Athens State University is a
public
In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichkei ...
upper-division university in
Athens, Alabama
Athens is a city in and the county seat of Limestone County, in the U.S. state of Alabama; it is included in the Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 21,897.
Histo ...
. Its academics are housed in three colleges: Education, Arts and Sciences, and Business.
History
Athens State University is Alabama's oldest educational institution of higher learning. It began as the Athens Female Academy in 1822.
The
Methodist Church
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related Christian denomination, denominations of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John W ...
began oversight of the institution in 1842, changing the name to the Athens Female Institute. It became Athens Female College in 1889.
In 1931 the name was shortened to Athens College when it became
coeducational
Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...
.
On May 10, 1974, the board of trustees requested from the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church that the college seek affiliation with the State of Alabama. At its annual meeting in June 1974, the conference gave the board this permission and authorized the transfer of the college to the State of Alabama.
In June 1975, the college was accepted by the Alabama State Board of Education subject to the appropriation of operating funds by the Alabama legislature. Later that year, the legislature appropriated funds for the operation of the college to serve the graduates of state junior, community, and technical colleges/institutions.
Later, in 1998, the college became Athens State University.
On May 11, 2012, a bill was passed by the Alabama legislature allowing the creation of an autonomous board of trustees for the university. This board took office in October 2012. Athens State University remains the only upper-division university in the State of Alabama.
Athens State College Historic District
The Athens State College Historic District was named to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
on February 14, 1985. It includes Founders Hall, which was built in 1842–44. Founders Hall is individually listed on the
Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage The Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, commonly referred to as the Alabama Register, is an official listing of buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts deemed worthy of preservation in the U.S. state of Alabama. These properties ...
.
Notable alumni
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Chris Guillebeau, personal development author
*
Steve Mizerak, billiards, winner of the U.S. Open in the 1970s
*
Gary Redus
Gary Eugene Redus (born November 1, 1956) is an American former professional baseball outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Ranger ...
,
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player
[Carroll, Andrew. "Will Redus carry on state tradition?", The Tuscaloosa News, January 29, 1984, page 4B.]
*
Ha Soo Whang, social worker
*
Dale Strong
Dale Whitney Strong (born May 8, 1970) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2023. His district includes much of North Alabama, including the city of Huntsville. A member of the Republican Party, Strong served on ...
, member of U.S. House of Representatives
See also
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Athens College (disambiguation)
*
Tennessee Wesleyan College
Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) is a private Methodist university in Athens, Tennessee. It was founded in 1857 and is affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. It maintains a branch campus in Knoxville, where ...
, once also known as Athens Female College
References
External links
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National Register of Historic Places in Limestone County, Alabama
Queen Anne architecture in Alabama
Greek Revival architecture in Alabama
Public universities and colleges in Alabama
Education in Limestone County, Alabama
Two year upper class colleges
Educational institutions established in 1822
Female seminaries in the United States
Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Buildings and structures in Limestone County, Alabama
Historic districts in Limestone County, Alabama
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Alabama
Historic American Buildings Survey in Alabama
1822 establishments in Alabama
History of women in Alabama
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