan Life, the college's alumni magazine, is published twice a year.[34] Illumine is a publication of the Bryan Institute for Critical Thought and Practice.[35] E-Lumine is an e-newsletter for alumni and friends of Bryan, and is published each month except July.[36] The Triangle is a bi-weekly student newspaper containing articles and stories written by Bryan College students. It also includes stats and updates on the college's sports teams. It is available in electronically.[37] In 2012, President Stephen Livesay prevented a student news story from being run, which revealed the coverup of the arrest of a faculty member.[38] In 2015, the Vice President of Academics imposed censorship restrictions on the Triangle.[30] Students are required to get approval from the current faculty advisor in order to run any stories.

## Notable alumni

* David Alward – Canadian politician, former premier of New Brunswick
* Robert Clouse – professor
* Rachel Held Evans – New York Times best-selling author
* David C. Fisher – Bible scholar, pastor
* Howard Clark Kee – American Bible scholar
* George D. Miller – former president of Davis College

## References

1. ↑ "College History". Bryan.edu. http://www.bryan.edu/history.html.
2. ↑ "Great Commoner Bryan dies in sleep, apoplexy given as cause of death" (in en). https://www.upi.com/Archives/1925/07/27/Great-Commoner-Bryan-dies-in-sleep-apoplexy-given-as-cause-of-death/4119893170734/.
3. ↑ "Education: Bryan University". Time. 1930-08-18. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,789259,00.html. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
4. ↑ From the Heart of a Lion: Thoughts from the Spiritual Journey of the Bryan College Family (Dayton, TN: Bryan College Press, 2000) p. 367.
5. ↑ "Bryan College Announces Dr. Douglas Mann as Next President" (in en-US). 2019-09-24. https://www.bryan.edu/news/2019/09/bryan-college-announces-dr-douglas-mann-as-next-president/.
6. ↑ "About Bryan" (in en-US). https://www.bryan.edu/about/.
7. ↑ "Housing" (in en-US). https://www.bryan.edu/life-at-bryan/campus/housing/.
8. ↑ "Stophel Center Grand Opening Set for Oct. 4" (in en-US). 2019-09-30. https://www.bryan.edu/news/2019/09/stophel-center-grand-opening-set-for-oct-4/.
9. ↑ "Bryan College settles for $11 million, commemorates anniversary of 'The Fire'" (in en). http://www.rheaheraldnews.com/news/local/article_9a917e4c-fcf4-559c-b869-406e714406c8.html.
10. ↑ "Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association". Southeasttennessee.com. http://www.southeasttennessee.com/www/docs/664.2693/religious-college-in-dayton-tennessee.html.
11. ↑ "Omni Rehab" (in en). https://omni-rehab.business.site/.
12. ↑ "Omni Rehab Opens Bryan College Location" (in en-US). 2019-08-16. https://www.bryan.edu/news/2019/08/omni-rehab-opens-bryan-college-location/.
13. ↑ Programs offered at Bryan College
14. ↑ "Graduate Programs". Bryan.edu. http://www.bryan.edu/graduatestudies.
15. ↑ "Faculty". Bryan.edu. http://www.bryan.edu/292.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Minors" (in en-US). https://www.bryan.edu/academics/undergraduate/minors/.
17. ↑ "Adult and Graduate Studies Programs". Bryan.edu. http://www.bryan.edu/adult.html.
18. ↑ "Bryan College Vogel School of Engineering Announced" (in en-US). 2018-02-05. https://www.bryan.edu/news/2018/02/bryan-college-announces-the-vogel-school-of-engineering/.
19. ↑ McIntosh, Alex (2023-04-14). "Bryan College Holds Official Open House and Ribbon Cutting for the Clara Ward School of Nursing » Bryan College | Dayton, TN" (in en-US). https://www.bryan.edu/bryan-college-ribbon-cutting-nursing/.
20. ↑ "Commission on Colleges". Sacscoc.org. http://www.sacscoc.org/details.asp?instid=81700.
21. ↑ "Bryan College - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges (2019)". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/bryan-college-3536.
22. ↑ "Regional College South Rankings | Top Regional Colleges South | US News Best Colleges". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-colleges-south/page+3.
23. ↑ "TICUA". TICUA. http://www.ticua.org/.
24. ↑ "Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) (2012)". CHEA. 2012-09-14. http://www.chea.org/.
25. ↑ "Appalachian College Association – Member Institutions". Acaweb.org. http://www.acaweb.org/about/member-institutions/.
26. ↑ "ACSI". ACSI. http://www.acsi.org/.
27. ↑ Alan Binder (May 20, 2014). "Bryan College Is Torn: Can Darwin and Eden Coexist?". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/21/education/christian-college-faces-uproar-after-bolstering-its-view-on-evolution.html.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Kendi Anderson (October 11, 2015). "Professors, president clash at Bryan College". Chattanooga Times Free Press. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/oct/11/professors-president-clash-brycollege/329885/.
29. ↑ Kendi Anderson (October 8, 2014). "Bryan College, professors settle lawsuit". Chattanooga Times Free Press. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/oct/08/bryan-college-professors-settle-lawsuit/269025/.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Scott Jaschik (October 12, 2015). "Bryan College Restricts Faculty Meetings". https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/10/12/bryan-college-restricts-faculty-meetings.
31. ↑ Quick Facts - Bryan College
32. ↑ "Schools". NAIA. http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205322922. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
33. ↑ "Members". Appalachian Athletic Conference. http://www.aacsports.com/members.php. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
34. ↑ "Bryan Life – Fall 2012". Bryan.edu. http://www.bryan.edu/bryan_life.
35. ↑ "Illumine". Bryan.edu. http://www.bryan.edu/illumine.
36. ↑ "e-Lumine Newsletter". Bryan.edu. http://www.bryan.edu/e-lumine.
37. ↑ "Triangle". Bryan.edu. http://www.bryantriangle.com/about-us/.
38. ↑ "Student Press Law Center | After college spikes story on professor’s arrest, student editor publishes it himself" (in en-US). 2012-09-26. https://splc.org/2012/09/after-college-spikes-story-on-professors-arrest-student-editor-publishes-it-himself/.

## External links

* Bryan Triangle

* v
* t
* e

Private colleges and universities in Tennessee

* American Baptist College
* Aquinas College
* The Art Institute of Tennessee – Nashville
* Baptist College of Health Sciences
* Belmont University
* Bethel University
* Bryan College
* Carson–Newman University
* Christian Brothers University
* Cumberland University
* Fisk University
* Freed-Hardeman University
* Harding University
* Hiwassee College
* John A. Gupton College
* Johnson University
* King University
* Knoxville College
* Lane College
* Lee University
* LeMoyne–Owen College
* Lincoln Memorial University
* Lipscomb University
* Martin Methodist College
* Maryville College
* Meharry Medical College
* Memphis College of Art
* Memphis School of Preaching
* Memphis Theological Seminary
* Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary
* Milligan College
* Nashville School of Law
* O'More College of Design
* Rhodes College
* Sewanee
* Southern Adventist University
* Southern College of Optometry
* Tennessee Wesleyan University
* Trevecca Nazarene University
* Tusculum University
* Union University
* Vanderbilt University
* Watkins College of Art, Design & Film
* Welch College
* Williamson College

* v
* t
* e

Appalachian Athletic Conference

* Allen University
* Bluefield College
* Brenau University
* Bryan College
* Columbia College
* Columbia International University
* Kentucky Christian University
* Milligan College
* Montreat College
* Point University
* Reinhardt University
* St. Andrews University
* SCAD Atlanta
* Tennessee Wesleyan University
* Truett McConnell University
* Union College

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

* Abilene Christian
* Anderson (Indiana)
* Anderson (South Carolina)
* Asbury
* Azusa Pacific
* Belhaven
* Bethel College
* Bethel University
* Biola
* Bluefield
* Bushnell
* California Baptist
* Calvin
* Campbellsville
* Carson–Newman
* Central Christian
* Charleston Southern
* Colorado Christian
* Concordia-Ann Arbor
* Concordia–Irvine
* Concordia-Wisconsin
* Corban
* Cornerstone
* Covenant
* Crown
* Dallas Baptist
* Dordt
* East Texas Baptist
* Eastern Nazarene
* Eastern
* Emmanuel
* Erskine
* Evangel
* Faulkner
* Fresno Pacific
* Geneva
* George Fox
* Gordon
* Grace
* Greenville
* Hannibal–LaGrange
* Hardin–Simmons
* Hope International
* Houghton
* Houston Baptist
* Howard Payne
* Huntington
* Indiana Wesleyan
* John Brown
* Judson (Alabama)
* Judson (Illinois)
* Kentucky Christian
* King
* King's
* Lee
* LeTourneau
* Lipscomb
* Malone
* Messiah
* MidAmerica Nazarene
* Milligan
* Mississippi
* Missouri Baptist
* Montreat
* Mount Vernon Nazarene
* North Central
* North Greenville
* North Park
* Northwest Nazarene
* Northwest
* Northwestern (Iowa)
* Nyack
* Oklahoma Baptist
* Oklahoma Christian
* Olivet Nazarene
* Oral Roberts
* Ozark Christian
* Palm Beach Atlantic
* Point Loma Nazarene
* Redeemer
* Regent
* Roberts Wesleyan
* San Diego Christian
* Seattle Pacific
* Simpson
* Southeastern
* Southern Nazarene
* Southern Wesleyan
* Southwest Baptist
* Spring Arbor
* Sterling
* Tabor
* Taylor
* Toccoa Falls
* Trevecca Nazarene
* Trinity Christian
* Trinity International
* Trinity Western
* Mary Hardin–Baylor
* Mobile
* Northwestern – St. Paul (UNWSP)
* Sioux Falls (USF)
* Southwest
* Vanguard
* Warner
* Warner Pacific
* Westmont
* Wheaton
* Whitworth
* William Jessup
* Williams Baptist
* York (Nebraska)

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