Herman J. Felton Jr., president of Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, announced at homecoming festivities that the college is adding three graduate programs and would become a university.
In 1873, the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church founded Wiley University near Marshall, Texas for the purpose of “allowing Negro youth the opportunity to pursue higher learning in the arts, sciences, and other professions.” The educational institution moved to its current location in 1880 and was called Wiley College.
“Renaming Wiley University is not simply an exercise and a name change, it is an exercise in our ability to embrace our past and see the future,” said President Felton. “The past 150 years have been a testimony to our faith in what is possible. We stand proudly today and return to our roots, symbolically as Wiley University, and literally as we embrace the next chapter of excellence.”
The three new graduate programs – that will have an online focus – will be a master’s degree in higher education administration with an emphasis on HBCUs, business administration, and criminal justice.
