Belhaven College, based in Jackson, Miss., will be renamed Belhaven University beginning January 1, 2010. “The name change does not change who we are or shift our mission, focus, or priorities,” said Dr. Roger Parrott, president of the 127-year-old Christian liberal arts college. “Rather, the change of our name more accurately describes who we have become.”

Belhaven’s board of trustees made the decision based on a number of factors: The college is now structured around four schools, including business, education, arts and sciences, and fine arts. Belhaven currently serves 3,000 students in 27 major areas of study on four physical campuses—in Jackson, Memphis, Houston, and Orlando, as well as through an online campus. (Some 500 graduate students are enrolled in eight master’s degree programs.) Additionally, Belhaven has been named to America’s 100 Best College Buys for 10 consecutive years.

The Belhaven board of trustees made the decision to change its name after analyzing the results of an extensive study involving 1,000 alumni, students, and faculty/staff who participated in an online survey.

To learn more about Belhaven, visit www.belhaven.edu.