Morris College


Morris College is a private, Baptist historically black college in Sumter, South Carolina. It was founded and is operated by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina.

History

Morris College was founded in 1908 by James J. Durham, initially as a grade school, high school, and college. The college is named after the Reverend Frank Morris because of his outstanding leadership throughout the African American community of South Carolina. The college's first president was Dr. Edward M. Brawley. Morris College awarded its first bachelor's degree in 1915 under the administration of the college's second president Dr. John Jacob Starks. The college's third president was Ira David Pinson, who steered the college to expansion during the Great Depression.
The college's longest-serving president was Dr. Luns C. Richardson, who served from 1974 to July 2017. The current president is Dr. Leroy Staggers, who formerly served as the college's academic dean.

Academics

Morris College offers bachelor's degrees in 20 areas of study. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award four different types of bachelor's degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Education.
To effectively accomplish the purpose and philosophy of Morris College, its academic programs are organized into five academic divisions which oversee their respective departments.

Division of General Studies

Greek letter organizations

The university currently has chapters for eight of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations.
OrganizationSymbolChapterChapter symbol
Alpha Kappa Alpha sororityΑΚΑNu GammaΝΓ
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternityΑΦΑXi EpsilonΞΕ
Delta Sigma Theta sororityΔΣΘXi RhoΞΡ
Kappa Alpha Psi fraternityΚΑΨLambda EpsilonΛΕ
Omega Psi Phi fraternityΩΨΦEpsilon LambdaΕΛ
Phi Beta Sigma fraternityΦΒΣIota ZetaΙΖ
Sigma Gamma Rho sororityΣΓΡIota EtaIH
Zeta Phi Beta sororityΖΦΒPi ThetaΠΘ

Athletics

Morris College teams, nicknamed athletically as the Hornets, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, primarily competing as an Independent of the Association of Independent Institutions. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, tennis and track & field; women's sports include basketball, cross country, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

Notable alumni