Piedmont International University

Piedmont International University
Type Private
Established 1945
Chancellor Dr. Howard Wilburn
President Dr. Charles Petitt[1]
Provost Dr. Beth Ashburn[1]
Students 740[2]
Location Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Colors Navy, Columbia Blue, and White
Mascot Bruins
Website www.piedmontu.edu

Piedmont International University is a private Bible College and Graduate School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. Originally called Piedmont Bible Institute (and later Piedmont Bible College and Piedmont Baptist College), the school changed its name in 2012 to its current name to reflect its heritage and expansion. The school is located near downtown Winston-Salem between the historic district of Old Salem and the newly constructed minor-league baseball stadium. Its current President is Dr. Charles Petitt,[1] a former church planter and missionary to St. Vincent.

As of 2016, the Center for Online Education ranks Piedmont third in the category "Best Online Colleges in North Carolina".[3] Piedmont offers both residential and online programs ranging from dual enrollment, undergraduate, and graduate degrees.

Piedmont is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools[4] and maintains membership in the American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries,[5] and is seeking accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[6]

History

In 1945, Charles Stevens and a group of North Carolina Baptist leaders founded Piedmont Bible Schools, Inc. and opened Piedmont Bible Institute. Three years later, the institute added two years of junior college. Although the academy associated with Piedmont Bible Schools, Inc. was discontinued in 1952, the Bible institute and the college continued.

In 1956, Piedmont completed the accreditation requirements of the Accrediting Association of Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges (now The Association for Biblical Higher Education). Their acceptance allowed Religious Education and Theology bachelor's degrees to be awarded, starting in 1957, with the acceptance of the State Department of Education.

The college added a graduate program in 1994 and joined the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) one year later. In 2004, the college merged with Spurgeon Baptist Bible College of Mulberry, Florida to create Piedmont’s Spurgeon School of Online Education[7] with several undergraduate and graduate programs available online in their entirety including a master's degree in Biblical Studies offered online in Spanish. The accreditation of two international branch campuses in restricted access nations sprang from partnerships with nationals in Asia and the Middle East. A 2008 merger with Atlantic Baptist Bible College of Chester, Virginia led to the establishment of the Atlantic Scholarship for Ministry Training.[8] Foothills Christian College also merged with then Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate Schools in 2010. In 2012 Piedmont officially changed their name from Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate Schools to Piedmont International University.[9]

In March 2015, it was announced that, as of May 1, 2015, Tennessee Temple University would dissolve and merge with Piedmont.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "PIU Leadership". Piedmont International University. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  2. ↑ "Fast Facts". Piedmont International University. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  3. ↑ "Online Colleges in North Carolina: 2016's Best Online Schools". Center for Online Education. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  4. ↑ "Transnational Association Of Christian Colleges and Schools". Tracs.org. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  5. ↑ "American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries". Aaccs.info. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  6. ↑ "Southern Association of Colleges and Schools". Sacs.org. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  7. ↑ "Online Education - Piedmont International University". Pbc.edu. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  8. ↑ "Piedmont, Atlantic colleges to merge this year". JournalNow.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  9. ↑ "Piedmont International University - Piedmont International University". Pbc.edu. 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  10. ↑ "Tennessee Temple University To Close After Almost 70 Years". The Chattanoogan. 2015-03-02. Retrieved 2015-03-04.

Coordinates: 36°05′16″N 80°15′00″W / 36.0879°N 80.2501°W / 36.0879; -80.2501

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