TMU President Dr. Emir Caner signs contract to close on the purchase of the old Cleveland Worship Center and other properties. Looking on are TMU Vice President of Finance and Operations/General Council Dr. Joe Wiegand, Director of Financial Development Dr. Gary Jarnagin, Pastor of CWC Marc Turner, Trustee of CWC Stanley Weldon and Attorney Chad Knott.
(Cleveland) –Truett McConnell University (TMU) continues to expand its campus to include additional student housing and classroom space, which will accommodate the Peter and Gredel Walpot School of Education.
In April of 2016, TMU and the Cleveland Worship Center (CWC), entered into a three year lease/purchase agreement on two facilities at 529 E. Kytle Street and 49 Dixon Drive. Due to the recent $3.7 million gift from the Mildred Ruth Brown estate, TMU was able to purchase the CWC and two Heritage Condominiums one year earlier than expected.
CWC Senior Pastor Marc Turner said, “This lease/purchase agreement served as the catalyst we needed to get to our new facility on Helen Highway. Without TMU, we would not have been able to build this new building. God’s hands have certainly blessed this entire process.”
“We will hold our first service in the new location on March 4 and host a grand opening on March 11 during the 11:00 a.m. Sunday service,” Turner continued. “A Community Open Dedication Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. that same day.”
Additionally, TMU purchased two of the remaining Heritage Condominiums which are contiguous to TMU property. “This latest purchase brings the purchase of the Heritage Condominiums to completion,” stated Dr. Emir Caner, President of the University.
The Heritage Condominiums will now provide housing to 56 students, allowing for continued growth in both undergraduate and graduate student populations.
“The remainder of the funds from the Ruth Brown Estate, more than $2 million, will be set aside as the lead gift for our new Brown Hall Academic Building,” Caner added. The new academic facility will be approximately 30,000 sq. ft. and will house classrooms, lecture halls, a psychology lab, offices, tutoring rooms and study carousels. TMU will officially begin fundraising efforts for the remaining portion of the $5 million Academic Building this summer.
“In 1994,” Caner said, “Ruth Brown contacted a friend and alumnus of TMU, Mr. Larry Bryant. Larry encouraged Ms. Brown to direct her estate to Truett McConnell, a recommendation that is now realized on the next generation of Christian leaders that will have the ability to follow God’s call and their dreams, all due to the selfless generosity of a kind and godly woman.”
The expansion of TMU facilities is a continuation of the growth pattern that has occurred over the past ten years, including an increase from 461 students to over 2,600 undergraduate, graduate, online and dual enrollment students. In addition, the university now offers 30 bachelor degree programs and five graduate degrees in the areas of Biology, Counseling, Education, Business and Theology.
