WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. — A private, four-year school in northeastern Arkansas has changed its name to include the term “university” rather than “college.”
Williams Baptist College President Tom Jones announced Wednesday that the school officially will be called Williams Baptist University starting in fall 2018. Jones says the name change will help dispel misconceptions that the school is a junior college.
The school was founded as Southern Baptist College in 1941. It changed its name to Williams Baptist College in 1991 to honor the school’s founder, H.E. Williams.
Jones says that although the school mostly is known for its Christian ministries program, 94 percent of students major in other areas.
The school has about 500 students and offers more than 25 bachelor’s degree programs as well as a graduate program for teaching.
