Athens State University: A Legacy of Education and Transformation

Athens State University, nestled in the scenic locale of Athens, Alabama, stands as a testament to the enduring power of education. Equidistant between Birmingham and Nashville, the 85-acre campus boasts a rich history that stretches back to the early 1800s. From its humble beginnings as a female academy to its current status as a dynamic university, Athens State has consistently adapted to meet the evolving needs of its students and community.

From Academy to University: A Historical Overview

The Athens State story began in 1821 when a group of citizens from Athens, Alabama, envisioned an institute of higher learning to serve the educational needs of the women in the community. Land was donated by Judge John McKinley to the city of Athens, and a single building was built to establish Athens Female Academy. Thus began the storied history of the institution we so love today - Athens State University.

The institution formally began in January 1822 as Athens Female Academy, with classes held in a four-room schoolhouse. Its progressive goal was to provide elementary, secondary, and college-level instruction to girls and young women. In the early nineteenth century, college-level instruction was known as academy education. The academy was founded by local citizens who purchased five acres of land, erected a building.

In 1842, a pivotal decision was made to affiliate with the Methodist Church, which was developing a system of higher education that included women’s colleges. The trustees of Athens Female Academy envisioned more. They had a desire to affiliate with the Methodist Church, which was developing a system of higher education that included women’s colleges. They hoped to grow enrollment and enhance programs by attracting boarding students from a wider area. In October 1842, the Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church approved this plan. At the same time, local families donated money to build Founders Hall, our oldest surviving building. The institution was renamed Athens Female Institute of the Tennessee Annual Conference, with Rev. Richard Henderson Rivers, D. D. serving as president.

The Alabama Legislature formally recognized that name change in January 1843. Enrollment rose from 80 students in 1843 to almost 200 but leveled off in the 1850s. In 1858, Jane Hamilton Childs, head of the Huntsville Female College, was appointed president. She renamed the school the Athens Collegiate Institute and kept it functioning during the turbulent Civil War years, even as the town was besieged by Union troops.

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In 1870, the North Alabama Conference of the Methodist Church South was established and took control of the school, renaming it the North Alabama Female College. In 1872, the Alabama Legislature formally recognized the school's name as the Athens Female Institute. In 1889, the legislature once again changed the name to Athens Female College. Efforts to establish a significant endowment for the college continued from 1869 to 1904 without success.

In 1904, Mary Norman Moore became the president of the college. During her tenure, the school abandoned elementary education to focus on developing a modern higher education curriculum. In 1915, the school was renamed the Athens College for Young Women and was usually referred to as Athens College. Moore stepped down in 1916 upon her marriage (and became known as Mary Moore-McCoy) but returned after being widowed to serve a second term as president from 1925 to 1930, making her the only person to serve as president of Athens twice.

Eugene R. Naylor, the first male president who was an academic rather than a clergyman, took the helm during the summer of 1930. That same year, Naylor decided to offset the chronic under-enrollment and the effects of the Great Depression by admitting male students, despite the school's renown as an elite women's institution.

In 1975, the State of Alabama assumed ownership, and we became Athens State College, a two-year upper-division college in the Alabama Community College System. All students attending Athens State are transfers from either community colleges or four-year institutions.

In 1998, a bill was passed in the Alabama legislature to change the name to Athens State University.

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On May 11, 2012, a bill was passed by the Alabama legislature allowing the creation of an autonomous board of trustees for the university. This board took office in October 2012.

On Friday, May 17, 2024, the Athens State Board of Trustees named Dr. Catherine Wehlburg as the 39th president of Athens State University. This appointment marks the third woman to be named as a permanent president and the first in almost a century.

In 2022, Athens State University celebrated its 200th anniversary. Our Bicentennial Celebration, ATHENS FOREVER, honored the historical significance of the University as a private academy, a Methodist college, and now as a state University.

Key Campus Buildings: A Blend of History and Modernity

Athens State University's campus is home to a variety of buildings, each with its own unique history and purpose. These buildings serve as vital spaces for learning, collaboration, and community engagement.

Founders Hall: The Heart of Athens State

Built in 1842 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Founders Hall is the oldest building on campus and serves as an iconic landmark. It currently houses the Office of the President, offices for Financial Affairs, and faculty and staff offices for the College of Arts and Sciences. Additionally, Founders Hall houses the Glasgow Parlor, where countless receptions and events take place, and a chapel, which now serves as a meeting space. Founders Hall is a contributing property to the Athens State College Historic District, which was named to the National Register of Historic Places on February 14, 1985.

Sandridge Student Center: A Hub for Student Life

Serving as the primary center for students and student support services, the Sandridge Student Center was built in 1967 on the foundation of the 1918 gymnasium and swimming pool and was renovated in 2018. The Center was named for Dr. Sidney E. Sandridge, President of the institution from 1970 through 1981, upon his retirement. The Sandridge Student Center houses the Enrollment Center, Offices of Admissions, Student Records, Student Financial Aid, Transfer Advising and Career Development Centers, Accessibility Services, and the University Bookstore.

Waters Hall: A Center for Science and Learning

Currently housing classrooms, science labs, and offices for College of Arts and Sciences faculty and staff, Waters Hall was completed in 1957; an expansion and total renovation was completed in 2010. Waters Hall also houses the Mathematical, Computer, and Natural Sciences (MCNS) Learning Lab, which provides tutoring assistance to students in math, computer science, and biology classes. The building is named in honor of Mr. N. H. Waters, who was President of the institution’s Board of Trustees in 1957 and a loyal supporter of the institution.

College of Arts and Sciences Classroom Building: Fostering Interactive Learning

The Classroom Building houses interactive, multi-purpose classrooms and was completed in the fall of 1998. In 2019, the Classroom Building also became the home for Academic Technology Services, the Technology Help Desk, and lounges for faculty and students.

Kares Library: A Repository of Knowledge and Resources

Kares Library at Athens State University opened in 1996, with the majority of the funds for its construction coming from private donations. In addition to the Library collection and offices, the building houses the University Writing Center, a Learning Commons area, and the Dr. Elva Bell McLin Archives Room. The Library was ceremoniously named “Kares Library” in 2019 in honor of Mr. Robert Kares (a 1968 alumnus of Athens College) and his wife, Gale, a retired librarian, after they donated a significant sum of money to create an endowment for the library.

Sanders Hall: Home to the College of Business

Currently home to offices for faculty and staff in the College of Business, Sanders Hall was built in 1921; a total renovation was completed in 2010. Originally a women’s dormitory, the Hall is named for Colonel W. T. Sanders, who presided over the institution’s Board of Trustees from 1896 to 1921.

McCandless Hall: A Hub for Arts and Culture

McCandless Hall, built in 1912 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, houses the University’s “Griffin Auditorium” that serves as a facility for concerts, plays, and lectures for the campus and community. The building also houses offices for Academic Affairs, the Fiddlers Museum, and the Delmore Brothers Museum. McCandless Hall underwent a complete renovation in 2013 to both restore original features and add modern facilities to ensure equal access for all patrons. The auditorium features a tracker-action pipe organ that dates back to 1892.

McCain Hall: Supporting the College of Education

Currently home to offices for faculty and staff in the College of Education, McCain Hall was completed in 1962 and underwent a complete renovation in 2011. Originally serving as a women’s dormitory, the building is named for Dr. Virgil B. McCain, President of the institution from 1959 until 1965.

Campus Security: Ensuring a Safe Environment

Once known as the “Little White House,” this small cottage just south of Founders Hall now houses the offices of Campus Security. New students often visit the Security Office to receive student ID badges. The building has served many purposes through its history, including use as a Greek house and for faculty housing.

Carter Physical Education Center: A Legacy of Athletics and Community

Built in 1965 and originally serving as the hub for the University’s athletic programs (which were discontinued in 2004), the Center is named in honor of former Alabama State Representative Tommy Carter and his wife JoAnn in recognition of their support to the institution. In addition to the gymnasium, Carter houses classrooms and the Sports Museum. The Center is used for graduation exercises and for a variety of meetings and community events.

Chasteen Hall: Serving Adult Learners

Just off the main campus on the corner of Clinton and Hobbs Streets, Chasteen Hall currently houses the offices for the Adult Degree Program and the University Testing Center, as well as various classrooms and computer labs. The building is named for Dr. James R. Chasteen, President of Athens State from 1981 until 1990, and his wife Melba. Originally owned by then Athens College, the building was sold and served as both a grocery store and a hardware store for many years before being repurchased by the University.

Launchbox: Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Located at 121 South Marion Street on the east side of the historic Courthouse Square, LaunchBox at Athens State University is a dynamic entrepreneurial hub dedicated to cultivating a thriving local business ecosystem. Its mission is to guide, inspire, and propel entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators through educational programming, expert mentorship, collaborative workspace, and community engagement, helping ventures at every stage succeed and grow. LaunchBox offers business training, networking opportunities, tailored mentoring, and access to valuable resources designed to support innovation, resilience, and economic development in Limestone County.

In-Service Center: Advancing Math and Science Education

Located on Highway 31 South, the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (also known as AMSTI) is the Alabama Department of Education’s initiative to improve math and science teaching statewide. Its mission is to provide all students in Grades K through 12 with the knowledge and skills needed for success in the workforce and postsecondary studies. The Athens State University AMSTI center was established in 2008 and serves 29 schools and over 500 teachers in ten area school systems.

Alabama Center for the Arts: A Creative Partnership

Located in downtown Decatur, Alabama, the Alabama Center for the Arts represents a unique and dynamic partnership between Athens State University, Calhoun Community College, and the City of Decatur. The "ACA" houses the visual and performing arts programs for Athens State and serves as a hub for active and engaged creative activity and learning in an inspiring, vibrant, and supportive environment. As a key resource and driver for arts activities and education, the ACA enhances the civic and cultural life of the University and the community.

Athens State Today: A Focus on Degree Completion and Career Advancement

Athens State University is a public upper-division university in Athens, Alabama. Athens State is one of the few universities in the nation dedicated solely to degree completion for transfer students, meaning the university serves junior-level and senior-level undergraduate students by helping them finish their degrees. Athens State also serves graduate students in their pursuit of career advancement through a master’s degree. Athens State offers more than 30 undergraduate majors through three colleges: Business, Arts and Sciences, and Education.

Athens State is uniquely positioned to help students who want to finish or advance their degrees and ultimately maximize their earning potential. Athens State is built for the un-traditional college student. Athens State places a genuine emphasis on producing the graduates that employers desire. We’ve become a destination for transfer students and for students who have paused their education - students who often find themselves balancing education with demands of adult life, including work and children. We meet students where they are today and help them envision a bright tomorrow.

Course schedules at Athens State are built to accommodate you on your time, including nights and weekends, in-person, and online. The many flexible online and hybrid learning opportunities are appealing to many of our students and are the hallmark of a modern university.

Athens State University (ASU), located in Athens, Limestone County, is the oldest continuously operating public institution of higher education in the state of Alabama. It is unique in that it offers the final two years of a college curriculum, which complement the first two years' curriculum offered by the rest of the state's community college system.

In the fall semester of 2010, Athens State University enrolled more than 3,700 students. It employs a full-time faculty and staff of approximately 250 people and has an annual budget of approximately $58 million. Students have the opportunity to participate in more than 35 clubs and organizations on campus such as the Student Government Association, the Health and Science Career Club, and the Mathematics and Computer Science Club.

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