Last month, Victory University in Memphis announced it would be closing due to financial reasons.
Victory is a private liberal arts nondenominational school founded in1944 as the Mid-South Bible Center.
The institution’s name was later changed to Crichton College in 1987 and in 2010 changed its name to Victory University.
The accredited Christian university is home to nearly 2,000 students and faculty members.
The university will still conduct its commencement in May.
“Victory made a faithful attempt to be a successful Christian college in Memphis, and I regret their efforts did not work,” said Carla Sanderson, executive vice president for Strategic Initiatives and Union’s provost. “As far as seniors graduating in May, some will graduate, but the majority of the students are seeking to transfer to other institutions.”
Sanderson said Union held an information session March 20 for Victory students interested in transferring to Union.
Union has heard from more than 50 students from Victory interested in transferring to one of Union’s campus locations, including Germantown, Jackson and Hendersonville.
“Union seeks to do our best to create transfer plans that will accept the work these students have done at Victory, allowing that work to meet Union requirements to the maximum extent possible, while also helping them accomplish their larger degree completion goals as smoothly as possible,” Sanderson said.
Cameron Black, a senior business administration major at Victory who is a catcher on the school’s baseball team, said Victory’s baseball coach, John Jarnagin, has remained on campus; many already have left the institution.
“Our head coach, John Jarnagin, is continuing to coach our baseball team and teach classes without pay,” said Black. “Coach Jarnagin and this school have truly changed my life and made me a better man. The memories and relationships I have made during my time at Victory are things I will never forget or let go.”
The baseball team also is continuing with its season as scheduled but having to raise money to do so.
“I am going to miss the close relationships I have made while being a student at Victory,” said Black. “I am especially going to miss my coaches and teammates on the baseball team. They not only made me better as a player but [better] as a man of Christ.”
Black has one more semester left after the spring and plans to transfer to either the University of Memphis or Union to complete his education in the fall.
“I have been very pleased with the like-mindedness of both Victory’s faculty and students with Union’s values and purposes,” Sanderson said. “I believe there is strong potential for Union to carry on the good work of Victory University.
“I feel that Victory filled an important role for Christian higher education in Memphis, and it is important for Union to position itself to fill the void being created by Victory’s closing.”
To learn more about the baseball team’s efforts, visit https://www.gofundme.com/7/ljevs.
