Mercer University facts for kids
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Former name
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Mercer Institute (1833–1837) Southern School of Pharmacy (1903–1959) Atlanta Baptist College (1964–1972) |
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| Motto | Scientiis, Artibus, Religioni (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"Sciences, Arts, and Religion" |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | January 14, 1833 |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Religious affiliation
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Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Prior to 2006, Georgia Baptist Convention |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $502 million (2022) |
| President | William D. Underwood |
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Academic staff
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737 (fall 2023) |
| Students | 9,124 (fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 4,807 (fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 4,317 (fall 2023) |
| Location |
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United States
32°49′45″N 83°38′55″W / 32.82917°N 83.64861°W |
| Campus | Midsize city, 150 acres (0.61 km2) |
| Other campuses | |
| Newspaper | The Mercer Cluster |
| Colors | Black and orange |
| Nickname | Bears |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot |
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Mercer University is a private research university in Macon, Georgia, United States. It was started in 1833 as Mercer Institute. In 1837, it became a university. Mercer is the oldest private university in Georgia. Today, over 9,000 students attend Mercer. They study in 12 different colleges and schools.
Mercer has several campuses. The main campus is in Macon. There is also a campus in Atlanta for graduate students. The School of Medicine has campuses in Savannah and Columbus. Mercer also has smaller learning centers in other parts of Georgia.
The university has a sports program called NCAA Division I. Their teams are called the Mercer Bears. They play in the Southern Conference.
Contents
- History of Mercer University
- Mercer University Campuses
- Academics at Mercer University
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Stetson-Hatcher School of Business
- School of Engineering
- Tift College of Education
- Townsend School of Music
- College of Professional Advancement
- School of Law
- James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology
- School of Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- Georgia Baptist College of Nursing
- College of Health Professions
- Mercer University Rankings
- Research at Mercer University
- Student Life at Mercer University
- Mercer University Athletics
- Famous People from Mercer University
- See also
History of Mercer University
How Mercer University Started (1833–1959)
Mercer University began in Penfield, Georgia. It was a school for boys. The school opened on January 14, 1833, with 39 students. It was named Mercer Institute. The school was named after Jesse Mercer. He was an important Baptist leader. He helped fund the school.
In 1837, the state of Georgia officially made it a university. Mercer got its current name in 1838. The first three students graduated in 1841. In 1871, Mercer moved to Macon. Macon was a busy city for travel and business.
The School of Law started in 1873. It was later named after Walter F. George. He was a Mercer graduate and a U.S. Senator.
During World War II, Mercer helped train students for the U.S. Navy.
Growing Bigger (1959–2013)
Mercer grew in 1959 when it added the Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta. In 1972, Mercer joined with Atlanta Baptist College. This became Mercer's Atlanta campus.
Over the years, Mercer added many new schools. These included the School of Medicine in 1982. The School of Engineering started in 1985. The School of Theology began in 1994. The College of Education opened in 1995. The College of Nursing started in 2001. The Townsend School of Music opened in 2006. The College of Health Professions began in 2013.
Mercer also worked to improve the area around its Macon campus. This project was called the College Hill Corridor. The university also started a program called Mercer On Mission in 2007. This program helps students travel and do service work. It has been praised for helping solve global problems.
In 2013, the Mercer University Health Sciences Center opened. It brought together programs in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and health. Mercer also bought the old Georgia Music Hall of Fame building. It became Mercer Medicine, a doctor's clinic.
Mercer built new student housing and shops on its Macon campus. These included Mercer Lofts. They have a bookstore and student apartments. The Center for Collaborative Journalism also opened. It combines the university's journalism department with local news groups.
Ending Segregation
Mercer University was the first college in Georgia to allow all students, no matter their race. On April 18, 1963, the university decided to accept students based on their skills. They would not consider race or background.
This decision allowed Sam Oni to become the first Black student at Mercer. Sam Oni was 22 years old and from Ghana. He wanted to help end racial segregation in the United States. He believed that by attending Mercer, he would challenge people to think about fairness. Sam Oni succeeded even though some people tried to stop Mercer from integrating. An airplane even flew a banner saying "Keep Mercer Segregated." But the university's leaders voted to fully integrate.
Religious Connections
For 173 years, Mercer was connected to the Georgia Baptist Convention. In 2006, this connection ended. Mercer had its own leaders and made its own decisions. The Convention gave money but did not control the university. This caused some disagreements.
Now, Mercer is connected with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. This is a different group of Baptists. The university works with this group.
Mercer University Today (2014–Present)
In 2014, Mercer started a big fundraising effort. They wanted to raise $400 million for new buildings and programs. This included a medical education building in Savannah. It also included a science building in Macon.
Mercer added new sports teams, like men's lacrosse and football. They built a new football and lacrosse stadium called Five Star Stadium. In 2014, Mercer had a record number of students, with 8,557 enrolled. The university also added new doctoral degrees.
New student housing, Mercer Lofts III, opened in 2014. The historic Amanda Bell House was renovated. It now houses the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings. Mercer's TV station, WMUB, also opened a new studio.
The M. Diane Owens Garden was dedicated in 2014. It is a beautiful garden area near Five Star Stadium. More student housing, Mercer Lofts IV, opened in 2015. The Tattnall Square Center for the Arts also opened. It is now a community performing arts center.
Mercer Lofts V opened in 2016. This complex has student housing, offices, and a parking garage. A new campus entrance and a pedestrian bridge were also completed.
Other recent projects include renovating the School of Medicine in Savannah. A new student residence hall, Legacy Hall, opened in Macon in 2016. The baseball facility was also renovated in 2017.
In 2018, Mercer approved a new plan for the future. It focuses on being a diverse community. It also aims to be a place of discovery and innovation. The plan wants Mercer to be a global university.
Mercer has grown its research efforts. It now has more doctoral students. The university gets over $36 million each year for research. This funding comes from groups like the National Institutes of Health.
Mercer students have won important national awards. These include Fulbright and Goldwater scholarships. Many students also join the Teach For America and Peace Corps programs.
In April 2018, the new $44 million Godsey Science Center was dedicated. It is the biggest academic building project in Mercer's history. It has many labs, classrooms, and offices for science programs.
Mercer also started building Phase II of the Mercer Landing development in 2018. This project will add more student housing and parking.
Mercer University Presidents
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Mercer University has had many presidents since it was founded. Here is a list of some of them:
- Billington McCarter Sanders (1833–1840)
- Otis Smith (1840–1844)
- John Leadley Dagg (1844–1854)
- Nathaniel Macon Crawford (1854–1856)
- Shelton Palmer Sanford (acting President; 1856–1858)
- Nathaniel Macon Crawford (1858–1866)
- Henry Holcombe Tucker (1866–1871)
- Archibald John Battle (1872–1889)
- Gustavus Alonzo Nunnally (1889–1893)
- Joseph Edgerton Willet (acting President; 1893)
- James Bruton Gambrell (1893–1896)
- Pinckney Daniel Pollock (1896–1903)
- William Heard Kilpatrick (acting President; 1903–1905)
- Charles Lee Smith (1905–1906)
- Samuel Young Jameson (1906–1913)
- James Freeman Sellers (acting President; 1913–1914)
- William Lowndes Pickard (1914–1918)
- Rufus Washington Weaver (1918–1927)
- Andrew Phillip Montague (acting President; 1927–1928)
- Spright Dowell (1928–1953)
- George Boyce Connell (1953–1959)
- Spright Dowell (interim President; 1959–1960)
- Rufus Carrollton Harris (1960–1979)
- Raleigh Kirby Godsey (1979–2006)
- William D. Underwood (2006–present)
Mercer University Campuses
Macon Campus
The main campus of Mercer University is in Macon, Georgia. It is about 75 miles (120 km) south of Atlanta. Many of Mercer's schools are here. These include the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering.
Several buildings on the Macon campus are historic. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the R. Kirby Godsey Administration Building. The Grand Opera House is also in Macon. Mercer helps run this historic performing arts center.
The Macon campus also has an office for international programs. This office helps students study abroad. They can go to universities in countries like England, Germany, and Japan.
Law School Campus (Macon)
The Mercer University School of Law has its own campus in Macon. It is about one mile (1.6 km) from the main campus. The Law School building looks like Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It sits on Coleman Hill, overlooking downtown Macon.
Next to the Law School is the Woodruff House. This is a historic mansion built in 1836. It is used for special university events. Both the Law School and the Woodruff House are well-known Macon landmarks.
Atlanta Campus
The Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus is in the Atlanta metropolitan area. It is about two miles (3.2 km) south of the I-85 and I-285 interchange. This campus is home to several graduate and professional schools. These include the School of Theology and the College of Pharmacy.
The Atlanta campus used to be Atlanta Baptist College. It joined Mercer in 1972. The campus is named after Cecil B. Day. He founded Days Inn Hotels.
In 2004, Mercer expanded the Atlanta campus. They bought the former headquarters of the Georgia Baptist Convention. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also has an office on the Mercer Atlanta Campus. It opened in 2017.
Savannah Campus
Mercer opened a new four-year medical school in Savannah in August 2008. This campus is part of the School of Medicine in Macon. It is located at Memorial University Medical Center. This is Mercer's teaching hospital in Savannah.
The medical school campus expanded in 2016. This allowed more students to enroll. It helps Mercer train more doctors for Georgia.
Columbus Campus
In February 2012, Mercer started a new campus in Columbus. This was the third campus for the School of Medicine. It works with two hospitals in Columbus. These hospitals help train third and fourth-year medical students.
In 2020, Mercer started building a new medical school campus in Columbus. This new campus opened in December 2021. It allows for a full four-year M.D. program.
Teaching Hospitals
Mercer works with five teaching hospitals. These hospitals help train medical students. They are in Savannah, Macon, and Columbus.
Regional Academic Centers
Mercer has academic centers in Henry County and Douglas County. These centers offer degrees for working adults. The Henry County center is in McDonough. The Douglas County center is in Lithia Springs.
Mercer Libraries
Mercer University has four libraries. The Monroe F. Swilley, Jr. Library is on the Atlanta campus. The Jack Tarver Library is on the Macon campus. There are also libraries at the regional academic centers.
The Furman Smith Law Library is in the Walter F. George School of Law in Macon. All libraries have many resources for students.
Academics at Mercer University
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
This college started in 1833. It is the main part of the university. Students can earn degrees in arts, humanities, and sciences. The college focuses on critical thinking and communication. In 2015, Mercer was chosen to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. This is a very old and respected honor society.
Stetson-Hatcher School of Business
The business school started in 1984. It has a high level of accreditation. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees. These programs are in Macon, Atlanta, and Douglas County.
The Mercer University Executive Forum is part of this school. It brings famous speakers to talk about business and leadership.
School of Engineering
The School of Engineering started in 1985. It is the only private engineering school in Georgia. It offers degrees in engineering. The school helps train engineers for Robins Air Force Base.
The Mercer Engineering Research Center (MERC) is also part of the school. It does research for Robins Air Force Base. Students can get research opportunities here.
Mercer's School of Engineering also has a special project. It helps people in developing countries get low-cost prosthetics. These are artificial body parts. This project was recognized by former President Bill Clinton.
Tift College of Education
This college started in 1995. It trains many teachers in Georgia. The college was named in 2001 to honor Tift College. Tift College was a women's college that joined Mercer in 1986.
The college offers degrees for teachers. These programs are on the Macon and Atlanta campuses. They are also at the regional academic centers.
Townsend School of Music
The School of Music opened in 2006. It is named after Raymond and Sophia Townsend. The school is in the Allan and Rosemary McCorkle Music Building in Macon. It offers degrees in music.
The Townsend-McAfee Institute helps train musicians for church ministry. They also helped create a new hymnal called Celebrating Grace.
The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings is also part of the music school. It helps students learn to play string instruments. Only 26 students are accepted into this special program.
College of Professional Advancement
This college started in 2003. It offers degrees for working adults. Classes are held in Macon, Atlanta, and at the regional centers. The college was named Penfield College in 2014. This honors Mercer's first location in Penfield, Georgia.
The Public Safety Leadership Institute is on the Atlanta campus. It offers programs for law enforcement and public safety officials.
School of Law
The Mercer University School of Law started in 1873. It is one of the oldest law schools in the U.S. It offers a law degree called the Juris Doctor (JD). It also has a joint JD/MBA degree.
James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology
This school started in 1994. It offers programs for people studying theology. It is connected with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The school is on the Atlanta campus. It is named after James and Carolyn McAfee.
The American Baptist Historical Society (ABHS) is also on the Atlanta campus. It has a very large collection of Baptist history materials. The Baptist History and Heritage Society (BHHS) is also there. These groups make Mercer a center for Baptist studies.
School of Medicine
The Mercer University School of Medicine started in 1982. It gets some money from the state. It mainly accepts Georgia residents. The school's goal is to train doctors for rural areas of Georgia. It is known for focusing on family medicine.
The school also offers master's programs in family therapy. Its teaching hospitals are in Macon, Savannah, and Columbus.
In 2007, the school expanded to Savannah. It opened a four-year medical school there in 2008. This helps train more doctors for southern Georgia.
In 2011, Mercer started a new Doctor of Clinical Medical Psychology program. In 2012, a third medical school campus opened in Columbus.
College of Pharmacy
The College of Pharmacy started in 1903. It joined Mercer in 1959. It is ranked among the top pharmacy schools in the country. The college moved to Mercer's Atlanta campus in 1992. It was one of the first schools to offer the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
The college was renamed the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2006. It got its current name in 2013.
Georgia Baptist College of Nursing
The Georgia Baptist College of Nursing started in 1901. It joined Mercer in 2001. It moved to Mercer's Atlanta campus in 2002. The college offers nursing degrees. Students get experience at hospitals in Atlanta.
The college started offering Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degrees in 2009. It also started Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees in 2010.
College of Health Professions
This college opened on July 1, 2013. It is Mercer's twelfth academic unit. It offers degrees in physical therapy and physician assistant programs. It also has public health programs. This new college allows for more health science programs in the future.
Mercer University Rankings
| USNWR National University | 165 (tie) |
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| Washington Monthly National University | 173 |
| Forbes | 285 |
U.S. News & World Report ranks Mercer among the top national universities. The Princeton Review also lists Mercer among the best colleges nationwide.
In 2007, Mercer was recognized for its community service. In 2008, it was honored for its commitment to helping the community.
Research at Mercer University
The Mercer Engineering Research Center (MERC) is in Warner Robins, Georgia. It is a modern research facility. MERC works with Robins Air Force Base and the U.S. Department of Defense. It also works with private companies. MERC helps with things like engineering, technology, and management.
Student Life at Mercer University
Grand Opera House
The Grand Opera House is a performing arts center in downtown Macon. It opened in 1884. It has a very large stage. The Grand has hosted many shows, concerts, and movies. Mercer has managed the Grand since 1995. It is a popular place for community events.
University Press
The Mercer University Press (MUP) started in 1979. It is the only Baptist-related university press in the country. MUP has published over 1,000 books. These books are about topics like religion, Southern culture, and history.
Former President Jimmy Carter has published books with MUP. The book The Stem of Jesse talks about Mercer's integration in the 1960s. It mentions Sam Oni, the first Black student at Mercer.
Radio Station
Mercer started its first radio station in 1922. It was a physics class project. The station was called WMAZ. It operated from a tower on campus. In 1927, Mercer gave WMAZ to the Macon Junior Chamber of Commerce.
In 2006, Mercer and Georgia Public Broadcasting started WMUM-FM. This station provides local content to central Georgia. Students can learn about media at the station's studio.
Television Station
WMUB-LD is a low-power TV station owned by Mercer University. It serves Macon, Georgia. The station broadcasts on digital channel 31. It is available on cable providers in Central Georgia.
The station changed its callsign to WMUB-LD in 2014. It became an affiliate of France 24 in 2016.
Student Newspaper
The Mercer Cluster is the student newspaper for Mercer's Macon campus. It is run by students. The newspaper started in 1920. It was named after a book of songs by university founder Jesse Mercer.
The Cluster's website started in 2011. In 2022, the newspaper became digital-only. It publishes news online throughout the school year.
Debating Societies
Mercer's debating society started in 1897. It is the oldest organization on campus. It is also the oldest debating society in Georgia. In 1898, John Roach Straton won the first Intercollegiate Oratorical Championships.
In 2018, Jazmine Buckley and Kyle Bligen made history. They were the first all-African-American team to win the National Parliamentary Debate championship. Jazmine Buckley was also the first freshman and first African-American to be named top speaker in 2015.
Mercer University Athletics
Mercer has 18 sports teams. They are called the Bears. They play in NCAA Division I. Most teams compete in the Southern Conference. Women's sand volleyball plays in the ASUN Conference.
Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, and soccer. Women's sports include basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball.
Mercer was a founding member of the ASUN Conference. Mercer teams won 21 championships in that conference. In 2014, the men's basketball team beat Duke in the NCAA tournament.
Athletic Facilities
Mercer opened the University Center in Macon in 2004. This $40 million center has the athletics department. It has a 3,500-seat basketball arena. It also has a pool and workout facilities. The arena was named Hawkins Arena in 2012.
Mercer opened the Tony and Nancy Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex in 2013. This stadium has 10,200 seats. It is next to the University Center. In 2015, the stadium was named Five Star Stadium.
A Hilton Garden Inn hotel is also next to the University Center. It is on university land.
Men's Basketball
Mercer's men's basketball team became famous in 2014. They beat Duke University in the NCAA Tournament. They finished the season with 27 wins and 9 losses. Mercer won the 2014 Espy Award for Best Upset.
Football
On November 19, 2010, Mercer announced it would bring back its football team. Football started again in the fall of 2013. Mercer had stopped playing football during World War II. The last game was in 1941.
Mercer played its first game in 72 years on August 31, 2013. They won against Reinhardt University. Over 12,000 fans watched the game. Mercer finished the 2013 season with 10 wins and 2 losses. This set an NCAA Division I record for wins by a new football program.
Mercer won its first Southern Conference game in 2014. They beat Virginia Military Institute.
Famous People from Mercer University
Many famous people have graduated from Mercer University. These include former Governor of Georgia Nathan Deal. The Chief Justice of Georgia also went to Mercer.
Mercer alumni also include 21 U.S. Representatives. There have been 12 governors and four U.S. Senators. Two Mercer graduates have won the Pulitzer Prize. Two have been Rhodes Scholars. One was a U.S. Attorney General.
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Nathan Deal '66, former Governor of Georgia.
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Walter F. George '01, United States Senator and namesake of Mercer Law School.
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Thomas W. Hardwick '(18)92, United States Senator and Governor of Georgia.
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Carl Vinson '02, United States Representative for over 50 years.
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William S. West '(18)76, United States Senator.
See also
- Claude Smith Field
- List of colleges and universities in metropolitan Atlanta
