A Brief History of EC

Emmanuel College first opened on January 1, 1919, under the name of Franklin Springs Institute. During its first years, the institution offered the first eleven grades of school and a Biblical Department for prospective ministers. The founder of the school was the Reverend George Floyd Taylor, a North Carolinian who long had desired to begin such an institution. The beginnings were less than auspicious, since the campus had for over a century been used as a health resort centering around several mineral springs. Since only fifty students enrolled first year, not all of the old wooden resort buildings were used. Nevertheless, by 1922 the school was opened free of charge and the buildings were filled to capacity. Throughout the early years G. F. Taylor was president except for the years 1926-1927 when Mr. A. M. Taylor held this position and 1927-1929 when the Reverend B. A. Jones was president. Because of the great depression, the school was forced to close temporarily in 1931.

In 1933 the school was reopened as a high school and junior college with the Reverend Thomas Lee Aaron as president. Under President Aaron's leadership,the school gradually progressed from a small community school to a modern influential junior college. In 1939, the name of the institution was changed to "Emmanuel," which means "God with us." Upon Mr. Aaron's death in January 1951, Woodard Glenn Drum, former Dean of the College, became president.

The administration of President Drum saw the completion of the present campus quadrangle, the recruitment of an excellent faculty, and the gaining of full accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1967. The high school department, which had earlier been fully accredited by the Southern Association, was discontinued in 1963. With the retirement of President Drum in January 1970, Dr. Culbreth Young Melton became the sixth president of the institution. Under Dr. Melton's administration a four-year School of Christian Ministries was inaugurated and accredited by the American Association of Bible Colleges, a new Learning Resources Center and residence hall (Drum Hall) were constructed, and the overall quality of the institution was improved. Upon his resignation in 1983, Dr. David Roger Hopkins became the seventh president in June 1983. Many campus improvements are credited to Dr.Hopkins' leadership, including the construction of the Student Activities Center, two new residence halls on King Street, the Wellons Science Resources Center, the multi-purpose Swails Center, and the School of Education Building, along with complete renovation of all buildings on campus. Major changes in curricular offerings have also accompanied the long-awaited accreditation as a four-year institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1991. An aggressive long-range plan, called VISION 2000, was launched in 1991 to provide funds for campus expansion and to accommodate student growth over the next five years. During the 1992-93 academic year, the consolidation of the two- and four-year programs was completed as Emmanuel began offering six new baccalaureate degree programs.

The 1990's brought the most dramatic growth in the history of the College. The size of the campus doubled along with the enrollment. New four-year degree programs increased to 17, including Business Administration, Communication Studies, Information Systems, Teacher Education, and others. The College joined the Georgia Foundation of Independent Colleges and the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. Likewise, the growing Student Life program, including a full-time Campus Pastor and a unique spiritual formation component, brought to students more opportunities for ministry and outreach.

The foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains provide a picturesque setting for the campus. The original resort hotels have long since been replaced by more modern buildings. Currently, there are six residence halls for men and women, an administration classroom building, a science resources center, a small lecture hall, a gymnasium, an athletic center, a student center, a large auditorium, several office buildings, a learning resources center, and a multi-purpose building which houses offices for administrative personnel, music offices and classrooms, the college chapel, and the dining hall. Adjoining the campus are the Franklin Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church and the LifeSprings Resources Center.

Along with the growth of Emmanuel's academic program and physical plant has been a concomitant emphasis on religious and spiritual values. The college finds much of its justification for existence in its purpose of attempting to offer education of high academic quality in a Christian environment. The successful performance of the students who have completed Emmanuel's program and later transferred to other institutions of higher learning reflects the quality of Emmanuel's academic efforts. The lives of the alumni speak of the quality of the Christian academic opportunities which they have received. Through its program of Christian higher education, Emmanuel has attempted to provide students with academic and spiritual values which willen rich their lives and in turn lead them to enrich the lives of others in the highest Christian tradition.