Institutional Distinctives
Bryan College has always been a four‑year undergraduate college of arts and sciences, although until 1958 the corporate title used the term "University." Chartered in 1930 under the laws of Tennessee as a general welfare corporation with the basic purpose of providing "for the higher education of men and women under auspices distinctly Christian and spiritual," the College has responded to changing times with various modifications of its educational program. The goals for institutional development and the changing climate in American higher education will continue to influence the educational program. However, the original institutional purpose as a Christian liberal arts college remains unchanged.
With an awareness of its heritage and a commitment to its future, the College endeavors to serve its constituencies by traditional and novel means. Bryan College maintains the following distinctives as part of its vision for the next century.
Bryan College has developed and will maintain:
- An identity as a Christian liberal arts college which is evangelical, nondenominational, and regionally accredited.
- A firm biblical emphasis, both in curriculum and in principles for everyday life, based upon unequivocal acceptance of the inerrancy and authority of the Scriptures.
- A competent faculty committed to a quality academic program.
- A balanced position regarding theological beliefs, daily life and conduct, and educational philosophy and practice.
- A close bond of fellowship and a sense of community under the Lordship of Jesus Christ that fosters positive relationships among faculty and students of diverse backgrounds.
- A commitment to a progressive approach in addressing the technological nature of our changing society.
- A setting of natural beauty where lake and mountains meet, ideal for serious study and growth.