Miles College is a historically black college

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....

 founded in 1898. It is located in Fairfield, Alabama

Fairfield, Alabama

Fairfield is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area. The population was 12,381 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the Census estimates the population to be 11,547.-History:...

, which is six miles (10 km) west of Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...

. It is a private liberal arts institution of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is a historically black denomination within the broader context of Methodism. The group was organized in 1870 when several black ministers, with the full support of their white counterparts in the former Methodist Episcopal Church, South, met to form an...

 (CME Church). Miles College is also a member of the United Negro College Fund

United Negro College Fund

The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...

.

History

Miles College began organization efforts in 1893 and was founded in 1898 by the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. It was chartered as Miles Memorial College, in honor of Bishop William H. Miles. In 1941 the name was changed to Miles College.

Academics and demographics

Miles is also accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...

 (for the awarding of baccalaureate degrees), the Alabama State Department of Education, and the Council of Social Work Education. Miles College offers 25 bachelor degrees in the following divisions: Business and Accounting, Communications, Education, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences. Also Miles College is one of 16 schools in the Nation with a Center of Academic Excellence under the office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Administration

The current president of Miles College is George French, Jr., a graduate of University of Louisville

University of Louisville

The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...

 and Miles Law School

Miles Law School

Miles Law School is a state accredited law school located in Birmingham, Alabama. It is independent of Miles College.Miles Law School was founded on August 26, 1974. Among the founders were Bishop C. A. Kirkendoll of the C.M.E. Church, Dr. W. Clyde Williams, former president of Miles College,...

.

Campus

The college sits on 51 acres (206,389.9 m²) where there are over 16 facilities. Recently, Miles College purchased the Lloyd Noland Hospital site which will increase the size of the campus to 76 acres (307,561.4 m²).

Sloan Field is named after the college's 13th president, Albert J. H. Sloan II.

Student activities

The college has organizations as Student Government Association, Honors Curriculum, Academic Clubs, religious organizations, National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations, general interest clubs as well as the Gospel/Concert Choirs.

Marching band

The Miles College band is known as the Purple Marching Machine (PMM). The Purple Marching Machine was established in 1996, under the guidance of Prof. Arthur Means Jr. With 200+ Members in the band.

Athletics

The Miles College Athletics Program currently competes in the Division II (NCAA) Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a College athletic conference consisting of historically black colleges and universities located in the southern United States. Formed in 1913, the SIAC is a member of the NCAA and participates in Division II athletics...

 (SIAC). Miles College Football Team won The Inaugural SIAC 2011 Championship,under the leadership of Coach Reginald Ruffin. The program has men's and women's sports that include: basketball, football, volleyball, track, baseball, softball and cross country.
Their mascot is the Golden Bears.

Notable alumni

External links