Lee University is a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...
Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
university in
Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is the county seat of, and largest city in, Bradley County, Tennessee. The population was 47,356 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Cleveland metropolitan area, Tennessee (consisting of Bradle ...
. It was founded in 1918 as the Church of God Bible Training School with twelve students and one teacher, Nora I. Chambers. The school grew to become Lee College, with a
Bible college
A Bible college, sometimes referred to as a Bible institute or theological institute or theological seminary, is an evangelical Christian or Restoration Movement Christianity, Christian institution of higher education which prepares students for C ...
and
junior college
A junior college is a type of post-secondary institution that offers vocational and academic training that is designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations or support roles in professions such as engineering, a ...
on its current site, in 1948. Twenty years later, Lee received accreditation by 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 ...
as a four-year
liberal arts college
A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on Undergraduate education, undergraduate study in the Liberal arts education, liberal arts of humanities and science. Such colleges aim to impart ...
. In 1997, Lee became a university; it now offers
master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...
s as well as undergraduate degrees.
History
Bible training school
Lee University’s current campus originally housed a
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
institution, Centenary College and Music School, as early as 1885. Part of the original Centenary facility remains on campus today as part of Lee’s administrative building.
In 1911, at its sixth annual General Assembly, the
Church of God appointed a committee to establish plans for a Bible training school.
Six years later, on January 1, 1918, the school’s first term began with a tuition of $1 per week.
Classes met in the council chamber of the Church of God Publishing House in Cleveland. Rev.
A. J. Tomlinson served as the first superintendent of education. The only teacher, Nora Chambers, had twelve students.
[
]
In 1920, the school expanded to the old sanctuary of the North Cleveland Church of God on People street and included a dormitory. In 1925, it moved to a larger facility on Montgomery Avenue: the Church of God Auditorium. In 1930, the institution added a high school, school of business, and school of music. The school constructed its first building, a women's dormitory, in 1937, but the following year the school moved to a 63-acre campus in Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Sevier County, Tennessee, United States, located in East Tennessee. The population was 17,889 at the 2020 United States Census.
History
Native Americans of the Woodland period were among th ...
, when it purchased the Murphy Collegiate Institute for $29,990. Intramural athletic teams began in the 1940s. In 1941, the school added a two-year junior-college to focus on teacher training and business education. The ''Vindagua'' yearbook began in 1942 and the ''Clarion'' student newspaper was first published in 1946.
Becoming Lee College
In 1947, Bob Jones College moved from Cleveland to Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville ( ; ) is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 70,720 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, sixth-most pop ...
. The Bible training school purchased the 20-acre campus for $1.5 million and the institution returned to Cleveland under a new name, Lee College, to honor its second president, Rev. F.J. Lee. After the move, the junior college received accreditation from the University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (or The University of Tennessee; UT; UT Knoxville; or colloquially UTK or Tennessee) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, United St ...
. In 1958, Lee gained its first varsity sports team: men's basketball.
In 1960, the junior-college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school adopted the Vikings mascot in 1961. Greek letter clubs began the following year. The annual Parade of Favorites pageant began in 1963. The first Lee Day was held in 1964. In 1965, Lee’s high school program closed and the school opened a science building. The following year Lee desegregated, reached an enrollment of 1,000, and started the shift to a four-year institution. The 1,800-seat Conn Center auditorium was constructed in 1977. In 1982, the college mascot became the Flames. The sports arena and library were built in 1983 and 1984 respectively.
The Conn administration
Dr. Charles Paul Conn became president in 1986. He became the longest-serving president of any college or university in Tennessee
Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
history. During his tenure Lee’s enrollment quadrupled from around 1,000 to more than 5,100. In 1988, Lee closed Church Street on campus to create the Sharp Pedestrian Mall.
In the 1990s, Lee built a theatre, recreation center, music building, and college of education. In November 1993, the Ellis Hall dormitory was destroyed by arson in the middle of the night. All 73 students were evacuated. The Voices of Lee choir debuted in fall 1994. The next year Lee launched its first graduate program, church music. During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Lee housed more than 300 athletes and coaches participating in the games. In fall 1997, Lee became a university. The following year Lee established its Global Perspectives program, requiring all undergraduates to study abroad.
The 2000s brought a new student center, three-story humanities center, and school of religion building. In 2007, Lee launched its Encore program for students over 60 and purchased the former campus of Mayfield Elementary School. In 2010, Lee purchased the downtown campus of Cleveland's First Baptist Church for $5 million to house a performance venue, Pangle Hall, and the School of Business. A chapel and communications building were completed in the early 2010s. In 2013, a Lee University choir sang at the second inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama. Lee began a School of Nursing in 2014 and finished a building for the department two years later. The university filed an amicus brief
An amicus curiae (; ) is an individual or organization that is not a party to a legal case, but that is permitted to assist a court by offering information, expertise, or insight that has a bearing on the issues in the case. Whether an ''amic ...
in favor of employment discrimination against LGBT people in the court case '' Bostock v. Clayton County'' in 2019. Enrollment waned in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
and in 2023 the university closed all of its older, communal-style dorms for two years of renovations. Nora Chambers Hall remains closed as of 2025. The university suffered a cybersecurity data breach in March 2024. Groundbreaking on the university's new $15 million, 30,000-square-foot School of Engineering building is expected in summer 2025.
Presidents
# Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson (1918–1922) hurch of God General Overseer (1909–1923)/small>
# Flavius Josephus Lee (1922–1923) hurch of God General Overseer (1923–1928)/small>
# J.B. Ellis (1923–1924)
# T.S. Payne (1924–1930)
# J. Herbert Walker, Sr. (1930–1935) hurch of God General Overseer (1935–1944)/small>
# Zeno C. Tharp (1935–1944) hurch of God General Overseer (1952–1956)/small>
# J. Herbert Walker, Sr. (1944–1945)
# E.L. Simmons (1945–1948)
# J. Stewart Brinsfield (1948–1951)
# John C. Jernigan (1951–1952)
# R. Leonard Carroll, Sr. (1952–1957) hurch of God General Overseer (1970–1972)/small>
# R. L. Platt (1957–1960)
# Ray H. Hughes, Sr. (1960–1966) hurch of God General Overseer (1972–1974; 1978–1982; 1996)/small>
# James A. Cross (1966–1970) hurch of God General Overseer (1958–1962)/small>
# Charles W. Conn (1970–1982) hurch of God General Overseer (1966–1970)/small>
# Ray H. Hughes, Sr. (1982–1984)
# R. Lamar Vest (1984–1986) hurch of God General Overseer (1990–1994; 2000–2004)/small>
# Charles Paul Conn (1986–2020)
# Mark L. Walker (2020–2024)
# Charles Paul Conn (interim, 2024–2025)
Academics
The university is divided into six colleges and schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, the Helen DeVos College of Education, the School of Business, the School of Music, the School of Nursing, and the School of Theology and Ministry.
Academic programs
Many co-curricular activities, such as chapel
A chapel (from , a diminutive of ''cappa'', meaning "little cape") is a Christianity, Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. First, smaller spaces inside a church that have their o ...
attendance (offered twice per week; students are required to attend 70% of services a month), service
Service may refer to:
Activities
* Administrative service, a required part of the workload of university faculty
* Civil service, the body of employees of a government
* Community service, volunteer service for the benefit of a community or a ...
requirements (10 hours per semester; 80 total hours to graduate), and the study abroad
International students or exchange students, also known as foreign students, are students who undertake all or part of their secondary or tertiary education in a country other than their own.
In 2022, there were over 6.9 million international ...
program, called Global Perspectives, are required as part of degree programs. Exceptions and special cases are approved by the relevant academic dean or the president of the university. All non-local entering freshmen
A freshman, fresher, first year, or colloquially frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary school, post-se ...
are also required to live on campus, with exceptions made for those who are married, divorced, widowed, parents, over age 21, part-time, or living locally with immediate relatives.
Athletics
The Lee athletic teams are called the Flames. The university 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 Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference (GSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, which operates in the Southeastern United States.
History
Originally known as the ...
(GSC) since the 2013–14 academic year.
Lee competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis & track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball. Club sports are offered such as boxing, men's and women's rugby, spikeball and ultimate frisbee.
Campus
Lee University is located on a 120-acre campus in the town of Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is the county seat of, and largest city in, Bradley County, Tennessee. The population was 47,356 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Cleveland metropolitan area, Tennessee (consisting of Bradle ...
, which lies between Chattanooga
Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...
and Knoxville
Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...
.[
]
Gallery
''Note: Dates of construction given when known''
File:Lee_University_Forum.jpg, Forum (2017)
File:Lee_University_School_of_Nursing_building.jpg, School of Nursing (2016)
File:Lee_University_Communications_Building.jpg, Communications Building (2014)
File:Lee_University_chapel_in_Cleveland,_Tennessee.jpg, Chapel (2011)
File:Science and Math Complex.jpg, Science and Math Complex (2010)
File:School of Religion.jpg, School of Religion (2008)
File:Leonard Center.jpg, Leonard Center (2007)
File:Humanities Center.jpg, Center for the Humanities (2004)
File:Athletic Training Facility.jpg, McKenzie Athletic Building (2002)
File:Paul Conn Student Union PCSU.jpg, Paul Conn Student Union (2000)
File:DeVos College of Education.jpg, Helen DeVos College of Education (1998)
File:Deacon Jones Dining Hall.jpg, Deacon Jones Dining Hall (1996)
File:Curtsinger Music Building.jpg, Curtsinger Music Building (1995)
File:DeVos Recreation Center.jpg, DeVos Recreation Center (1993)
File:Dixon Center.jpg, Dixon Center (1992)
File:Watkins Building.jpg, Watkins Building (1992)
File:DeVos Tennis Center.jpg, DeVos Tennis Center (1988)
File:Squires Library.jpg, Squires Library (1984)
File:Walker Arena.jpg, Paul Dana Walker Arena (1983)
File:Conn Center.jpg, Conn Center (1977)
File:Lee_University_Pangle_Hall.jpg, Pangle Hall (1967)
File:Higginbotham Administration.jpg, Higginbotham Administration Building (1964)
File:Walker Memorial.jpg, Walker Memorial Building (1945)
File:Vest Building.jpg, Vest Building (1939)
File:Mayfield Annex.jpg, Mayfield Annex (1928)
Student life
Community covenant
All students are asked to sign a "Community Covenant" which lists several restrictions on behaviors and social interaction according to the school's institutional and religious policy. Most notable are a substance policy barring alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs; and its stance on homosexuality, which is banned in all forms. Men's and women's dormitories are kept separate, and premarital sexual intercourse is prohibited. Immodesty and "occult practices" are also forbidden.
Lee University prohibits homosexual relationships for students.
Greek organizations
As of 2008, the university recognized ten Greek-letter organizations.
Publications
*The ''Lee Clarion'' is the campus newspaper.
Student body
Lee's enrollment is 5,370 students, up from 960 in 1986 (as of fall 2013)
Notable alumni
* Candace Barley – youngest player to compete on the US national rugby team and play in international match; most- capped U20 player in the country
* Clark Beckham – runner-up of season 14 of ''American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...
''
* Kevin Brooks – mayor of Cleveland and former state representative for Tennessee district 24.
* Nathan Chapman – Grammy award-winning record producer
A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...
* Charles Paul Conn – president of Lee University (1986–2020)
* Charles W. Conn – former Lee president, editor-in-chief of Pathway Press and General Overseer of the Church of God
* Christian A. Coomer – state representative from Georgia's 14th district, then judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals
* Raymond Culpepper – former General Overseer of the Church of God
* Jay DeMarcus – multi-instrumentalist/vocalist for Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American Country music, country music band formed in 1999 in Nashville, Tennessee. The band consists of Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, background vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, background voc ...
* Four Voices – 2002 world champion barbershop quartet
* Mark Harris – contemporary Christian soloist and member of 4 Him
* Dan Howell – member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.
Constitutional requirements
According to the state constitution of 1870, this body is to consis ...
.
* Marcus Lamb – founder of Daystar Television Network
* Ben Lobb – Canadian politician (Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
Member of Parliament)
* Dr. J. Adam Lowe – Author and member of the Tennessee State Senate
The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the U.S. state of Tennessee's state legislature, which is known formally as the Tennessee General Assembly.
The Tennessee Senate has the power to pass resolutions concerning essentially any issue reg ...
.
* Micah Massey – tied Grammy winner for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song "Your Presence is Heaven" with Israel Houghton
* G. Dennis McGuire – former General Overseer of the Church of God
* Stanley Nyazamba – former Columbus Crew soccer player
* Eric Phillips – current representative for the 48th District in the Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two houses of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...
* Ricardo Pierre-Louis – former MLS soccer player drafted in the second round (22nd overall) in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer
* Barney Smith – museum curator
* Brooke Simpson – finalist on season 13 of ''The Voice''
* Jordan Smith – winner of season 9 of '' The Voice''
* Phil Stacey – ''American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...
'' finalist during the sixth season; tied for fifth place
* Scott Stapp – lead singer of the band Creed
A creed, also known as a confession of faith, a symbol, or a statement of faith, is a statement of the shared beliefs of a community (often a religious community) which summarizes its core tenets.
Many Christian denominations use three creeds ...
; kicked out of Lee for the use of marijuana (early 1990s)
* Todd Starnes – Fox News
The Fox News Channel (FNC), commonly known as Fox News, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conservatism in the United States, conservative List of news television channels, news and political commentary Television stati ...
columnist and radio host
* Perry Stone (minister) – evangelist and author
*John Christopher Thomas
John Christopher Thomas (born c. 1955) is a theologian within the Pentecostal movement and the Clarence J. Abbott Professor of Biblical Studies at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
Thomas received the B.A. degree from Lee College in 1976, ...
– New Testament scholar, former President of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, editor of the '' Journal of Pentecostal Theology'', author of eight books and many scholarly articles.
* Lance Zawadzki – San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
2007 draft pick, shortstop
References
External links
*
*
Athletics website
{{authority control
Private universities and colleges in Tennessee
Universities and colleges affiliated with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Universities and colleges established in 1918
Cleveland, Tennessee
Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Education in Bradley County, Tennessee
Buildings and structures in Bradley County, Tennessee
Evangelicalism in Tennessee
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
1918 establishments in Tennessee
Pentecostalism in Tennessee