Knoxville College Knoxville College is a historically black liberal arts college in Knoxville , Tennessee , United States . Founded in 1875 by the United Presbyterian Church of North America , the school has an enrollment of approximately 100 students , and offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies and an Associate of Arts degree . Knoxville College is a United Negro College Fund member school . History . Establishment . Knoxville College is rooted in a mission school established in Knoxville in 1864 by R . J . Creswell of the United Presbyterian Church to educate the city ' s free blacks and freed slaves . This school initially met in the First Baptist Church building ( which at the time was located on Gay Street ) before moving to a permanent facility in East Knoxville in 1866 . In spite of general apathy from the city ' s leaders and threats from poor whites , the school ' s enrollment gradually grew to over 100 . In the 1870s , the church ' s Freedmen ' s Mission , which had established mission schools for freed slaves across the South , decided to refocus its efforts on building a larger , better - equipped school in Knoxville , in part due to stiff competition from other denominations in Nashville . In 1875 , the church sold its East Knoxville property and purchased its current property , which at the time consisted of a hill that had been occupied by a Confederate battery during the Civil War . The school ' s first building , McKee Hall , named for the Reverend O . S . McKee , was completed in 1876 , and the school opened in December of that year . Former governor William G . Brownlow and gubernatorial candidate William F . Yardley spoke at the opening ceremonies . The Reverend J . S . McCulloch was named the school ' s first principal , and Eliza B . Wallace was named the school ' s principal of female students . The new school was primarily a normal school , which trained teachers , but also operated an academy for the education of local children . In 1877 , the school was designated a college by the state , to the surprise of McCulloch , as few of the school ' s students were ready for a college - level curriculum . In 1890 , the state designated the school the recipient of its Morrill Act funds for blacks , with which the school established mechanical and agricultural departments . Early 20th century growth . In 1901 , Knoxville College finally received a charter from the State of Tennessee . Six years later , the school established the Eliza B . Wallace Hospital , which served a dual purpose of training nurses and tending to the health needs of the local black community . This proved invaluable during the city ' s Influenza outbreak of 1918 . In 1913 , John Henry Michael , the head of the school ' s mechanical department , designed the " Negro Building " for the National Conservation Exposition , which was held across town at Chilhowee Park . The building , which is no longer standing , was constructed with the help of Knoxville College students . During World War I , Knoxville College students helped raise money for liberty bond s and the Red Cross . In the aftermath of the Riot of 1919 , one of the city ' s worst racial episodes , the school ' s administration ( comprising black and white members ) staunchly defended the city ' s African American community , and praised its students ' restraint . In 1925 , Knoxville College students staged a month - long boycott of classes to protest the school ' s strict behavioral code , culminating in an all - night negotiating session between student leaders and the school ' s dean , Herbert Telford . Telford agreed to relax some rules , and allowed the creation of a student council . In 1957 , Knoxville College became one of the first group of predominantly black institutions admitted to full membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ( SACS ) . Throughout the summer of 1960 , Knoxville College students engaged in a series of sit - in s to protest segregation at lunch counters in downtown Knoxville , eventually convincing most downtown businesses to end the practice . The school ' s charter was amended in 1962 to allow the admission of white students . Accreditation loss and reorganization . Beginning in the 1970s , Knoxville College began to struggle financially , leading to a gradual decline . In 1997 , the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools withdrew Knoxville College ' s accreditation , and the school ' s financial situation became dire . As enrollment plummeted , the school ' s debt skyrocketed , and it was unable to pay its faculty or electric bills . In August 2005 , the school ' s Board of Trustees fired the school ' s president , Barbara Hatton . Following Hatton ' s removal , the school ' s alumni association embarked on an aggressive fundraising campaign , aided by Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientist , Johnnie Cannon , and the school has gradually rebounded . In January 2010 , the school hired Dr . Horace A . Judson as interim president . Judson has implemented a new strategic plan with the following goals : 1 . regain accreditation 2 . achieve fiscal stability 3 . develop academic program distinctiveness 4 . develop a Department of Enrollment Management 5 . develop a quality student - centered living and learning environment 6 . establish new relationships and strengthen former ones among key constituents . Campus . Knoxville College is situated on a 17 - building , campus , located atop a hill overlooking the Mechanicsville neighborhood , just northwest of Knoxville ' s downtown area . Along with administration and classroom buildings , the campus includes a performing arts center , a gymnasium , a library , a chapel , and a student center . The school maintains dormitories for on - campus students , as well as a president ' s house , and cottages and apartments for faculty . Knoxville College Historic District . In 1980 , eight buildings on the Knoxville College campus were listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district for their role in minority education . Many of the earliest buildings were constructed using student labor , student - made bricks , and lumber donated by alumni . The district includes the following buildings : Administration . A 20 - member Board of Trustees oversees Knoxville College . Its chairman ( as of 2008 ) is George Curry . The board includes three faculty representatives and one student representative . The Board of Trustees appoints the president , who is the school ' s chief administrator . Horace Judson is the current interim president , appointed in 2010 . The president is assisted by the chief operating officer , academic dean , dean of students , director of admissions , development officer , athletic director , and the Center for Public Health director . Academics . As of 2010 , Knoxville College offered two degrees : the four - year Bachelor of Liberal Studies , and the two year Associate of Arts . The Bachelor of Liberal Studies includes one of four areas of concentration : Humanities , Business and Computer Sciences , Natural Sciences and Mathematics , or Social and Behavioral Sciences . The curriculum further requires 15 to 18 semester hours of specialization within each concentration , providing for a more in - depth understanding of a particular field . Knoxville College follows a debt - free policy that allows students to complete the degree program without the accumulation of debt . This is accomplished primarily through its College Work Program , which allows students to offset much of their tuition costs by working for several hours per week . This program involves a mix of performing various tasks around campus , community involvement , and internship programs . Student life . Knoxville College ' s Student Government Association ( SGA ) , which is elected by the student body , acts as a liaison between students and campus administration . The SGA is led by a president , elected for one term . Student activities include a dance team , a debate team , a choir , and a trivia team ( which competes with other HBCUs in the Honda Bowl Competition ) . The school ' s newspaper , " The Aurora " , has been published for over a century . The college also maintains a student ambassador program and wellness program that provides volunteer services for the surrounding community . Knoxville College has dropped most athletics programs in recent years , but is currently in the process of re - establishing men ' s and women ' s basketball teams , as well as a cheerleading squad .