Lindsey Wilson College board votes to make private school a university
Lindsey Wilson College, the private school in Columbia, Kentucky, will change its name to Lindsey Wilson University, the school’s trustees unanimously voted Thursday.
The change was brought about because of the school’s growth in recent years, both in enrollment and academic offerings, and “to reflect the mission, character and direction of this incredible school,” said board of trustees chair Denny Howell.
In the past two years, the enrollment at Lindsey Wilson has grown by more than 1,000 students, with 4,147 students enrolled in fall 2024, according to data from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.
On Thursday, the school’s board of trustees approved the name change, which will go into effect July 1. President William Luckey, who has served as president since 1998, said the name change was needed because the school is “far more dynamic than it was even 10 years ago.”
“I’ve always been convinced that the best teaching and learning in the world happens at small, private colleges across the United States,” Luckey said. “That is why this move does not change our mission, who we serve or what we do, but rather, it reflects the dynamic nature of who we have become.”
The school was founded in 1903 as a training school for Vanderbilt University, and became a junior college in 1923. It began offering bachelor’s degrees in 1985 and graduate degrees in 1993.
Trustee Carrie Farris said she believes the name change will help with recruiting, and especially recruiting international students.
“This move is very good for Lindsey Wilson’s long-term future, as this school will continue to change students’ lives because of faculty and staff who encourage them and provide them a solid foundation to launch successful careers,” Farris said.