Brewton–Parker Christian University

==History==

==History==

In 1904, Reverend John Carter Brewton, pastor of the McRae Baptist Church, and Charles Benton Parker, a prominent businessman in [[McRae, Georgia|McRae]], resolved to establish a [[private education|private]] [[boarding school]] to serve [[elementary school|elementary]] and [[high school]] students from [[Montgomery County, Georgia|Montgomery County]] and the surrounding area. As there were no [[public high school]]s at that time, the school played an important role in furthering the education of the area’s youth. The Telfair and Daniell Baptist associations were enthusiastic supporters. The school was placed between [[Mount Vernon, Georgia|Mount Vernon]] and [[Ailey, Georgia|Ailey]], as working together the town bid more support than any other community. The '''Union Baptist Institute''', chartered April 28, 1904, joined with other Baptist associations, with Rev. Brewton as elected president of its board of trustees.<ref name=NGE />

In 1904, John Carter Brewton, pastor of the McRae Baptist Church, and Charles Benton Parker, a prominent businessman in [[McRae, Georgia|McRae]], resolved to establish a [[private education|private]] [[boarding school]] to serve [[elementary school|elementary]] and [[high school]] students from [[Montgomery County, Georgia|Montgomery County]] and the surrounding area. As there were no [[public high school]]s at that time, the school played an important role in furthering the education of the area’s youth. The Telfair and Daniell Baptist associations were enthusiastic supporters. The school was placed between [[Mount Vernon, Georgia|Mount Vernon]] and [[Ailey, Georgia|Ailey]], as working together the town bid more support than any other community. The '''Union Baptist Institute''', chartered April 28, 1904, joined with other Baptist associations, with Rev. Brewton as elected president of its board of trustees.<ref name=NGE />

The co-ed Union Baptist Institute formally opened on September 12, 1905 with a four-building campus, serving 160 students in grades one through eleven. The school's first year was very successful and as word spread, enrollment more than doubled to 365. In 1912 the school was renamed to '''Brewton–Parker Institute'''; it was [[school accreditation|accredited]] in 1918 by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

The co-ed Union Baptist Institute formally opened on September 12, 1905, with a four-building campus, serving 160 students in grades one through eleven. The school's first year was very successful and, as word spread, enrollment more than doubled to 365. In 1912, the school was renamed to '''Brewton–Parker Institute'''; it was [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] in 1918 by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

Brewton–Parker Institute became a junior college after college freshmen and sophomore classes were added in 1923 and 1927. Elementary classes were removed in 1929. In 1948, high school classes were also removed. The school was renamed '''Brewton–Parker Junior College''' and transferred to the governance of the Georgia Baptist Convention. By the early 1980s, public two-year community colleges had been established throughout the state. At the same time, there was a greater demand for graduates of four-year colleges. In mind of these changes, the school evolved on December 9, 1986 into a four-year institution, Brewton–Parker College. In June of 2025, Brewton - Parker College was granted university status and changed its name to Brewton - Parker Christian University.

Brewton–Parker Institute became a junior college after college freshmen and sophomore classes were added in 1923 and 1927. Elementary classes were removed in 1929. In 1948, high school classes were also removed. The school was renamed '''Brewton–Parker Junior College''' and transferred to the governance of the Georgia Baptist Convention. By the early 1980s, public two-year community colleges had been established throughout the state. At the same time, there was a greater demand for graduates of four-year colleges. In mind of these changes, the school evolved on December 9, 1986, into a four-year institution, Brewton–Parker College. In June of 2025, Brewton–Parker College was granted university status and changed its name to Brewton–Parker Christian University.

===Financial aid fraud===

===Financial aid fraud===

Scandal hit the college in the late 1990s over fraud in the college's financial aid department. A lawsuit against the college was brought about by Martha Faw, then the assistant director of financial aid. An investigation begun by the [[United States Department of Education]] confirmed that [[Pell Grant]]s had been given to ineligible students, payments had been made to non-U.S. citizens, and guidelines for work-study programs were not followed. In 1998, Brewton–Parker College agreed to repay the government $4 million in what was said to be the largest ''qui tam'' recovery in Georgia history. College president Y. Lynn Holmes resigned.<ref>''Taxpayers Against Fraud Quarterly Review'', Vol. 14, July 1998, 54-55.</ref><ref name=CT>Thompson, Ginger: [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/06/16/whistle-blower-gives-back-to-target/ "Whistle-blower Gives Back To Target"] Chicago Tribune, June 16, 1998</ref><ref>[http://chronicle.com/article/Brewton-Parker-College-Sued/98097/ "Brewton-Parker College Sued for Financial-Aid Fraud"] Chronicle of Higher Education, October 3, 1997</ref>

Scandal hit the college in the late 1990s over fraud in the college's financial aid department. A lawsuit against the college was brought about by Martha Faw, then the assistant director of financial aid. An investigation begun by the [[United States Department of Education]] confirmed that [[Pell Grant]]s had been given to ineligible students, payments had been made to non-U.S. citizens, and guidelines for work-study programs were not followed. In 1998, Brewton–Parker College agreed to repay the government $4 million in what was said to be the largest ''qui tam'' recovery in Georgia history. College president Y. Lynn Holmes resigned.<ref>''Taxpayers Against Fraud Quarterly Review'', Vol. 14, July 1998, 54-55.</ref><ref name=CT>Thompson, Ginger: [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/06/16/whistle-blower-gives-back-to-target/ "Whistle-blower Gives Back To Target"] Chicago Tribune, June 16, 1998</ref><ref>[http://chronicle.com/article/Brewton-Parker-College-Sued/98097/ "Brewton-Parker College Sued for Financial-Aid Fraud"] Chronicle of Higher Education, October 3, 1997</ref>

David R. Smith became college president in 1998, and at his first graduation address, Smith stated: "To any and all who recognized inept policies and errant behavior, and who continued to speak out against such things even in the face of opposition from those who preferred not to hear it, you should be applauded, not ridiculed."<ref name=CT /> The college briefly outsourced the administration of their financial aid program<ref name=CT /> until a new college policy and procedures manual was established in the Fall of 2000. A new position, Director of Financial Aid Compliance, was established.<ref>[http://www.bpc.edu/administration/policy_and_procedures_manual/policy_and_procedure_manual.htm "5.6.2.5 Director of Financial Aid Compliance"] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090103162106/http://www.bpc.edu/administration/policy_and_procedures_manual/policy_and_procedure_manual.htm |date=2009-01-03 }} Brewton-Parker College, Policy and Procedure Manual</ref>

David R. Smith became college president in 1998 and at his first graduation address he stated: "To any and all who recognized inept policies and errant behavior, and who continued to speak out against such things even in the face of opposition from those who preferred not to hear it, you should be applauded, not ridiculed."<ref name=CT /> The college briefly outsourced the administration of their financial aid program<ref name=CT /> until a new college policy and procedures manual was established in the Fall of 2000. A new position, Director of Financial Aid Compliance, was established.<ref>[http://www.bpc.edu/administration/policy_and_procedures_manual/policy_and_procedure_manual.htm "5.6.2.5 Director of Financial Aid Compliance"] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090103162106/http://www.bpc.edu/administration/policy_and_procedures_manual/policy_and_procedure_manual.htm |date=2009-01-03 }} Brewton-Parker College, Policy and Procedure Manual</ref>

==Campus==

==Campus==