Morris College

Under authorization granted by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina in 1906, Morris College was established in 1908 "for the Christian and Intellectual Training of Negro youth." This action signaled the beginning of a heroic venture in higher education by a group of men and women less than a half century removed from the blight of American slavery. The majority of these "founding fathers" were poor and without any formal learning, but they possessed an "unfaltering faith in God and a zeal to provide for others the educational opportunities they themselves were denied."

On April 12, 1911, the college received a certificate of incorporation from the state of South Carolina. Initially, Morris College provided schooling on the elementary, high school, and college levels. The college curriculum included programs in liberal arts, in "normal" education for the certification of teachers, and a theological program. In 1915, the Bachelor of Arts degree was conferred on the first two graduates. The institution discontinued its "normal" program in 1929, its elementary school in 1930, and its high school in 1946.

Morris College will be a premier liberal arts and career-focused institution in Sumter, the state of South Carolina and the southern region; as well as carry out its stated mission as an institution that is totally committed to excellence in all areas of operation, and is driven toward continuous improvement.

In the attainment of this vision, Morris College will:

1. Provide a high quality education for students which results in employment and achievement of their educational and career goals.
2. Provide an exceptional faculty and staff who are committed to the mission, vision, excellence in all areas of operations, and teamwork.
3. Provide relevant quality academic programs and resources in order for students to perform at their best and find gainful employment.
4. Fully utilize the Morris College Bertie B. White Teaching and Learning Center to achieve excellence in teaching and maximize learning.
5. Provide a student-centered, caring, supportive and nurturing learning environment that will engender life-long learning.
6. Morris College was founded in 1908 by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina to provide educational opportunities for Negro students in response to the historical denial of access to the existing educational system. Today, under the continued ownership of its founding body, the College opens its doors to a culturally and geographically diverse student body, typically from the Southeast and Northeast regions. Morris College is an accredited, four-year, coeducational, residential, liberal arts and career-focused institution awarding baccalaureate degrees in the arts and sciences and in career-based professional fields.

7. The College serves the needs of its students, alumni and community.