Rust College

David L. Beckley, President

http://www.rustcollege.edu/net/index.html

Rust College, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, was established in 1866 by the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Church on a former slave auction site. During the 2002-2003 academic year this historically black liberal arts, fully accredited College celebrated 137 years of service to our church and more than 1,000 young people from 22 states and several foreign countries.

Other highlights for the 2002-03 year include:

  • The largest freshman class in the last 10 years of 377.
  • Completion of over $1 million dollars in historic preservation renovation work on two historic buildings (McCoy Administration and Oakview Mansion, the former slave auction office) under a Department of Interior grant.
  • Hosted more than 800 students from 200 colleges and universities around the country in attendance at the January 2003 9th African American Student Leadership Conference.
  • The College received the 2002 Governor’s Arts Award for continuing a Mississippi arts tradition through the A’Cappella Choir.
  • The College’s Social Work Program received full speciality accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education, the first academic area of the College to receive speciality accreditation.
  • The College was selected by the Fox entertainment network to be one of six viewing sites in February to air three of its 2003 Black history series movies.
  • The College ended with a balanced budget with the receipt of an unqualified Audit Report for the 2001-02 fiscal year, the 34th consecutive year for balanced operations.
  • The College experienced a renewed interest and support of our Religious Life Program during the first full academic year in the new James Elam Chapel facility.

The future of Rust College continues to hold promise because of the United Methodist Church’s commitment to education and support through apportionments, the Black College Fund, individual giving and local church donations. This support is critical as it assists the College in expanding its endowed scholarship program and places Rust in a better position for attracting additional students in its Honors Programs, and United Methodist clerical students.

The College expresses thanks for the dedication and leadership of Trustees serving from the Oregon-Idaho Conference (Bishop Edward Paup). The College family values the unceasing moral, spiritual, and financial support of the United Methodist Church and expresses gratitude on behalf of our young people who continue to benefit from your investment in their future during this “new era in quest of excellence.”