# East Texas Baptist University

East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) is a private Baptist university in Marshall, Texas, United States. It is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

## History

ETBU is located on the site of the former Van Zandt Farm at the highest altitude in Harrison County. ETBU was founded as the "College of Marshall" in 1912, after a campaign to create a Southern Baptist college in East Texas. The campus' first building, Marshall Hall, was completed in 1916. It was designed to house a gymnasium, library, chapel/theatre, administrative offices and classrooms. The College of Marshall opened the following year in 1917 as a two-year junior college and academy. The college was greatly enlarged during the tenure of President Frank Shelby Groner who served as president of the college from 1928 until 1942. It became "East Texas Baptist College" in 1944.
In June 2015, J. Blair Blackburn, a native of Minden, Louisiana, was inaugurated as the 13th president of East Texas Baptist University. He succeeded Samuel "Dub" Oliver, who became in 2014 the president of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.
In 2015 the university applied for and received an exception to Title IX allowing it to discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.
In June of 2024 ETBU announced a merger with B.H. Carroll Theological Institute expanding the institution to a level VI institution of higher learning.

## Accreditation

ETBU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It also is accredited by The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), the Commissions of Collegiate Nursing Education, and the National Association of Schools of Music.

## Campus
### Security

During the day, the campus is patrolled by the on-campus security officer. Security cameras record 24 hours a day and are monitored from 8:00 am – 10:00 pm. Call boxes are placed in strategic locations around campus. At night, the campus is monitored by private security officers (off-duty Marshall City Police Officers).

### Academic buildings

* Marshall Hall
* Scarborough Hall
* Rogers Spiritual Life Center
* Ornelas Student Center
* Dean Healthplex
* Craig Hall
* Harvey Daniel Bruce Hall
* Murphy Science Building
* Bennett Student Commons
* Redwine Instrumental Music Building
* Jenna Guest Music Building
* Fred Hale Business Building
* Mamye Jarrett Library
* Meadows Hall

### Residence halls

* Centennial Hall
* Feagin Hall(Closed)
* Fry Hall
* Linebery Hall
* Mabee Housing Complex
* Ornelas Residential Center
* Oaks on Grove
* University Apartments
* University Park Row Apartments
* Foote Hall at Tiger Yard

## Athletics

The East Texas Baptist University athletics teams are nicknamed Tigers.
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
| Baseball | Acrobatics and tumbling |
| Basketball | Basketball |
| Bass Fishing | Beach volleyball |
| Cross Country | Cross Country |
| Football | Pom |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Ice Hockey | Softball |
| Lacrosse | Tennis |
| Soccer | Track and field |
| Tennis | Volleyball |
| Track and field | |

### Mascot

The mascot for ETBU is a tiger, "Toby" and recently added, "Tabby." ETBU also has a live Tiger mascot named "Sarge" who is housed off campus.

## Notable alumni

* Chris Dier, author and teacher
* Rick Edmonds, Southern Baptist pastor and politician
* Sam B. Hall, politician and judge
* Cameron McCasland, film and television producer

## Sponsored Christian camps

As of 2019, East Texas Baptist sponsored Mission 58 Christian Camps.

## Gallery

* Entrance to ETBU
* Scarborough Hall, built in 1948
* Meadows Hall
* Marshall Hall showing the Light on the Hill
* Scarborough Cross and Marshall Hall
* Scarborough Cross and Harvey Daniel Bruce Hall
* A plate with description under Scarborough Cross
* Ornelas Spiritual Life Center
* Feagin Hall
* Fred Hale School of Business
* ETBU quad