Overview

LeMoyne-Owen College is a historically black, liberal arts teaching institution affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention. Through the liberal arts program, students may discover and use their full range of talents, expand their knowledge, and prepare for professional careers and meaningful personal lives.

Students may study in 21 major programs that lead to the baccalaureate degree. LeMoyne-Owen offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees. Undergraduate majors include art, biology, business administration, chemistry, computer science, criminal justice, early childhood education, English, English/language arts, general mathematics, general science, history, humanities, mathematics, music, political science, social science, social studies, social work, sociology, and special education.

Student Life

LeMoyne-Owen competes in Division II of the NCAA. The Magician Athletic program includes men's baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and tennis, and women's basketball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis, and volleyball. The college also provides a variety of cultural and social activities to complement the students' academic program.

Faculty

Dedicated faculty and smaller class sizes are ingredients for success at LeMoyne-Owen. Smaller class sizes also allow personal interaction so that students receive the assistance they need to complete their programs.

Accreditation

The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools—1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 30033-4097; telephone number (404) 679-4501—to award the baccalaureate degree. Its teacher education program is also accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Tennessee State Board of Education.

History

LeMoyne-Owen College has existed for more than 143 years, providing educational opportunities for men and women in the Greater Memphis community and the mid-South. The college's rich history dates back to 1862 when, in the basement of the Overton Hotel in Memphis, a nurse from Chicago named Lucinda Humphrey began teaching freed slaves the fundamentals of reading.

Later, classes were moved to Lincoln Chapel Church, and the Lincoln Chapel School was formed under the auspices of the American Missionary Association. In 1871, the school was renamed LeMoyne Normal and Commercial School in honor of Dr. Francis Julius LeMoyne, who had donated $20,000 to help rebuild the institution after it was destroyed by fire during race riots. In 1934, the State of Tennessee chartered the school as a four-year, degree-granting institution, and its name was changed to LeMoyne College. In 1968, 34 years later, LeMoyne College merged with Owen College—which was named in memory of S.A. Owen, the president of the Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Education Convention.

Location

LeMoyne-Owen College is located on a beautifully landscaped campus in South Memphis, less than one mile from downtown and the nearest interstate.