Atlantic Union College
Encyclopedia
Atlantic Union College was a Seventh-day Adventist
college
in South Lancaster, Massachusetts
. Its final year operating as an independent institution was the 2010-2011 school year following loss of accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
. Although currently closed, in 2011, it was absorbed by Washington Adventist University which plans to operate a South Lancaster satellite campus, pending approval from the Massachusetts Board of Education
and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
In 1882, the school was organized as a preparatory school
under Stephen Nelson Haskell to serve the needs of Adventist constituents in the northeastern part of the United States
and Bermuda
, and was named "That New England School". The next year, it was incorporated and renamed South Lancaster Academy
. In 1918, it was once again renamed Lancaster Junior College. Then, in 1922, it was yet once again renamed Atlantic Union College after being authorized to grant degrees in the state of Massachusetts. That year, the academy and college separated. In 1933, Governor Joseph Ely granted AUC the right to confer the bachelor of arts
degree. In 1945, the school was first accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(NEASC). In 1954, it was authorized to grant the bachelor of science
degree. Herbert E. Douglass
was president from 1967 to 1970. In 1990, Atlantic Union was authorized to grant the master of education
degree.
In 2008, NEASC placed the College on probation status due to "failure to meet [its] Standard on Financial Resources". In February 2011, it was announced that Atlantic Union College would lose its accreditation on July 31, 2011. It was later announced that Washington Adventist University would take over and open a branch campus on AUC's former campus.
In mid-July, 2011 Norman Wendth, President of the college, announced that that Washington Adventist University's plan to establish a satellite school on Atlantic Union College's old campus was not approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education in time for the fall 2011 school term. The delay resulted in all 179 faculty and staff at AUC being laid off on July 31, 2011. Only one of the 450 enrolled students failed to find a new college in time for the fall semester, while all nursing students transferred to Mount Wachusett Community College
in Gardner, Massachusetts
. Adult degree program and distance learning students were not affected and automatically became students of Washington Adventist University.
constructed his parsonage in South Lancaster. His sons took down the original home and built a mansion in 1846. It was enlarged and remodeled in 1902, to 42 rooms. Thayer Mansion was sold to AUC in 1943 at a cost of $12,500. Today the Music Department at Atlantic Union is housed in this mansion as the Thayer Performing Arts Center. The G. Eric Jones Library was built in 1970 and contains a gift of a thousand volumes from the private library of poet Edwin Markham
.
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in South Lancaster, Massachusetts
South Lancaster, Massachusetts
South Lancaster is a census-designated place in the town of Lancaster in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,894 at the 2010 census.-Geography:South Lancaster is located at ....
. Its final year operating as an independent institution was the 2010-2011 school year following loss of accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
. Although currently closed, in 2011, it was absorbed by Washington Adventist University which plans to operate a South Lancaster satellite campus, pending approval from the Massachusetts Board of Education
Massachusetts Board of Education
The Massachusetts Board of Education is the state education agency responsible for interpreting and implementing laws relevant to public education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Public education in the Commonwealth is organized according to the regulations adopted by the BOE, which are good...
and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
History
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
under Stephen Nelson Haskell to serve the needs of Adventist constituents in the northeastern part of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, and was named "That New England School". The next year, it was incorporated and renamed South Lancaster Academy
South Lancaster Academy
South Lancaster Academy is a co-educational PreK-12 school owned and operated by Seventh-day Adventists to provide a Christian education for the community and vicinity of South Lancaster, Massachusetts.- History :*1882 Organized as a preparatory school on Feb 5th, under the leadership of...
. In 1918, it was once again renamed Lancaster Junior College. Then, in 1922, it was yet once again renamed Atlantic Union College after being authorized to grant degrees in the state of Massachusetts. That year, the academy and college separated. In 1933, Governor Joseph Ely granted AUC the right to confer the bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. In 1945, the school was first accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
(NEASC). In 1954, it was authorized to grant the bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree. Herbert E. Douglass
Herbert E. Douglass
Herbert Edgar Douglass, Jr. is a Seventh-day Adventist theologian. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts as the oldest of five children to Herbert Edgar Douglass Sr and Mildred Jennie Munson...
was president from 1967 to 1970. In 1990, Atlantic Union was authorized to grant the master of education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
degree.
In 2008, NEASC placed the College on probation status due to "failure to meet [its] Standard on Financial Resources". In February 2011, it was announced that Atlantic Union College would lose its accreditation on July 31, 2011. It was later announced that Washington Adventist University would take over and open a branch campus on AUC's former campus.
In mid-July, 2011 Norman Wendth, President of the college, announced that that Washington Adventist University's plan to establish a satellite school on Atlantic Union College's old campus was not approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education in time for the fall 2011 school term. The delay resulted in all 179 faculty and staff at AUC being laid off on July 31, 2011. Only one of the 450 enrolled students failed to find a new college in time for the fall semester, while all nursing students transferred to Mount Wachusett Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College is a two-year community college in Gardner, Massachusetts. It offers associate degrees as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges...
in Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,228 as of the 2010 census. Gardner is home to Dunn State Park, Gardner Heritage State Park, Lake Wampanoag Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mount Wachusett Community College.-History:Named in honor of...
. Adult degree program and distance learning students were not affected and automatically became students of Washington Adventist University.
Campus
In 1798, the Reverend Nathaniel ThayerNathaniel Thayer
Nathaniel Thayer was a congregational Unitarian minister.He was born in Hampton, New Hampshire to Ebenezer Thayer and Martha Olivia Cotton. His maternal grandfather was John Cotton of Newton, Massachusetts, who was the great-grandson of John Cotton...
constructed his parsonage in South Lancaster. His sons took down the original home and built a mansion in 1846. It was enlarged and remodeled in 1902, to 42 rooms. Thayer Mansion was sold to AUC in 1943 at a cost of $12,500. Today the Music Department at Atlantic Union is housed in this mansion as the Thayer Performing Arts Center. The G. Eric Jones Library was built in 1970 and contains a gift of a thousand volumes from the private library of poet Edwin Markham
Edwin Markham
Charles Edwin Anson Markham was an American poet. From 1923 to 1931 he was Poet Laureate of Oregon.-Life:Edwin Markham was born in Oregon City, Oregon and was the youngest of 10 children; his parents divorced shortly after his birth...
.
See also
- List of Seventh-day Adventist hospitals
- List of Seventh-day Adventist medical schools
- List of Seventh-day Adventist secondary schools
- List of Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities