Toccoa Falls College
Encyclopedia
Toccoa Falls College is a fully accredited, Christian
liberal arts
, bible college
, located in Toccoa, Georgia
, on the edge of the Piedmont
region and in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains
. The campus occupies 1100 acres (445.2 ha), bordering the Chattahoochee National Forest and is home to Toccoa Falls
a 186 feet (56.7 m) high waterfall. It is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance
and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS) and the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
, as the Golden Valley Institute. On January 1, 1911, Forrest bought the Haddock Inn and 100 acres (404,686 m²) of land. In October, he relocated the school to near Toccoa, Georgia
, in order to be near a mainline railroad. He renamed the school Toccoa Falls Institute and added secondary school courses to the theological classes.
In 1913, the Haddock Inn, which was the classroom and residence building, was destroyed by fire. After living in tents for a time, the school built a new campus.
In 1928 the secondary courses were reorganized and the state of Georgia
accredited it as Toccoa Falls High School, which remained open until 1976. In 1937, the state of Georgia chartered the four-year college program and allowed it to grant the degree Bachelor of Arts
in Biblical Education.
On November 6, 1977, the Kelly Barnes Dam
, built up and used by the college for electrical power since the Toccoa Falls Institute days, collapsed and the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) lake it impounded drained through the lower part of the campus. The resulting flood
killed 39 people and injured 60 more, as well as destroying much of the on-campus married student housing, and damaging part of the men's dormitory. The dam was never rebuilt. With the destruction of the dam, and the draining of the lake, there exists no possibility of a similar flood.
The motto of the school is "Where character is developed with intellect".
W. Wayne Gardner became the sixth president of the college in 2004.
On January 12, 2009, Gate Cottage, one of the most historic buildings on campus, was destroyed by fire. Gate Cottage was built in 1939 and was the fourth oldest building on campus. It was one of few buildings that remained standing after the break of the Kelly Barnes Dam and flood that occurred in November 1977. No one was in the building at the time of the fire. Gate Cottage has been rebuilt with a bigger gift shop and dining area for various occasions, but without the School of Counseling. The School of Counseling, which was once a part of Gate Cottage has been relocated to a new location between the Mission Building and Bandy Hall.
Toccoa Falls College offers a wide variety of activities for its college students. Sports related activities and the Student Government Association (SGA) are two of the main student extracurricular possibilities offered. Toccoa Falls College also offers students a great atmosphere to grow their spiritual lives. Alcohol, tobacco, and premarital sex are restricted for those attending. Some students enjoy their lives in the college, while others complain of the cultural bubble surrounding the college, as well as the hypocrisy of the student body.
Intercollegiate:
Men:
Soccer, Baseball, Cross country, Golf, and Basketball
Women:
Soccer, Basketball, Cross country, and Volleyball
Intramural:
Soccer, Football, Softball, Basketball, and Volleyball
To stay updated with current Sports news, visit TFC Sports News
The Eagle 89.7. The college also operates WRAF, a radio station with various teaching/preaching programming as well as Christian music and a weekly Radio Theater program. Through its main signal and several secondary stations, it is heard from northeast Atlanta to Greenville, South Carolina
.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
, bible college
Bible college
Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-based and differs from that of liberal arts colleges or research universities. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges...
, located in Toccoa, Georgia
Toccoa, Georgia
Toccoa is a city in Stephens County, Georgia, United States located approximately from Athens and approximately northeast of Atlanta. The population was 9,323 at the 2000 census...
, on the edge of the Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
region and in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. The campus occupies 1100 acres (445.2 ha), bordering the Chattahoochee National Forest and is home to Toccoa Falls
Toccoa Falls
With a vertical drop of , the Toccoa Falls waterfall is located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College in Stephens County, Georgia. Toccoa is the Cherokee Indian name for "beautiful"....
a 186 feet (56.7 m) high waterfall. It is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance
Christian and Missionary Alliance
The Christian and Missionary Alliance is an evangelical Protestant denomination within Christianity.Founded by Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson in 1887, the Christian & Missionary Alliance did not start off as a denomination, but rather began as two distinct parachurch organizations: The Christian...
and is 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...
(SACS) and the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
Beginnings
In 1907, Toccoa Falls College was founded by R. A. Forrest in Golden, North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, as the Golden Valley Institute. On January 1, 1911, Forrest bought the Haddock Inn and 100 acres (404,686 m²) of land. In October, he relocated the school to near Toccoa, Georgia
Toccoa, Georgia
Toccoa is a city in Stephens County, Georgia, United States located approximately from Athens and approximately northeast of Atlanta. The population was 9,323 at the 2000 census...
, in order to be near a mainline railroad. He renamed the school Toccoa Falls Institute and added secondary school courses to the theological classes.
In 1913, the Haddock Inn, which was the classroom and residence building, was destroyed by fire. After living in tents for a time, the school built a new campus.
In 1928 the secondary courses were reorganized and the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
accredited it as Toccoa Falls High School, which remained open until 1976. In 1937, the state of Georgia chartered the four-year college program and allowed it to grant the degree 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...
in Biblical Education.
On November 6, 1977, the Kelly Barnes Dam
Kelly Barnes Dam
Kelly Barnes Dam was an earthen embankment dam once located in Stephens County, Georgia, just outside of the city of Toccoa. It collapsed on November 6, 1977 after a period of heavy rainfall, and the resulting flood killed 39 people and caused $2.8 million in damages...
, built up and used by the college for electrical power since the Toccoa Falls Institute days, collapsed and the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) lake it impounded drained through the lower part of the campus. The resulting flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
killed 39 people and injured 60 more, as well as destroying much of the on-campus married student housing, and damaging part of the men's dormitory. The dam was never rebuilt. With the destruction of the dam, and the draining of the lake, there exists no possibility of a similar flood.
The motto of the school is "Where character is developed with intellect".
W. Wayne Gardner became the sixth president of the college in 2004.
On January 12, 2009, Gate Cottage, one of the most historic buildings on campus, was destroyed by fire. Gate Cottage was built in 1939 and was the fourth oldest building on campus. It was one of few buildings that remained standing after the break of the Kelly Barnes Dam and flood that occurred in November 1977. No one was in the building at the time of the fire. Gate Cottage has been rebuilt with a bigger gift shop and dining area for various occasions, but without the School of Counseling. The School of Counseling, which was once a part of Gate Cottage has been relocated to a new location between the Mission Building and Bandy Hall.
Toccoa Falls
Located on the campus of the college is Toccoa Falls. With a vertical drop of 186 feet (56.7 m), it stands as one of the tallest free falling waterfalls in the Eastern United States. Known locally as "The Falls," the waterfall was purchased in 1907 as part of the campus of Toccoa Falls College and stands today as the distinguishing landmark of the college. "Toccoa" is derived from a Cherokee word meaning "beautiful."Academics
Toccoa Falls College consists of three schools with a total of nine departments. Within these departments 26 majors and 36 minors are offered.School of Christian Ministries
This school houses the Bible and Theology department, the World Missions department, and the Christian Education department.Bible and Theology
This department offers two majors to its students, Biblical Studies and Pastoral Ministries. Along with the two majors the department also offers seven minors: Biblical Languages, Biblical and Theological Studies, Greek, Hebrew, New Testament, Old Testament, and Pastoral MinistriesChristian Education
This department offers four majors to its students: Family & Children's Ministry, Ministry Leadership, Outdoor Leadership and Education, and Youth Ministry.World Missions
This department offers three majors to its students: Cross-Cultural Adult Education, Cross-Cultural Business Administration, and Cross-Cultural Studies.School of Arts and Sciences
This school houses the Communication Department, the Counseling Psychology Department, and the Humanities & Natural Sciences Department.Communication
This department offers one major to its students with two different focuses: Communication Studies major with a focus in either Interpersonal & Public Communication (IPC) or Mass Communication.Counseling and Psychology
This department offers one major to its students, Counseling Psychology.Humanities & Natural Sciences
This department offers five majors to its students: Biology, English, History, and Philosophy along with a General Studies A.A.School of Professional Studies
Departments of study include: Business Administration, Music, and Teacher Education.Business Administration
This department offers a Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) in two residential majors, Business Administration and Cross-Cultural Business Administration, and one online major in Nonprofit Business Administration.Music
This department offers three majors to its students: Church Music, Music, and Music Performance.Teacher Education
This department offers six majors with various concentrations: Early Childhood Education; Middles Grades Education with concentrations in Language Arts, Social Science, Mathematics, and Science; Secondary Education English; Secondary Education History; Secondary Education Science; and Music Education.Campus life
On Campus Housing
On-campus student housing consists of single-sex dormitories, a large men's dormitory, two women's dormitories, and some smaller, suite-style dormitories, as well as various cottages, including married student housing. On campus housing is required until the age of 23, as well as a mandatory curfew for all on campus students. Married housing is also available.- Forrest Hall - Men's dorms
- Letourneau and Fant Halls - Female dorms
- Terraces - Men Terraces and Women Terraces
- Married Student Apartments - for Married Students
Sports
The Toccoa Falls College offers a variety of sports both intercollegiate and intramural.Intercollegiate:
Men:
Soccer, Baseball, Cross country, Golf, and Basketball
Women:
Soccer, Basketball, Cross country, and Volleyball
- Baseball Team won the NCCAA Division II National Championship in 2009 & 2011.
- Golf Team won the NCCAA Division II National Invitational 2008-2009.
- Women's Soccer Team won the NCCAA Division II Regional Championship in 2010.
Intramural:
Soccer, Football, Softball, Basketball, and Volleyball
To stay updated with current Sports news, visit TFC Sports News
Radio
The college's student-run radio station is WTXRWTXR
WTXR is the student-run campus radio station of Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa, Georgia. The radio station plays predominantly Christian rock and Contemporary Christian music but also features various specialty shows...
The Eagle 89.7. The college also operates WRAF, a radio station with various teaching/preaching programming as well as Christian music and a weekly Radio Theater program. Through its main signal and several secondary stations, it is heard from northeast Atlanta to Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
.
Famous alumni
- Aaron ShustAaron ShustAaron Michael Shust is an American Contemporary Christian Music artist on the Centricity Music label. Shust was named the songwriter of the year at the GMA Dove Awards of 2007, and his song "My Savior My God" received the Song of the Year award.-Biography:Shust grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Contemporary Christian MusicContemporary Christian musicContemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
artist - Scout Cloud Lee, Survivor: VanuatuSurvivor: VanuatuSurvivor: Vanuatu — Islands of Fire, also known as Survivor: Vanuatu, is the ninth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor...
- Seby Jones LibrarySeby Jones LibraryThe Seby Jones Library is the primary academic library on the campus of Toccoa Falls College. Among its many holdings, the Seby Jones Library has a collection of 85000 books, 56000 ebooks, and 215 databases...