Mississippi College will be undergoing seismic changes in the near future.
On Monday, the Mississippi College Board of Trustees approved multiple recommendations from a task force of university trustees selected to help the school sustain long-term financial viability.
These recommendations included changing the private university’s name, reorganizing academic departments, and dissolving the football program as part of an athletic restructuring plan.
The first major update was approval of the college’s renaming as Mississippi Christian University. Officials say this comes in preparation for the Clinton-based university’s bicentennial in 2026 and to reiterate the school’s commitment to fulfilling its vision as a Christian institution of higher learning.
Mississippi College will officially transform into Mississippi Christian University in 2026.
“These transformational and necessary changes are extremely important to the future of this institution,” Mississippi College President Blake Thompson said. “As we look ahead to the institution’s bicentennial in 2026, we want to ensure that MC will be a university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ for another 200 years.”
According to a news release, academic realignment will follow the decision to change Mississippi College’s name. The Department of Christian Studies will be elevated to an interdisciplinary unit that underscores the institution’s commitment to Christian education.
A new structure will be implemented that consolidates the School of Christian Studies and the Arts with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Education will be renamed to the School of Education and Human Science.
Other academic departments could be consolidated by the college’s provost in the future to ensure programs to maximize the university’s financial efficiency.
“By refining our academic offerings and investing in key academic initiatives, we seek to provide a learning environment where students and faculty can excel, pursue meaningful scholarship, and engage in impactful service,” Mississippi College Provost and Executive Vice President Mike Highfield said.
Mississippi College played its final football game this past Saturday as officials have confirmed that the program is being dissolved to allow the university to dedicate resources to its other 17 sports and pursue facility upgrades.
“Discontinuing our football program is a difficult decision,” Mississippi College Athletics Director Kenny Bizot said. “We acknowledge the program’s legacy and the deep connection to the many student-athletes, alumni, and supporters of the football program. I want to emphasize that we will always consider them as part of our MC Family.”
The Choctaws struggled this season, amassing just a 2-8 overall record. However, multiple Mississippi College alumni have reached out to SuperTalk Mississippi News expressing great disappointment with the decision to shutter the football program.
