There’s never been a better time to come home.

We hope you will make plans to join us for our Centennial Celebration during Homecoming. This year is special, and whether it’s been a few years or a few decades since you’ve last visited campus, we think this is the best time to come back home.

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Lee History

Bible Training School opens on January 1st with Reverend Nora Chambers as teacher. Of the 12 students enrolled, only 6 remain at the end of the term. Tuition is $1 per week. In 1919, a correspondence course begins with 203 students enrolled. It includes 20 lessons for $40.

Growth necessitates move to the old sanctuary of North Cleveland COG. By 1925, continued growth requires the school to move across the street into Assembly Tabernacle and share space with North Cleveland Church. The old sanctuary becomes a dormitory.

A period of program expansion begins with the addition of a Commercial [Business] Department and formal Music Department. In 1932, the first teacher with a bachelor’s degree is hired and high school courses are incorporated. The formal high school department is created two years later.

Needing more room to accommodate its growth, a 63-acre educational campus is purchased in Sevierville for $29,990. It allows BTS to develop its own identity.

A 2-year Junior College is established with a focus on teacher training, business administration, and business education. The school’s name is changed to “Bible Training School and College” with three departments: Christian Workers, High School, and Junior College. One year later, the school term increases to 9 months.

The school adopts the name “Lee College” and returns to Cleveland after purchasing the 20-acre campus of Bob Jones College for $1.5 million. 600 students enroll, and the Junior College receives initial accreditation by the University of Tennessee.

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Lee History

Bible Training School opens on January 1st with Reverend Nora Chambers as teacher. Of the 12 students enrolled, only 6 remain at the end of the term. Tuition is $1 per week. In 1919, a correspondence course begins with 203 students enrolled. It includes 20 lessons for $40.

Growth necessitates move to the old sanctuary of North Cleveland COG. By 1925, continued growth requires the school to move across the street into Assembly Tabernacle and share space with North Cleveland Church. The old sanctuary becomes a dormitory.

A period of program expansion begins with the addition of a Commercial [Business] Department and formal Music Department. In 1932, the first teacher with a bachelor’s degree is hired and high school courses are incorporated. The formal high school department is created two years later.

Needing more room to accommodate its growth, a 63-acre educational campus is purchased in Sevierville for $29,990. It allows BTS to develop its own identity.

A 2-year Junior College is established with a focus on teacher training, business administration, and business education. The school’s name is changed to “Bible Training School and College” with three departments: Christian Workers, High School, and Junior College. One year later, the school term increases to 9 months.

The school adopts the name “Lee College” and returns to Cleveland after purchasing the 20-acre campus of Bob Jones College for $1.5 million. 600 students enroll, and the Junior College receives initial accreditation by the University of Tennessee.

Why come celebrate with us?

"We are our history.  How we got here says a lot about who we are right now in 2018, so the 100th anniversary is the perfect time to take all of that in."
Paul Conn, President

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Lee History

A period of institutional growth begins. New academic and co-curricular programs are developed. Greek-letter clubs begin, new residence halls are built, and Lee desegregates. The first Lee Day is held in 1964 and enrollment reaches 1,000 students by 1966. Lee begins restructuring to begin a 4-year liberal arts college.

Lee’s four-year liberal arts program wins provisional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The following year, Charles W. Conn begins a 12-year presidency and guides Lee’s transition into a 4-year liberal arts college while maintaining its Christ-centered mission.

Charles Paul Conn becomes Lee’s longest serving President, currently in his 33rd year, and the school’s most significant advancements occur— record enrollments, physical expansion and the addition of state-of-the art facilities, new academic programs and student services, and increased regional and national recognition.

On May 12th, Lee officially becomes a university with four colleges/schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, the School of Music, and the School of Religion. Signs are changed overnight to reflect “Lee University.” The following year enrollment exceeds 3,000 students.

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Lee History

A period of institutional growth begins. New academic and co-curricular programs are developed. Greek-letter clubs begin, new residence halls are built, and Lee desegregates. The first Lee Day is held in 1964 and enrollment reaches 1,000 students by 1966. Lee begins restructuring to begin a 4-year liberal arts college.

Lee’s four-year liberal arts program wins provisional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The following year, Charles W. Conn begins a 12-year presidency and guides Lee’s transition into a 4-year liberal arts college while maintaining its Christ-centered mission.

Charles Paul Conn becomes Lee’s longest serving President, currently in his 33rd year, and the school’s most significant advancements occur— record enrollments, physical expansion and the addition of state-of-the art facilities, new academic programs and student services, and increased regional and national recognition.

On May 12th, Lee officially becomes a university with four colleges/schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, the School of Music, and the School of Religion. Signs are changed overnight to reflect “Lee University.” The following year enrollment exceeds 3,000 students.

Enrollment exceeds 4,000 students and a series of successful capital campaigns help expand the campus border north and south, including the “Open Door” ($20 million), “Press Toward the Mark” ($34 million), and “Find Us Faithful” ($50 million) campaigns. Lee gains national recognition in sports, music, service learning, and rankings such as US News and World Report and The Princeton Review.

Lee University celebrates its 100th anniversary with more than 5,300 students from 47 states and 48 countries enrolled in more than 130 programs offered residentially and online. Since 1986, the campus has increased to 120 acres and added 11 academic and 13 residential facilities. Under the leadership of President Paul Conn, Lee has earned distinction as a premier Christ-centered university.

It’s a celebration!

These are the sights and sounds of celebrations and homecomings past. We have a full schedule of events for this special Centennial Celebration. You don’t want to miss all of the fun!

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