Mississippi College announces name change and cancellation of football program

After a thorough review and in preparation for the institution’s bicentennial in 2026, the Mississippi College Board of Trustees today approved an institutional name change from Mississippi College to Mississippi Christian University.

In a press release, the university said: “This decision underlines MC’s status as a comprehensive university and allows the institution to retain its MC logo and identity.”

“The institutional name change is a strategic decision that reiterates the leadership’s commitment to fulfilling the private university’s vision: to be known as a university recognized for its academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ. Plans for a name change and associated branding efforts will begin immediately, with the new name taking effect in 2026 to coincide with the Bicentennial.”

The Mississippi College Board of Trustees also approved it at its Nov. 18 meeting

• A preliminary plan for academic reorganization.
• A strategic realignment of the athletic department.

“These transformational and necessary changes are extremely important for the future of this institution. As we look ahead to the institution’s bicentennial in 2026, we want to ensure that for another 200 years, MC will be a university recognized for its academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ,” said Blake Thompson, president from Mississippi College.

The preliminary plan for academic reorganization elevates the Department of Christian Studies to an interdisciplinary unit that underscores the institute’s commitment to Christian education. A new structure will be implemented that consolidates the School of Christian Studies and the Arts with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Education will be renamed the School of Education and Human Science. The Provost is charged with evaluating the potential consolidation of a limited number of academic departments on campus. This plan aims to ensure that academic programs are relevant to the market and at the same time make the university more efficient and innovative.

“By refining our academic offerings and investing in key academic initiatives, we seek to provide a learning environment in which students and faculty can excel, pursue meaningful scholarship and provide impactful service,” said MC Provost and Executive Vice President Mike Highfield.

The strategic realignment of athletics includes the elimination of the intercollegiate football program, allowing the institution to continue its pursuit of excellence in intercollegiate Division II play in the remaining 17 sports and pursue necessary facility upgrades.

“Discontinuing our football program is a difficult decision. We recognize the program’s legacy and deep connection with the football program’s many student-athletes, alumni and supporters. I want to emphasize that we will always consider them part of our MC family,” said MC Athletic Director Kenny Bizot.

“We will support our current student-athletes as they continue their education at MC, as well as those who wish to transfer,” Bizot added.

All three changes – the institutional name change, the academic reorganization plan and the athletics department realignment – ​​emphasize prioritizing the academic enterprise and supporting the university’s core functions.

The three changes were based on recommendations from a task force of university administrators, which were developed in consultation with university leadership and approved by the Board of Governors, with the primary goal of providing long-term sustainability for the institution through strategic alignment of missions, organizational efficiency improvements and a structurally balanced budget.

About Mississippi College: Mississippi College is a private, coeducational, Christian college in Clinton, Mississippi, serving nearly 5,000 students from around the world.