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DIAL 5151 The Wilson Daily Times
More ThAn A N>wspap<>r—>A Communltj IbsUCqUob
WEATHER
Occutonal rain and ratbai
cold Friday with rain •odlnf
tonlshL High 38 to 4S. Satur
day, partly cloudy and cold.
CONTINl^^OUSLY Pl'BUSHED SINCE ISM WILSON, N. C., FRIDAY EVKNINfl, DECEMBER 1. 1»5« « i, I’KICE r iV E CKNT»
NATIONAL ACCREDITATION GIVEN A C COLLEGE
Action Marks Big
Step In School’s
Academic Growth
Recognition Brings
College Into Ranks
Of Nation’s Leaders
Atlantic Christian colleKe
■was accredited today by the
Southern Association of Colleges
and Secondary’ Schools,
marking the most important
academic step in the institut
ion’s history.
In effect, accreditation by
the association places Atlan
tic Christian in the ranks of
the leading universities and
colleges of the nation.
FIve-Tear Procram
Membership in the asaoclatloo
was granted in Miami, Fla., by
the organization'i Commlaiion on
Colleges and Universities. The decision
was based on a careful study
of college progress reporta and an
Inspection of the school by the
commission last October.
Accreditation consummates a
five-year program of academic
Improvement on the Wilson campus.
In the span of those few
short y e ars , Atlantic Christian
ha s experienced a phenomenal
growth In its enrollment. 1-ikewise,
the school has expanded its
physical plant from a few small
classroom buildings to endless
acres of grounds dotted by modern
structures. New facilities Include
dormitories, classrooms,
administration facilities and athletic
plants.
Informed of the action while attending
the association's four-day
•ession in Miami, D.r Travis A.
White, president of the college
said, ‘*T)iis is the greatest single
step taken by the college since it
was established 54 years ago."
Hifbrst Standards
Accreditation in the Southern Association
of Colleges and Secondary
ScfaooI.s gives Atlantic Christian
college the highest possible accreditation.
It puts the college on
a par with the finest colleges and
universities of the entire South.
The program for regional accreditation
began during the administration
of former president.
Dr. D. Ray Liixiley, and it has
been the continuing concern of the
present administration. It is my
feeling that this achievement
makes pos.sible the best educational
opportunities available for the
students and prospective students
of Atlantic Christian college."
Atlantic Christian college has
been accredited in North Carolina
for more than thirty years, and its
stixlents have bad very little difficulty
tran.sferring credit* in colleges
outside tlie State of North
Carolina.D etresa Reoocnized
Accreditation in the Southern Association
of Colleges and Secondary
Schools means that a degree from
Atlantic Christian Christian college
will be recognized everywhere by
colleges, universities, professional
schools, state departments of public
iMtruction. civil service, and
aU other government and military
agencies.
Dr. Lindiey began the program
toward r e g i^ a i accreditation by
attending the meetings of the association
and studying the standa
r d which had to be met by an
institution b e f o r e accreditation
could be considered. The college,
since that time, has submitted five
extensive reports to the association
for study and ha* made every
effort to meet the standard* »«* up
for member institutions.
The Inspection by the committee
of the association who visited the
campus in early October, included
reqtdremuti'. for admission of
prospective student*, the requirement*
for graduation, a study of
aU majors offered, qualification
and teaching load of f a c u l t y ,
source* of financial support, quality
of library holdings, condition of
buildings and other facilities, testing
counseling service* for
students, and scholarship policies.
Probe Superrlakin
other requirements investigated
End Of A Successful Trip
Dr. Travis A. White, left, president of AtlunUc Christian coliogr,
and Dr. Jam e s M. Moudy, the school's academic dean, step
from a plane at Raleigh-Durham airport las t night, currying a
certificate granting full accreditation by the Southern Association
of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Accreditation was granted at
the association's meeting In Miami, Fla., attended by the two
college officials.
A Big Dividend
The importance of accreditation will never be discounted
again. For the Atlantic Christian collegc (jualifies for a
grant from the Ford foundation only becau»c it is an accredited
college.
The whole town and county rejoice. Hut you cannot help
but take a deep breath when you think of what the college
could have mis«ed. For it has been le.w than two weeks
since the college was declared an accredited college by the
Southern A.ssociation of Colleges.
This should make everyone more conscious of the importance
of doing everything possible to assist the college in
its expansion program.
The Ford foundation gave away a total of half a billion
! dollars to colleges and hospitals, the largest sum ever given
in the history of philanthropy.
?>om the total, ‘210 million was earmarked for regionally
accredited privately supported colleges and universities
in this country. The key word in this sentence is "accredi ted."
And on this alone is the college eligible.
The foundation stipulated th a t the income from the
money received from the grant must be used to raise fac-
An Accnuliled College
We have in Wilson a college now tha t ranks schola»-
tically with the best in the South. Aft<“r five long, hard
years of work, Atlantic Christian college has been accredited
by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary
Schools. This is the most important event in the life of
the college, tha t covers 6-1 years.
This is also one of the most important events in thr
hi.story of Wilson. For the college is the greatest single
asset the town has.
To become an accredited college is not an easy procedure.
The rules and regulations reijuired to meet accreditation
are stringent and exacting, A committee ol
three men from three colleges visited the college and
spent three days on the campus, visiting the classroom#
talking to the students an<l studying the records.
There are 22 standanis a college must meet to h«v
come accredited. Hut two of these have to do with graduate
reciuirpments and extension work. The college is not
connected with the extension program and offers no graduaU>
work.
So the college had to meet the 20 other requirement*.
These deal in (luantative and qualitive value that defy
figures. The college met all the qualitative requirements
which include the teacher, student ratio and the intangibles
as at titudes and the general college spirit anil morale.
Hut if it were not for the new buildings coming out
of the ground and the recent additions to the physical
plant the college would not have stood a chance at accreditation.
The entire plant and campus must meet the
minimum physical recjuirements. This is understandable
For the beat teacherH cannot do the work they are capable
of without tools.
Those who remember the college of just a few years
ago know how needed improvements were and tha t the
college could not grtjw without them.
There are 610 students at the college. A significant
proportion of this figure are boys and girls from Kastem
Carolina. And what is more important, many would not
be able to at tend college but for the fact that it Is accessible
and within driving range.
The significance of the Atlantic Christian (’ollege l>ecoming
accreditated cannot be overstn?ssed. A degree
from the college now carries as much weight and respect
as one from any university or college in the South.
The program the college is undertaking to improve
the physical plant is of vital importance to all who are
interested in its growth and what it means to this section
of the state. The expansion program is in its in f a n ^ . How
far it goes depends on your interest and support. Tne college
is carrying the ball. It has made the first touchdown
Hut to win requires teamwork. You are a member of the
team.
ulty salaries for a minimum of 10 years. After tha t time
there are no further restrictions on the use of either principal
or Income.
The dividend you will receive on the money you invert
in the college will bring ecjual reward. The hord foundation
is investing in an intangible asH«?t. You are asked to
invest in a tangible asset. Roth are necessary. In fact they
go hand in hand.
The Ford foundation has placed in the proper pers|>ective
what education means to the development of the Individual.
And on the individual depends the future of the
country.
The importance of supporting the college has been
brought into proper focus. The gift from the foundation
is a challenge. The future of our college depends on how
we answer this challenge.
by the inspection comnUttee Included
supervision of intercollegiate
athletics, participation of
' members of the Board of Tnutees,
alumni records and public relations
policies, records ot Atlantic Chri*-
tian college graduates who have
enrolled for advance study and
degrees in other colleges and universities.
policies concerning honorary
degree*, and special community
services, such as. evening
and Saturday classes.
ITie inspection committee pointed
out area* d partial weaknesse*,
such as. need for additional faculty
and for substantial Increase in
faculty salaries, deterioration of
physical plant and lack of ground
space, and need for an increase
In endowment.
In meeting the areas of partial
weaknesses, the college has made
some increase in faculty salaries
In the past few years and plans to
make another increase next year.
At the present time, the college
ha* a [Kw *cience building near
completion, and a cla**room building
and an admini*tration building
u i^e r construction. These buildings i
will be completed during the sum-1
mer of 1956. |
The Southern Association of Col-1
leges and Secondary Schools ck>-
ed its annual meeting Thursday. !
PLANS LAID FOR FUTURE GROWTH
WORK ON NEW BUILDINGS BEGIN
A Condensed Reprint From The Wilson Doily Times
