Editing Georgetown College

{{Short description|Christian college in Georgetown, Kentucky, U.S.}}
{{Distinguish|Georgetown University|Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Georgetown College
 | image                  = Georgetown College seal.png
| image_size    = 150 
 | motto                  = ''Respice Finem''
 ([[Latin]])
 | mottoeng               = Look to the end (in the sense of "consider the consequences" or "think about the end result")
 | established            = {{start date and age|1829}}
 | type                   = [[Private college|Private]] [[Christian college|Christian]] [[liberal arts college]]
 | endowment              = 
 | president              = Rosemary A. Allen<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Rosemary Allen Inaugurated as First Female President |url=https://www.georgetowncollege.edu/news/dr-rosemary-allen-inaugurated-first-female-president |website=georgetowncollege.edu |date=October 3, 2022 |publisher=Georgetown College |access-date=30 March 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221129140018/https://www.georgetowncollege.edu/news/dr-rosemary-allen-inaugurated-first-female-president |archive-date= 29 November 2022}}</ref>
 | city                   = [[Georgetown, Kentucky]]
 | country                = U.S.
 | coor                   = {{coord|38.207|-84.554|type:edu_region:US-KY|display=inline,title}}
 | students               = 1,565<ref name="nces.ed.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Georgetown+College&s=all&id=156745|title = College Navigator - Georgetown College}}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 1,109<ref name="nces.ed.gov"/>
 | postgrad_label         = 
 | postgrad               = 456<ref name="nces.ed.gov"/>
 | faculty                = 77 full-time and 68 part-time<ref name="nces.ed.gov"/>
 | sports_nickname        = [[Georgetown Tigers|Tigers]]
 | affiliations           = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] – [[Mid-South Conference|Mid-South]]
 | campus                 = Suburban, {{cvt|104|acre}}
 | colors                 = {{color box|black}} {{color box|#ff6600}}<br>Black & Orange
 | website                = {{url|https://www.georgetowncollege.edu/| georgetowncollege.edu}}
 | logo                   = Georgetown college ky logo.png
| logo_size    = 200
}}

'''Georgetown College''' is a [[Private college|private]] [[Christian college|Christian]] [[liberal arts college]] in [[Georgetown, Kentucky]]. Chartered in 1829, Georgetown was the first [[Baptist]] college west of the [[Appalachian Mountains]].<ref name="GChistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/about/gc-history/ |title= Georgetown College History |website= georgetowncollege.edu |date= August 2017 |publisher=Georgetown College |access-date=March 30, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240210165124/https://www.georgetowncollege.edu/about-georgetown |archive-date= 10 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="CIC">{{cite web |url=http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p643 |title=Giddings Hall |date=November 2006 |work=Historic Campus Architecture Project |publisher=Council of Independent Colleges |access-date=August 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116055219/http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p643 |archive-date=January 16, 2009 }}</ref>

The college offers over 40 [[undergraduate]] degrees and a [[Master of Arts]] in education. It offers degrees in areas of visual and performing arts, math and sciences, humanities, language and culture, business, medicine and healthcare, and others.

Georgetown College is associated with five [[Rhodes Scholarship|Rhodes Scholars]] and its alumni have included 38 [[Fulbright Program|Fulbright Scholars]] since 1989.

==History==
In 1829, the [[Kentucky General Assembly]] chartered the Kentucky Baptist Education Society with the purpose of establishing a Baptist college in the state. 24 trustees under the leadership of Silas Noel selected the town of Georgetown as the site for the new school. The first president hired by the college in 1829, William D. Staughton, died before assuming his duties. The second president, Rev. Joel Smith Bacon, stayed two years (1830–1832), fighting court cases to release funding for the college before leaving out of frustration. The third president, Benjamin Farnsworth, endured a power struggle with the [[Campbellites]] and resigned in 1837.

In 1838, Rev. Rockwood Giddings became the fourth president of the college. During his short tenure, Giddings began construction on Recitation Hall, the school's first permanent building. Giddings died after a year in office and was replaced by Rev. Howard Malcolm in 1840.

Malcolm oversaw the completion of the construction of the building, now known as Giddings Hall. He also expanded the educational offerings beyond the classics and encouraged the founding of literary societies and the Georgetown Female Academy. He resigned in 1849 when his anti-slavery vote at Kentucky's third constitutional convention resulted in criticism from slavery proponents.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The college experienced steady growth until the Civil War, when a clear divide established between students and faculty. Partisan differences at the start of the war became so hostile, the college was forced to shut down until 1863. By 1867, enrollment had grown to seventy-six students, and, that same year, one of the earliest female seminaries was founded at the college. [[Basil Manly Jr.]] was president of Georgetown College from 1871 to 1879.<ref>{{Citation| publisher = Oxford University Press| last = Wills| first = Gregory A.| title = Manly, Basil, Jr. (1825-1892), Baptist minister| date = February 2000}}</ref>

The college saw steady growth for the next century but experienced a major boom following World War II and the GI Bill.

The college is associated with five Rhodes Scholars and, since 1989, its alumni have included 38 Fulbright Scholars.<ref name="GCinfo">{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/admissions/information/ |title=Georgetown College Information and Quick Facts |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228130842/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/admissions/information/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The college also has an honors program and a partnership with [[Regent's Park College]], [[Oxford]]. 

As the student population grew in the late 20th century, the administration sought ways to diversify the campus and protect academic freedom. In 2005, Georgetown College and the [[Kentucky Baptist Convention]] reached an agreement on a separation plan, due to the college's desire to elect non-Baptist members to the board of trustees.<ref> Bob Allen, [https://goodfaithmedia.org/georgetown-college-loosens-kentucky-baptist-ties-cms-6444/ Georgetown College Loosens Kentucky Baptist Ties], goodfaithmedia.org, USA, October 19, 2005 </ref> In 2013, the [[Kentucky Baptist Convention]] officially ended its partnership with the college.<ref> Bob Allen, [https://baptistnews.com/article/kbc-votes-to-end-georgetown-ties/ KBC votes to end Georgetown ties], baptistnews.com, USA, November 15, 2013 </ref>

In 2014, the college earned the highest rating for protecting free speech on campus.<ref name="FIRE">{{Cite web |last=Fire |date=2014-03-28 |title=Georgetown College Earns Highest Rating for Free Speech {{!}} The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression |url=https://www.thefire.org/news/georgetown-college-earns-highest-rating-free-speech |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.thefire.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Academics==
{{multiple image
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| image2 = Giddings Hall, Georgetown College; Georgetown, Kentucky.jpg
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Georgetown College offers Bachelor of Arts degrees, Bachelor of Science degrees, and several dual-program degrees in 38 undergraduate majors. The college also offers a Master of Arts degree in education.

The college has a 14:1 student to faculty ratio and most classes have 17 or fewer students.<ref name="GChistory"/>

Georgetown College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master's degrees.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/admissions/information/ |title=CCSAC Accreditation |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228130842/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/admissions/information/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Admissions===
In 2023, the college accepted 71.7% of applicants, with those admitted having an average 3.57 [[Academic grading in the United States#Grade conversion|GPA]] and an average of 1121 [[SAT]] score or an average 21 [[ACT (test)|ACT]] score.<ref>{{cite web |title= Georgetown College Requirements for Admission |url= https://www.prepscholar.com/sat/s/colleges/Georgetown-College-admission-requirements#:~:text=Average%20GPA%3A%203.57,B's%2C%20and%20very%20few%20C's.|website=prepscholar.com |publisher= PrepScholar|access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> High school GPA is considered important by the college and, of students responding, 86% found that the admissions process made them feel the school cared about them and 86% found that the admissions process evaluated them not just as a set of numbers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Georgetown College Admissions |url=https://www.niche.com/colleges/georgetown-college/admissions/ |website=niche.com |publisher=[[Niche (company)|Niche]] |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> 

===Rankings===
Georgetown College was ranked #156-201 in National Liberal Arts Colleges in the ''U.S. News & World Report'''s 2022-23 [[U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking|Best Colleges]] ranking.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2023 |title=U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Georgetown College |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/georgetown-college-1964 |website=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>

==Student organizations==
Georgetown College has 46 student clubs and organizations. The college offers a chapel and several Christian and other religious groups for students.<ref name="Organizations">{{Cite web |date=2017-08-28 |title=Student Involvement |url=https://www.georgetowncollege.edu/campus-life/student-involvement |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Georgetown College |language=en}}</ref>

===Student life===
Georgetown College has four national fraternities and five national sororities on campus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/studentlife/greek-life/ |title=Greek life |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228130622/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/studentlife/greek-life/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Government-minded students can join the College Democrats, College Republicans, United Nations Georgetown, and the Student Government Association.<ref name="Igroups">{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/studentlife/student-organizations/interest-groups/ |title=Interested groups |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228130618/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/studentlife/student-organizations/interest-groups/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Recreation and activity oriented groups include the Georgetown Activities Council, intramurals, Georgetown College Equestrian Team, Georgetown College Film Club, Outdoor High Adventure Club, Social Plug, and the Georgetown College Disc Golf Club.<ref name="Organizations"/>

Activist groups include the Georgetown Sustainability Initiative, Campus Spectrum, Habitat for Humanity, Student Abolitionist Movement, and the American Red Cross Club.<ref name="Igroups"/>

Students interested in the arts can participate in the Dance Marathon, George-Tones, Gospel Choir, Lyric Theatre Society, Maskrafters/[[Alpha Psi Omega]], MTNA piano club, Praise Dance Ministry, and the Step Team.<ref name="Igroups"/>

Religious organizations include Common Ground and Campus Outreach.<ref name="Organizations"/>

Academic groups include [[Alpha Lambda Delta]], [[American Chemical Society]] Club, Biology Club, Brokmeyer Society (philosophy), [[Delta Omicron]], Georgetown College Athletic Training Students, Kentucky Education Association, Math/Physics/Computer Science Club, Nat'l Association for Music Education, [[Psi Chi]]/Psi Alpha Omega, [[Sigma Tau Delta]] (English honorary, Eta Alpha chapter, est. 1925), Sociology Club, Student Women and Gender Society, Students of National Association for Teachers of Singing, and the Academic Team.<ref name="Organizations"/>

Other student organizations include Ambassadors of Diversity, Pre-Health Association, SHAC, SHMAC, Tiger Squad, Commuter Club, and the Real Food Coalition.<ref name="Organizations"/>

===Maskrafters===
The Georgetown College Maskrafter theater group is the oldest collegiate theater company in Kentucky and offers traditional theater, an emphasis on creating original work, and new initiatives in digital motion picture art. As of 2007, the Maskrafters had produced a feature-length movie entitled ''Surviving Guthrie'', and had put on the musical ''[[She Loves Me]]''. Recent plays include ''[[Proof (play)|Proof]]'', ''[[The Fantasticks]]'', ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'', and [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[The Tempest]]''. The Maskrafters are primarily students at Georgetown, and are guided by staff.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/studentlife/student-organizations/fine-arts-organizations/maskrafters-theater-film/ |title=Maskrafters: Theatre & Film |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228131307/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/studentlife/student-organizations/fine-arts-organizations/maskrafters-theater-film/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Media===
A student-run newspaper, called ''The Georgetonian'', publishes multiple issues per semester.<ref>[http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/georgetonian/ Georgetonian]</ref> A student-run radio station, [[WRVG-LP|WRVG]], is housed on campus in the Cralle Student Center.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/studentlife/student-organizations/fine-arts-organizations/wrvg/ |title=WRVG |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228131538/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/studentlife/student-organizations/fine-arts-organizations/wrvg/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Traditions===
'''Songfest''' is an evening of skits written by, starring, and produced by Greek and independent groups on campus. Skits are centered on the Homecoming theme, and also incorporate singing, dancing, and acting. Groups engage in competitions to win awards.<ref name="Traditions">{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/admissions/traditions/ |title=Georgetown College Traditions |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228130615/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/admissions/traditions/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:John L Hill Chapel Georgetown College.jpg|thumb|200px|John L. Hill Chapel]]
'''Chapel Day and Men's Bid Day''' takes place each fall. Chapel Day is a sorority event letting the active members know which pledges have accepted their bid to join the sorority. The pledges dress in their new sorority's colors and run through the doors of the chapel into the waiting arms of their sisters. The fraternities' version of Chapel Day occurs the following week. Referred to as Men's Bid Day, it operates in a similar fashion. Even independent students, faculty, staff, family, and sometimes pets brave the cold to enjoy the excitement of this special campus tradition.<ref name="Traditions"/>

'''Homecoming''' is an annual tradition, highlighted by Songfest and a football game. Every year, alumni head back to Georgetown's campus. On Saturday morning they have brunch, listen to live music, and visit with fellow alumni, professors and current students. A Homecoming King and Queen, elected by the student body, are crowned during halftime of the football game.<ref name="Traditions"/>

'''Belle of the Blue''' is Georgetown's small-scale version of Miss America. It is an annual scholarship pageant that any freshman through junior woman can participate in. Each residence hall, including the male dormitories, nominates a woman to compete as their representative in the February event. On pageant night, the women are judged based on scholarship, interview, talent, poise and appearance. A "Miss Congeniality" title is awarded, as well as an overall scholarship to Georgetown College.<ref name="Traditions"/>

'''Midnight Brunch''' – The Caf, each semester, selects one night during finals week to open at midnight. Students listen to music that blares and games are played, and the professors serve students platefuls of comfort food to help fuel their late-night study sessions.<ref name="Traditions"/>

'''Grubfest''' happens each September. Students join the annual battle to see which team can complete the most challenges. In a matter of hours, the Quad, a lush, green open area for socializing and studying, is turned into a slimy, muddy arena covered with food products. At the end of Grubfest, the two dirtiest and most creative participants are crowned king and queen of the year's festivities.<ref name="Traditions"/>

'''Opening Convocation''' is held in the chapel in the early fall and is a campus-wide assembly intended to create a sense of academic community and common purpose as the academic year begins.<ref name="Traditions"/>

'''Hanging of the Green''' is held each December, and students, faculty, and staff gather together in the chapel on the first Monday night of the month for a worship service including an advent wreath lit by faculty and staff, an upperclassman offering the service's message, and a Christmas tree trimmed on stage with ornaments representing various organizations on campus. At the end, the attendees sing "Silent Night".<ref name="Traditions"/>

'''Commencement''', or the graduation ceremony, takes place every May on Giddings Lawn. Seniors troop through the doors of Giddings Hall and fan out onto the front lawn, where commencement proceeds.<ref name="Traditions"/>

==Athletics==
{{Main|Georgetown Tigers}}

The Georgetown athletic teams are called the Tigers. The university is a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA), primarily competing in the [[Mid-South Conference]] (MSC) since the 1995–96 academic year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-southconference.org/members.php|title=Members: Georgetown College|year=2013|access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref> The Tigers previously competed in the [[River States Conference|Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] (KIAC; now currently known as the River States Conference (RSC) since the 2016–17 school year) from 1916–17 to 1994–95.

Georgetown competes in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports:<ref name="Sports">[http://www.georgetowncollegeathletics.com Sports teams]</ref> Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include archery and cheerleading. Former sports included women's acrobatics & tumbling. Club sports include bass fishing and dance.

===Attempt to move to NCAA Division II===
On April 28, 2012, the college officially announced that after a year-long study, it had decided to transfer its athletics program to [[NCAA Division II]]. It was presumed they would join the newly formed [[Great Midwest Athletic Conference]] (G-MAC).<ref name="NCAADII">{{cite web|url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/news/2012/04/georgetown-college-athletics-applies-for-ncaa-affiliation |title=Georgetown College Athletics Applies for NCAA Affiliation|publisher=Georgetown College|date=April 2012|access-date= April 29, 2012}}</ref> However, on July 24, 2012, the college announced that its application to join the NCAA was denied. The membership committee had notified them on July 12 that "it felt that Georgetown College was not ready to enter the process at this time."<ref name="NCAA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/wrvg/2012/07/24/gc-ncaa-div-ii-application-denied/ |title=NCAA Division II Application denied |access-date=July 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228103642/http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/wrvg/2012/07/24/gc-ncaa-div-ii-application-denied/ |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of 2021, Georgetown hasn't yet re-applied to transition into NCAA Division II.

===Accomplishments===
* 3 NAIA football national championships (1991, 2000, and 2001)<ref name="Championships">[http://www.mid-southconference.org/f/MSC_Team_National_Champions.php National Championships]</ref>
* 3 NAIA men's basketball national championships (1998, 2013, 2019)<ref name="Championships"/>
* 1 NAIA men's volleyball national championship (2024)<ref name="Championships"/>

==Notable alumni==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}} 
* [[Robert S. James]], Baptist pastor and father to outlaws [[Jesse James]] and [[Frank James]]
* [[Ben M. Bogard]], clergyman, founder of the [[American Baptist Association]], based primarily in [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]]
* [[LaVerne Butler]], Southern Baptist pastor and former president of [[Mid-Continent University]] in [[Mayfield, Kentucky|Mayfield]], Kentucky
* [[Woo Chia-wei]], the founding president of [[Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]]
* [[Blanton Collier]], National Football League head coach of the [[Cleveland Browns]], 1963–1970
* [[Thomas E. Corts]], president at [[Wingate University]] and at [[Samford University]]
* [[Billy Ray Cyrus]], country music singer
* [[Kenneth Davis (basketball)|Kenny Davis]], three-time NAIA All-American; captain of the [[1972 United States men's Olympic basketball team|1972 US Olympic basketball team]]
* [[Susan Johns]], former member of the [[Kentucky Senate]] and the [[Kentucky House of Representatives]]
* [[Buell Kazee]], musician and Baptist minister
* [[Harry Lancaster]], college basketball and baseball coach at [[Kentucky Wildcats|Kentucky]]
* [[Bruce McNorton]], professional football player
* [[John Gordon Mein]], [[United States Ambassador to Guatemala]]
* [[Joe Dan Osceola]], Chief and Ambassador of the [[Seminole]] Indian tribe of Florida
* [[Mike Polly]], football player and Division 1 football coach
* [[Scott Pruitt]], Administrator of the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] and former [[Attorney General of Oklahoma]]
* [[Will Rabatin]], [[American football|football]] player
* [[Arthur Yager]], [[Governor of Puerto Rico]]
* [[Donald W. Zacharias]], sixth president of [[Western Kentucky University]] and 15th president of [[Mississippi State University]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}
* [https://georgetowncollegeathletics.com/ Athletics website]
* {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Georgetown College |short=x}}

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[[Category:Georgetown College| ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1829]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Georgetown, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Education in Scott County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Baptist Christianity in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Scott County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:1829 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Baptist universities and colleges in the United States]]