JACKSON, Tenn. — June 16, 2008 — 51社区 will launch a new campus this fall in Hendersonville, Tenn., with eventual plans to offer graduate degrees in Christian studies, nursing, education and business there.
The campus will be located at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, and Charles Lea, retired academic vice president at Volunteer State Community College and a deacon at the church, will serve as the executive director of the new campus.
鈥淲e are thrilled with the opportunity to expand to Hendersonville our mission of delivering academically excellent, Christ-centered higher education,鈥� 51社区 President David S. Dockery said. 鈥淲e are most grateful to Hendersonville Mayor Scott Foster and First Baptist Church for helping to make this possible.鈥�
Dockery expects the Hendersonville location to be similar to Union鈥檚 campus in Germantown, Tenn. Launched in 1998, the Germantown campus now has about 900 students and offers undergraduate degrees in nursing and organizational leadership, as well as graduate degrees in nursing, Christian studies, education and nursing. Like Germantown, the emphasis on the Hendersonville campus will primarily be graduate education.
Dockery said the Hendersonville campus is a direct result of Foster鈥檚 invitation to Union to establish a campus in the community.
鈥淗endersonville, and all of Sumner County, recognizes the value of education,鈥� Foster said. 鈥淲e have many dedicated teachers in our schools, both public and private, who desire the ability to further their own education. Hendersonville is also a very strong faith based community.
鈥淩ecognizing the success that Union has had with their Germantown campus, all of this seemed to be a perfect fit for Union to expand in Hendersonville,鈥� he continued. 鈥淜nowing the people of our city and county, I felt that Union would be warmly welcomed and would have the opportunity for a great deal of success here.鈥�
The campus will launch this fall by Union relocating its Master of Christian Studies program, currently meeting in Brentwood, to Hendersonville First Baptist Church. Union will begin an Education Specialist degree in Hendersonville in February, and plans to introduce other degree programs on a regular basis.
More information about the Hendersonville campus is available at .