Miles College

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Miles College is a historically black college founded in 1898. Located at 5500 Myron Massey Blvd in Fairfield in western Jefferson County, it is a private liberal arts institution of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church with 1,501 students enrolled for 2021. The college is a member of the United Negro College Fund and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The current president is Bobbie Knight. The student newspaper is The Milean.

Miles College offers 25 different degrees in education, business, biology, and the sciences.

The college competes in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. The school colors are purple and gold, its mascot is the Golden Bear, and its marching band is the Miles Purple Marching Machine.

History

Miles College was founded in 1898 by leaders of the Colored Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church, later renamed the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The C.M.E. denomination had separated form the white-dominated Methodist Episcopal Church, South in 1870. The college was named Miles Memorial College in honor of William H. Miles, a founding bishop of the C.M.E. Church who had been born a slave in Kentucky. By his death in 1892, Bishop Miles had helped the C.M.E. Church become one of the largest denominations among African Americans in the South.

In 1961 Miles hired 46-year-old Georgia Negro Teachers Association president Lucius Pitts to serve as president at a salary of $7,500. He launched a "tin can drive" for small donations to fund library purchases, but Bull Connor threatened to arrest the students for pan-handling. When word got out, books were sent to the college from around the country, including more than 6,000 collected by Yale University students. Miles' library grew to more than 28,000 volumes. By 1963 Miles had 810 students enrolled, paying tuition of $420 per year, and had grown its endowment from $75,000 to $500,000. It received approximately $26,000 per year from the CME Church, enough to cover 1 month's payroll. Pitts secured a federal loan to finance construction of a $433,000 student union and cafeteria. National press about the school's struggles inspired John Monro, dean of Harvard College, to volunteer his time to teach a summer English program in 1964. Eleven other white faculty members also signed on that year.

In 2006, Miles College purchased the former Lloyd Noland Hospital from HealthSouth, creating space for a 41-acre "north campus" in addition to the college's existing 35 acres. The college is considering acquiring property between the two parcels, currently the site of the Demetrius C. Newton Gardens apartments operated by the Fairfield Housing Authority.

The school broke ground on a $20 million construction project in October 2012, adding a 240-bed residence hall, a student center, and an admissions and welcome center. It also restored its pedestrian entranceway with grants from Home Depot and Energen. Other plans for the north campus include a school of international studies, a health and wellness center, and a performing arts center.

Miles College is a member of the Deep South Economic Mobility Collaborative which provides funding and support for small business development. In July 2021 Miles College used funds from the CARES Act and Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to clear $2.1 million in outstanding account balances for currently-enrolled students, and another $1.6 million to provide resources to support students disadvantaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. That fall, the college announced it would also cancel $3.9 million in federally-backed student loans for currently-enrolled students.

Athletics

MilesBearLogo.png
See main article Miles Golden Bears.

Miles' athletic teams are the NCAA Division II Golden Bears of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The team colors are purple and gold. The football team, coached by Sam Shade, plays in 8,500-seat Sloan-Alumni Stadium on campus. The basketball teams compete in 1,200-seat Knox-Windham Gymnasium.

Notable Alumni

References

External links