Snead State Community College
Encyclopedia
History
Snead State Community College evolved from a small mission school established by Mrs. Anna D. Elder. The school originated in 1898, when the Boaz Seminary was authorized by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The E.B.L. Elder family arrived in Boaz in June 1899 and opened the seminary in their home in July of that year with an enrollment of 70 pupils.The Boaz Seminary grew rapidly, and in 1906 its name was changed to John H. Snead Seminary in honor of Mr. Snead, a Boaz businessman and friend of education, who contributed land, money, and leadership to the Seminary. John H. Snead Seminary remained one of Alabama’s strong secondary schools for almost a fourth of a century and graduated more than 1,200 young men and women.
In the fall of 1935, Snead State College was duly chartered by the State of Alabama and began operation as a junior college under the supervision of the North Alabama Conference of the Methodist Church. Snead State College was accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
in 1941.
After 32 years as a private junior college, Snead State College, in 1967, became part of the Alabama two-year college system under the control of the Alabama State Board of Education. The name was changed to Snead State Junior College. At the time, the school consisted of 13 buildings and a 21 acres (84,984.1 m²) campus.
In May 1992, the State Board of Education authorized Snead State Junior College to become Snead State Community College. The main campus, located in the city of Boaz, contains 20 buildings situated on approximately 45 acres (182,108.7 m²).
In 2008, Dr. Robert J. Exley became the 17th president of Snead. The College has an average enrollment of 2,100 students. The College operates full-service instructional sites located in Arab and Cleveland.
Snead State offers the complete college experience with a variety of academic programs, an experienced faculty and staff, and student activities and organizations including clubs, intramurals, athletics, dance, cheerleading, band and vocal opportunities, and theater.