By Helene Carter

Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, President of Claflin University, and the Rev. Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr., Pastor of Brookland Baptist Church, announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a collaborative project for Claflin University to bring higher education to the campus of Brookland Baptist Church. 

The academic curriculum will provide non-traditional continuing education opportunities for individuals twenty-two years of age and older who have completed at least one and one half years of college to work towards a bachelor's degree in either Organizational Management or Sociology/Criminal Justice Administration.  The partnership agreement will allow for the expansion of educational offerings to include additional areas of study.  Classes will be held on the campus of Brookland Baptist Church.

The program couples with Brookland’s goal to offer not only spiritual guidance for congregants and residents of West Columbia, but to create educational ties with Claflin University, nationally recognized for its accredited academic programs and high graduation rate.

Brookland Baptist Church, with more than sixty ministries and 5,400 members, has served the spiritual and social needs in the Midlands of South Carolina for over 100 years with substantial growth in membership and community services, activities and programs. Dr. Jackson, senior pastor of Brookland Baptist Church, where he's pastored for over 35 years says, "It is the church's mission to provide uplifting and inspiring worship experiences, informative and life-giving Christian educational opportunities, and ministries of goodwill and service."

Claflin University, located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, is a research-oriented liberal arts institution offering 33 baccalaureate degrees and three graduate programs.  U.S. News & World Report, in its 2007 Guidebook to America’s Best Colleges and Universities, ranked Claflin in the Top Tier for the ninth consecutive year (1999-2007) among best Comprehensive Colleges for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees.  Claflin holds the distinction of being the only Comprehensive baccalaureate institution in South Carolina to be ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Top Ten category in 2005 and 2006.

Claflin University has established similar Professional and Continuing Studies Program partnerships in South Carolina at the Army Continuing Education Services Center at Fort Jackson, SC and at the Technical College in the Low Country, Beaufort, SC.  Also, Claflin is exploring opportunities in the Upstate.

The public is cordially invited to attend the Claflin University and Brookland Baptist Church signing on February 7, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. in Salon A of the Brookland Baptist Church Banquet and Conference Center, 1066 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC.

          For more information about the signing ceremony, please contact the Office of Public Relations at Claflin University, (803)535-5351, or Brookland Baptist Church at (803)796-7525.  For more information about the application process, contact Mrs. Rosalyn Tucker at (803)787-0596 or rosalyn.tucker@claflin.edu.