Tift College facts for kids
Tift College was a special kind of school for women. It was a private college that focused on a wide range of subjects, known as liberal arts. This college was located in Forsyth, Georgia, a town in the state of Georgia.
Tift College first opened its doors in 1849. It continued to educate students for many years. However, in 1987, the college closed down. It joined with Mercer University, which is located nearby in Macon, Georgia. Today, the old campus is used as the main office for the Georgia Department of Corrections. This facility is now called State Offices South at Tift College (SOSTC). The campus covers about 275 acres and is located 20 miles north of Macon, Georgia.
Contents
The Story of Tift College
How Tift College Started
Tift College began its journey in 1849. It was first known as the Forsyth Female Collegiate Institute. This name showed it was a school for young women in Forsyth. In 1857, the school changed its name to Monroe College.
Later, in 1907, it was renamed again. This time, it became Bessie Tift College. This new name honored a former student of the college. In 1898, the college became connected with the Georgia Baptist Convention. This meant it had ties to a large religious group. Finally, in 1956, the name was made shorter to just Tift College.
Joining Mercer University
In 1986, Tift College decided to join forces with Mercer University. Mercer University is in Macon, Georgia. The two schools worked together to keep the history of Tift College alive. In 1987, Mercer officially closed Tift College as a separate school.
To honor Tift College's long history of education, Mercer University made an important decision. They changed the name of their own School of Education. It became the Tift College of Education. This way, the educational spirit of Tift College continued.
Tift College's Lasting Impact
Mercer University has worked hard to remember Tift College. They want to keep its heritage and ideas alive. One special way they do this is through the Tift College Scholars Program. This program gives scholarships to a select group of young women at Mercer. It also includes them in one of the university's most respected academic groups. This helps continue the legacy of supporting women's education.
What Happened to the Campus?
In 2006, the governor of Georgia announced new plans for the Forsyth campus. The idea was to use it as the main office for the Georgia Department of Corrections. The buildings on the campus were updated for this new purpose. The Georgia Department of Corrections officially moved into the campus in 2010.
Remembering Tift College
- Tift College of Education at Mercer University: This school carries on the teaching legacy.
- Tift College Scholars Program: This program helps young women at Mercer University.
