Highlands College
Highlands College is private college and training program for Christian ministers founded in 2011 by the Church of the Highlands. Senior pastor Chris Hodges serves as chancellor of the college, and Mark Pettus is president. The college expects to grow its enrollment to more than 1,000 by 2029. By 2023 the college claimed that its graduates were already leading churches in 35 states and 6 countries.
The institution initially offered Certificates of Ministry and Ministry Leadership as part-time programs. Since 2021 the college programs have been located on a 70-acre campus at the Cahaba Center at Grandview, including the 5-story, 258,000 square-foot former HealthSouth headquarters / Grandview Plaza building. TurnerBatson designed the renovations, which were completed in 2022. The building accommodated a 19 "learning studios" and 8 "hands-on ministry training labs", along with a student center, dining hall, library, fitness center, auditorium and media centers. Administrative offices are shared with the church at 1701 Lee Branch Lane in Greystone. Evening classes are taught at several Church of the Highlands locations.
Prior to earning initial accreditation through the Orlando, Florida-based Association for Biblical Higher Education in February 2023, Highlands College was offering an Associate of Arts in Ministry Leadership through a partnership with Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. In March 2023 the Alabama Commission on Higher Education granted the college the authority to confer 4-year bachelor's degrees in technical arts, visual arts, worship ministry, family ministry, global ministry, pastoral ministry and students ministry.
Full-time students are housed at nearby apartment complexes under a corporate lease agreement and also required to participate in an "HC Fit" plan that includes membership at Life Time Fitness and an on-campus lunch plan provided by MealFit. A $20 million gift from Hobby Lobby founder David Green was used to construct a 5-story 68,000 square-foot dormitory building which was completed at the Grandview campus in January 2023. In September of the same year the college acquired the nearby Extended Stay America – Birmingham – Perimeter Park South motel to convert into a second dormitory building. dubbed "The Village". Green donated another $17.5 million to fund those renovations.
References
- Van der Bijl, Hanno (January 10, 2020) "Church of the Highlands buys U.S. 280 properties for college campus in $34.9M deals." Birmingham Business Journal
- Rebman, Stephanie (July 21, 2021) "Hobby Lobby founder donates $20M to Church of the Highlands' Highlands College." Birmingham Business Journal
- Thrailkill, Laurel (January 10, 2023) "Highlands College opens residence hall funded by gift from Hobby Lobby CEO." Birmingham Business Journal
- Clark, Cara (February 23, 2023) "Highlands College receives accreditation by ABHE Commission." Birmingham Business Journal
- Thrailkill, Laurel (March 29, 2023) "Highlands College approved to grant four-year degrees. See which ones." Birmingham Business Journal
- Thrailkill, Laurel (September 29, 2033) "Highlands College makes $17.7M property purchase." Birmingham Business Journal
- Rebman, Stephanie (December 8, 2023) "Hobby Lobby founder donates $17.5M matching grant to Birmingham school." Birmingham Business Journal
External links
- Highlands College website