The community is invited to attend a celebration barbecue on Thursday, June 28, on the Tusculum campus and share in the excitement of the transformation to Tusculum University.
The event will begin at 11:30 a.m., with the official sign unveiling scheduled for 1 p.m. The celebration will take place in the Quad green space between Niswonger Commons and McCormick Hall.
Reservations are required. RSVP to the Office of Alumni Engagement at 423.636.7303 or email nrader@tusculum.edu.
Tusculum will transition from college to university status on July 1.
“The name will officially become Tusculum University in the 2018-2019 academic year,” said Dr. James Hurley, president of Tusculum. “The change will be primarily in regards to status, helping to distinguish Tusculum from the community college programs that have gained widespread attention through initiatives such as Tennessee Promise.”
A new logo has been designed and the unveiling of the sign will be part of the celebration event.
The change to university will allow for strategic structuring of the academic programs currently offered by Tusculum, said Dr. Hurley. This includes the creation of a new College of Health Sciences.
“The decision to transition to university will provide the right structure for new programs being developed, including a School of Optometry and a physician assistant program. This is an exciting new time at Tusculum. Our mission has always been to serve the educational needs of our region. These advances are significant steps in providing additional opportunities in Appalachia.”