Point University

Point University
	Seal of Point University
Former names	Atlanta Christian College (1937–2011)
Motto	Κήρυξον τὸν λόγον
Motto in English	Preach the Word
Type	Private university
Established	1937
Religious affiliation	Christian churches and churches of Christ
President	Dean C. Collins
Academic staff	52
Students	2,015
Location	West Point, Georgia, United States
Campus	Suburban 54 acres (0.22 km2)
Colors	Navy Blue & Gold;
Nickname	Skyhawks
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – Appalachian
Website	www.point.edu

Point University is a private evangelical Christian college in West Point, Georgia and was founded in 1937 as Atlanta Christian College in East Point.^[2] The college announced its name change to Point University in 2011 and relocated its main campus to West Point in June 2012.^[1] As of 2022, over 2,000 students are enrolled both onsite and online.

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.^[1] 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. The property for the campus was from a 300-acre farm Nora Hathcock had inherited.^[1]

Following its 1937 founding, Atlanta Christian College devoted itself mainly to the education of ministers, missionaries, and other church-related workers.^[7] In 1965, the college became an accredited member of the American Association of Bible Colleges (AABC)..^[7] 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.^[7]

Point University

In 2011, the institution's name was changed to Point University.^[1] The following year, the college relocated its main campus to West Point, Georgia, an hour southwest of the previous main campus near Atlanta.^[8] Adult learning classes were continued 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 off-site locations in Peachtree City with an eventual location also in Savannah.^[9]

In addition to moving its main campus in 2012, the institution was also accepted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).^[10] The institution's athletics program expanded 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.^[11] The athletics nickname was also changed from the Chargers to the Skyhawks. In Spring 2014, the Point University Skyhawks were admitted to the recently started Sun conference as a charter member.^[12]

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 is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees.^[13] The teacher education programs are approved by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) of the State of Georgia.^[14]

Athletics

The Point athletic teams are called the Skyhawks and were previously known as the Atlanta Christian Chargers. In 2022, the Skyhawks mascot did not have an official name and through a voting process, students and alumni voted on Charger for the name of the Skyhawks mascot.^[15] The institution is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) for most of its sports since the 2011–12 academic year.^[16]^[17] Its football team was a member of The Sun Conference for the 2014 and 2015 fall seasons, before moving to the Appalachian Division of the Mid-South Conference (MSC) where they competed from the 2017 to 2021 fall seasons (2017–18 to 2021–22 school years).^[18]^[19] They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division II level.^[20]

Point competes in 19 intercollegiate varsity sports.^[21] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, distance track, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, distance track, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading.^[10] The sports are supported by 75 coaches and support staff.^[22]

On August 9, 2022, Point was invited and unanimously approved to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), effective July 1, 2023.^[23]^[24]

Accomplishments

The Skyhawks have won a number of regional and national championships, most recently the 2010 NCCAA Division II national championship in baseball.^[25]

Notable alumni

Jamie Grace (Class of 2012) – Christian singer-songwriter signed to TobyMac-founded label, Gotee Records and was later nominated for a Grammy Award.^[26]^[27]