Selma University Selma University is a private , historically black , Bible college located in Selma , Alabama , United States . It is affiliated with the Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention . History . The institution was founded in 1878 as the Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological School to train African Americans as ministers and teachers . The school purchased the former Selma Fair Grounds later that same year , moving into the fair ' s old exposition buildings . Noted men such as the Reverends William H . McAlpine , James A . Foster and R . Murrell were among the founders . At a meeting in Mobile , Alabama in 1874 , the first trustees were elected : C . O . Booth , Alexander Butler , William H . McAlpine , Holland Thompson and H . J . Europe . The Convention voted to locate the school in Selma in 1877 . The school opened four years later in the Saint Phillips Street Baptist Church of Selma ( which later became the First Baptist Church ) . In 1881 , the school was incorporated by an act of the legislature under the name of Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological School of Selma . On May 14 , 1908 , the name was officially changed to Selma University . In the late 1980s , Selma University developed from a four - year bachelor program in religion and two - year liberal arts program to a four - year institution . However , in the autumn of 2000 , Selma University began its transformation from a Christian liberal arts college to a Bible college . In February 2001 , Selma University received applicant status , and in February 2005 the school received candidate status with the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education in Orlando , Florida . On February 20 , 2009 , Selma University received Initial Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education in Canada and the United States . Buildings and improvements . The Women ' s Baptist State Convention was organized in 1886 and built a girls ' dormitory in 1889 . This dormitory was named Stone Hall in honor of Miss Susie Stone , Secretary of the Women ' s Convention . The Dinkins Memorial Chapel was completed in 1904 . It was named in honor of Reverend C . S . Dinkins , one of the presidents of the school . This building was rebuilt in 1921 after having been destroyed by fire . It was renovated in 1980 . Foster Hall was built in 1910 , and named in honor of Miss Susie C . Foster , president of the Women ' s Convention at the time of its construction . Cleveland Hall was built in 1948 and was named in honor of M . C . Cleveland , Sr . The building contained materials that were taken from the Vickers Home and the Old Arcade Hotel in Selma . Gibbs Dining Hall was constructed in 1953 and named after Mrs . Henrietta M . Gibbs . The Stone - Robinson Library was erected in 1960 and named for Miss Susie Stone , Secretary of the Women ' s Convention and Reverend U . J . Robinson , President of the Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention . The Jemison - Owens Auditorium / Gymnasium was completed in 1966 . This building was named in honor of Reverend D . V . Jemison , who was President of the Convention , and Dr . James H . Owens , President of the school at the time of its construction . The Hood - Ware Dormitory for men and the Jackson - Wilson Dormitory for women were completed in 1970 . The A . W . Wilson Science and Computer Hall was completed in 1979 . its also a private school founded in 1878 In 1988 , the science complex was expanded with the addition of an annex that houses an auditorium , several instructional laboratories , and two computer facilities , with offices for faculty . The computer - equipped writing laboratory in Dinkins Hall , the mathematics laboratory in the Science addition ( completed in 1989 ) , and the expanded library facility which houses a center for audiovisual instruction and computer - aided self - study ( completed in 1990 ) are among the more significant improvements to the campus .