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Benedict College is a private
historically black college Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of serving African Americans. Most are in the Southern U ...
in
Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-mo ...
, United States. Founded in 1870 by northern Baptists, it was originally a teachers' college. It has since expanded to offer majors in many disciplines across the liberal arts. The campus includes buildings in the Benedict College Historic District, a historic area listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
. Benedict College was founded in 1870 on the land of a former plantation in
Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-mo ...
. Representing the American Baptist Home Mission Society, Bathsheba A. Benedict of
Pawtucket, Rhode Island Pawtucket ( ) is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 75,604 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making the city the fourth-largest in the state. Pawtucket borders Providence, Rhode Island, Prov ...
had provided $13,000 to purchase the property. This was one of the numerous educational institutions founded in the South for formerly enslaved people by northern religious mission societies, as education was seen as key to the future for African Americans.


History

Benedict Institute opened on December 12, 1870. Benedict's first class consisted of ten
freedmen A freedman or freedwoman is a person who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves were freed by manumission (granted freedom by their owners), emancipation (granted freedom as part of a larger group), or self- ...
; the teacher was the Reverend Timothy Dodge. He was a college-educated preacher from the North, who was also appointed as president of the institute. Classes were first held in the "Big House" of the plantation, which had been built in 1839 and deteriorated during the war. The institute's mission was to prepare men and women to be "powers for good in society." Because enslaved people had been prohibited from learning to read or write, initially classes were held at the grammar school level in reading, writing, and math; other subjects included Bible and theology. Eventually, other subjects were added to the curriculum to address the original objective of the school: to train teachers and preachers. On November 2, 1894, the institution was chartered as a four-year liberal arts college by the South Carolina legislature and its name was changed to Benedict College. In addition to funding from Baptist donors, the school received grants from the Slater Fund. From 1870 to 1930, Benedict College was led by a succession of seven northern white Baptist ministers, all college-educated. On April 10, 1930, the Reverend John J. Starks, who earned his bachelor's degree from the college in 1891, became the first African-American president of the college. Five African-American presidents have succeeded him.


Late 20th century to present

In 1994, with a strategic planning process in place, Benedict College set an enrollment goal of "2000 by the year 2000". The goal was achieved in 1996 with an enrollment of 2,138 students. The fall 2002 enrollment was 3,000. Benedict College is engaged in an ongoing strategic planning process, which will guide the college in the 21st century. The college is implementing a $50 million campus improvement plan, which includes land acquisition and the completion of a comprehensive athletics complex. Campus facilities improvements over the past nine years have included upgrade of residence halls by installation of air-conditioning, fire sprinkler systems, and security systems; completion of an activities field and community park; renovation of historic Antisdel Chapel, and Bacoats and Alumni halls, and restoration of historic Morgan, Pratt, and Starks halls, including the Student Leadership Development Center. During this period, new construction has included three residence halls, a parking garage, a campus center/dining hall, an Administration Building, and a Business Development Center. Additionally, buildings were acquired to house a fitness center, and the Division of Community Development/Center for Excellence. Three apartment complexes have been purchased for student housing. As a part of the college's community development goal, it has renovated more than 50 rundown properties in the adjacent community in Columbia.


Benedict College Historic District

The Benedict College Historic District was added to the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 1987. It encompasses five buildings constructed between 1895 and 1937: Morgan Hall (1895), Pratt Hall (1902), Duckett Hall (1925), Antisdel Chapel (1932), and Starks Center (1937). an
accompanying map


Academics

Benedict offers 29 degrees from 12 departments. In addition to offering traditional education, the college also offers continuing education for those "non-traditional students".


Accreditation

Benedict College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a regional educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. As of 2022, the organization oversees ap ...
to award baccalaureate degrees. The Teacher Education Program is fully approved by the South Carolina Department of Education and the Program in Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The Environmental Health Science Program is fully accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC).


Marching Tigers "Band of Distinction"

Benedict's Marching Tigers "Band of Distinction" was founded in the 1960s under the direction of Roy McCollough. The band performs at most football games, home basketball games, and several special events throughout the year. Mr. Herman Jones led the Benedict College Marching Band of Distinction and was credited with giving the band its unique sound. Before preparing to go on a sabbatical leave to study for his doctorate degree at Temple University, the late Mr. Jones recommend Mr. Johnson for the position. The band is currently under the direction of Henry Wade Johnson. In 2022, the band marched in the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade in New York City presented by the American-based department store chain Macy's. The Parade first took place in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States ...
.


Benedict College Concert Choir

The Benedict College choir hosts spirituals, festivals and an annual Christmas concert. Linda Kersaw, one of five Richland One alumni inducted into the district's Hall of Fame, led the choir for over 20 years.


Athletics

Benedict athletic teams are the Tigers. The college is a member of the Division II level of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
(NCAA), primarily competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) since the 1932–33 academic year. The Tigers previously competed in the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) of the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for higher education, colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic schola ...
(NAIA) from 1988–89 to 2001–02 (hence it held dual membership with both the NAIA and the NCAA). Benedict competes in 14 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, tennis, track & field and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.


Facilities

The college has built the Charlie W. Johnson Stadium for its football games on-campus, which opened in 2006. Basketball games are played at HRC Arena.


Accomplishments

The Benedict Tigers tennis team won the SIAC conference championship in 2015. In 2022, the Tigers football team put together their best season in school history, winning the SIAC championship and qualifying for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time. In addition, Benedict also claimed the black college national championship for schools competing below the NCAA Division I level.


Benedict College Presidents

* Timothy Dodge * Lewis Colby * E. J. Goodspeed * Charles E. Becker * Abraham C. Osborn * Byron W. Valentine * Clarence B. Antisdel * John J. Starks * John A. Bacoats * Benjamin F. Payton * Henry Ponder * Marshall C. Grigsby * David Swinton * Roslyn Artis


Notable alumni

File:LeRoy Walker.png, LeRoy T. Walker File:Mary Rice Phelps, portrait.jpg, Mary Rice Phelps File:Charles L Purce.jpg, Charles L. Purce


References


External links

*
Athletics website
{{coord, 34.012947, -81.020345, region:US_type:edu, display=title Universities and colleges affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA Historically black universities and colleges in the United States Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Baptist Christianity in South Carolina Buildings and structures in Columbia, South Carolina African-American history of South Carolina Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina National Register of Historic Places in Columbia, South Carolina 1870 establishments in South Carolina Private universities and colleges in South Carolina