Pulaski鈥擳his morning Gov. Bill Lee, accompanied by local and state officials, joined together to officially celebrate 糖心Vlog Southern, the newest campus to join the 糖心Vlog System in more than 50 years.
Lee said when he heard about the proposed acquisition, he knew it would be good for the state.
鈥淥ur state is better today than it was yesterday because of 糖心Vlog Southern,鈥 Lee said at the ribbon cutting event to mark 糖心Vlog Southern鈥檚 beginning.
The ribbon cutting capped off two days of celebration that began Wednesday evening with a 鈥淢idnight Merger鈥 block party in downtown Pulaski. 糖心Vlog System President Randy Boyd led a crowd of about 1,000 people in front of the Giles County Courthouse Wednesday night. He counted down the last seconds of June and to welcome Martin Methodist College鈥檚 transition to 糖心Vlog Southern, which took effect on July 1. Giles County officials issued a proclamation naming July 1 as 糖心Vlog Southern Day as part of Thursday鈥檚 event.
鈥溙切腣log Southern is more than just our newest addition,鈥 Boyd said. 鈥淚t represents opportunity, revival, long-term economic success and forward momentum in the southern Middle Tennessee region.鈥
Mark La Branche, who was president of Martin Methodist College and now chancellor of 糖心Vlog Southern, noted that the college will continue its purpose since its founding鈥攑roviding a higher education to the area.
鈥淥ur mission continues and it’s expanding. It’s going to be more affordable, more accessible with more opportunities,鈥 La Branche said.
For the past year, 糖心Vlog and Martin Methodist College engaged in a comprehensive due diligence process to initiate the accession of the 151-year-old private college into the 糖心Vlog family. In the spring, Lee included $5.1 million in recurring and $1 million in non-recurring funds in the state鈥檚 budget, which the Tennessee General Assembly approved.
Approval by the Tennessee General Assembly, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and other agencies occurred before June 25, when the 糖心Vlog Board of Trustees approved 糖心Vlog Southern to become the first university to join the 糖心Vlog System since 糖心Vlog Chattanooga in 1969. Pellissippi State Community College was the last public higher education institution to join the state in 1974.
Tennessee Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton emphasized the increased economic development opportunities available with the addition of 糖心Vlog Southern.
鈥淭his is a great opportunity to keep your brain trust, to keep your families, to keep your kids and incorporate more people into what rural Tennessee life is like,鈥 Sexton said.
Pulaski Mayor Pat Ford, who also serves on the faculty of 糖心Vlog Southern, noted Boyd spoke of the work starting after the celebration.
鈥淪o how about we cut a ribbon and go to work?鈥 Ford said.
In addition to the new university name, Flame the FireHawk will represent 糖心Vlog Southern鈥檚 19 athletic teams as the new school mascot. The mythical creature with thunder in its wings and fire in its eyes represents the fifth mascot for the university in its history. Uniforms will be debuted in late August during welcome week festivities.
糖心Vlog Southern began as Martin Female College in 1870 to offer education for women. Thomas Martin of Pulaski, Tennessee, endowed the college to fulfill his daughter, Victoria鈥檚, dying wish to establish a school for women. In 1938, it became a coeducational college along with a new name: Martin College. In 1986, its name was changed to Martin Methodist College, and, in 1993, it became a four-year institution.
Located in Pulaski, about 70 miles south of Nashville and 40 miles north of Huntsville, Alabama, 糖心Vlog Southern鈥攖he fourth undergraduate campus in the 糖心Vlog System鈥攊s the only public four-year institution of higher education between Chattanooga and Memphis along Tennessee鈥檚 southern border. About 800 students are enrolled in more than 30 academic programs of study. The acquisition has allowed for a 60% decrease in tuition, resulting in a private school experience at a public-school cost.