View source for Thomas University

{{Short description|Private university in Thomasville, Georgia, US}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} 
{{Multiple issues|
{{COI|date=September 2017}}
{{advert|date=September 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2017}}}}
{{Infobox university
|name            = Thomas University 
|image           =  Thomas univ seal.png
|image_size      = 150
|motto           =
|established     = {{start date and age|1950}}
|type            = [[Private university]]
|president       = James Andrew Sheppard 
|students        = 1,012
|city            = [[Thomasville, Georgia]]
|country         = U.S.
|former_names        = Birdwood Junior College (1950–1976)<br>Thomas County Community College (1976–1986)<br>Thomas College (1986–2000)
|colors          = Hunter Green, Black & White<br>{{color box|#006938}}&nbsp;{{color box|black}}&nbsp;{{color box|white}}
|sports_nickname = Night Hawks
|athletics_affiliations = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] – [[Southern States Athletic Conference|SSAC]]
|affiliations    = Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
|website         = {{url|https://www.thomasu.edu/| thomasu.edu}}
|logo = Thomas univ ge textlogo.png
|logo_size = 200
}}

'''Thomas University''' is a [[private university]] in [[Thomasville, Georgia]]. It offers [[Associate degree|associate]], [[Bachelor's degree|bachelor's]], and [[Master's degree|master's]] degrees.

==History==
The main building and grounds were originally a portion of Birdwood Plantation, the winter house of [[W. Cameron Forbes]], U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1930 to 1932 and Governor General of the [[Philippines]] from 1909 to 1913.

The [[Primitive Baptist Church]] purchased the property in 1949 and chartered "Birdwood Junior College" in 1950. Classes began in 1954 with nine students, and in 1956, three of these students became the first graduates. In 1976, the Primitive Baptists relinquished control, and the name was changed to "Thomas County Community College".<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.thomasu.edu/about/history/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Thomas University |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1979, the college became [[Nonsectarian|non-sectarian]], private, and independent. In 1986, the name was changed to "Thomas College", and in 1988, the first four-year degree was offered.

In December 1998, Thomas College received approval from the Commission on Colleges of the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] (SACS) to move from Level II to Level III status, allowing Thomas College to offer graduate degrees.

In January 2000, Thomas College changed its name to "Thomas University".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boyd |first=Thressea |date=2018-01-09 |title=Thomas University Remains Committed to an Education that Engages, Empowers, Transforms |url=https://sgamag.com/index.php/2018/01/09/thomas-university-remains-committed-education-engages-empowers-transforms/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=South Georgia Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> In the fall of 2013, Smith-Bonvillian Hall, TU's newest academic building, opened on the Forbes Campus. The 19,000 square-foot building includes a state-of-the-art tiered classroom, faculty offices, and additional classrooms. In the fall of 2012, Thomas University opened its Magnolia Campus, which is located at the corner of Pinetree Boulevard and Magnolia Street in Thomasville about one mile from the main campus. The Magnolia Campus includes TU's gymnasium and new Student Life Center, which is home to the fitness center and athletic training room.

In December 2016, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSOC) placed Thomas University under Warning Status, despite having its accreditation reaffirmed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacscoc.org/details.asp?instid=75120|title=Commission on Colleges|website=www.sacscoc.org|access-date=2017-09-20}}</ref>

==Campus==
[[File:Birdwood, Forbes Hall, Thomas University, Thomasville, GA, US.jpg|right|thumb|Forbes Hall/[[Birdwood (Thomasville, Georgia)|Birdwood]] ]]
The twenty-nine acre Forbes Campus (located at the intersection of Pinetree Boulevard and Millpond Road) has now been augmented by a forty-five acre Magnolia Campus (located at the intersection of Magnolia Street and Pinetree Boulevard).  Facilities at the Magnolia Campus include a gymnasium, athletic offices and training facilities. In the fall of 2016, the Magnolia Campus expanded to include additional classroom spaces, two residence halls, and a new soccer practice field.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thomas University to Break Ground for New Residence Halls|url=http://valdostatoday.com/2015/09/thomas-university-to-break-ground-for-new-residence-halls/|access-date=15 April 2016|publisher=WVGA ValdostaToday.com|date=14 September 2015}}</ref>

==Faculty==
After ten years of service, Dr. Gary Bonvillian was replaced as president by Dr. James Andrew Sheppard in July 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thomas University announces new president|url=http://www.moultrieobserver.com/news/local_news/thomas-university-announces-new-president/article_49db11ca-e02d-11e5-9006-d7f8059b1d7f.html|access-date=15 April 2016|publisher=The Moultrie Observer|date=2 March 2016}}</ref>  During Bonvillian's tenure, Thomas grew from 685 students to 1,182 (2015), more than doubled the size of the campus, and opened satellite campuses.  In addition, he initiated international cooperative agreements with schools in China which have added about 1,000 students in China.<ref name="YesWeMust">{{cite news|title=Thomas University President Bonvillian to Retire June 2016|url=http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Thomas-University-President-Bonvillian-to-Retire-June-2016-300968251.html|access-date=15 April 2016|publisher=WCTV|date=22 April 2015}}</ref>

==Library==
The Thomas University Library serves students and faculty, and includes a Learning Commons where students can receive tutoring.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TU Library & Learning Commons |url=https://www.thomasu.edu/student-life/library/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Thomas University |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Services |url=https://www.thomasu.edu/student-life/library/services/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Thomas University |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2017, the Thomasville Genealogical Library moved onto the Forbes Campus of Thomas University.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donahue |first=Pat |date=2017-04-24 |title=Genealogical Library finds a new home at TU |url=https://www.timesenterprise.com/community/genealogical-library-finds-a-new-home-at-tu/article_2f941d58-bdde-5100-9aa1-1674578bb52a.html |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Thomasville Times-Enterprise |language=en}}</ref> The Genealogical Library is open to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genealogical Library |url=https://www.thomasu.edu/alumni-friends/genealogical-library/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Thomas University |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Students==
Thomas focuses on non-traditional students and high school students getting an early start through the Move On When Ready (MOWR) program.<ref>{{cite news|title=Move on When Ready program at TU opens|url=http://www.timesenterprise.com/news/local_news/move-on-when-ready-program-at-tu-opens/article_28d705a4-fdc1-11e5-955e-b7c81ff6ac94.html|access-date=15 April 2016|publisher=Thomasville Times-Enterprise|date=8 April 2016}}</ref> Over thirty per cent of the student body (and the majority of on-campus students) are athletes.<ref name="YesWeMust">{{cite news|title=Thomas University President Bonvillian to Retire June 2016|url=http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Thomas-University-President-Bonvillian-to-Retire-June-2016-300968251.html|access-date=15 April 2016|publisher=WCTV|date=22 April 2015}}</ref> As of the fall of 2017, TU had an enrollment of 1,202 students on campus and online.

==Athletics==
{{Main|Thomas Night Hawks}}

The Thomas athletic teams are called the Night Hawks. The university is a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA),<ref>{{cite web|title=Schools|url=http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205322922|website=NAIA.ORG|publisher=NAIA|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref> primarily competing in the [[Sun Conference]] (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after the 2007–08 school year) since the 2012–13 academic year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://thesunconference.com/sports/2012/7/2/members.aspx|website=Thesunconference.com|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref>

Thomas competes in 15 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football,<ref name="TU starts football">{{cite web |title=Mitjans Named Head Coach of Thomas University's New Football Team |url=https://tunighthawks.com/news/2022/1/25/mitjans-named-head-coach.aspx |access-date=4 February 2022 |date=January 25, 2022}}</ref> soccer, swimming and track & field, while women's sports include basketball, cross country, flag football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and track & field.

On July 1, 2022, Thomas announced that they will leave the Sun Conference and they will join the [[Southern States Athletic Conference]] (SSAC), starting in the 2023–24 academic year.<ref>{{cite press release |title=TU Set to Join SSAC in 2023-24 |url=https://tunighthawks.com/news/2022/7/1/tu-set-to-join-ssac.aspx |access-date=July 26, 2022 |work=TU Night Hawks Athletics |date=July 1, 2022}}</ref>

===Overview===
Thomas University takes the [[Nighthawk|Night Hawk]] as its nickname and mascot, and the school colors are Hunter Green and White. In 2004, the softball team won the NAIA national championship. In the 2013–14 season, basketball returned to Thomas after a 13-year hiatus.  In the inaugural game, the Night Hawks men were victorious over visiting [[Florida National University]] by a score of 82–71.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thomasu.edu/Content/Default/101/4330/0/university-news/thomas-university-holds-inaugural-men%92s-basketball-game.html |title=Thomas University &#124; Thomas University holds inaugural men's basketball game |website=www.thomasu.edu |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131216190900/http://www.thomasu.edu/Content/Default/101/4330/0/university-news/thomas-university-holds-inaugural-men%92s-basketball-game.html |archive-date=16 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{ccat}} 
* {{oweb}}
* [https://tunighthawks.com/ Athletics website]

{{Georgia Private Colleges and Universities}}
{{Southern States Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{College sports in Georgia}}
{{authority control}}

{{Coord|30.8160|-83.9686|display=title}}

[[Category:Thomas University| ]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1950]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Education in Thomas County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Thomas County, Georgia]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]