Lane College history

Their tenure began in October 1883.

On June 22, 1884, the school changed its name to the Lane Institute after it was chartered under the laws of the State of Tennessee, and expanded its curriculum to focus on preparing ministers and teachers.

These actions were significant in furthering the development of the school and gearing its curriculum towards preparing “preachers and teachers.” Doctor Phillips resigned in the summer of 1885.

In September 1887, Reverend T. F. Saunders, a member of the Memphis, Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was appointed the first President of Lane Institute, making numerous contributions to the school.

In 1896, Lane Institute developed a College Department and broadened its curriculum by including courses in the classics, natural and physical sciences, as well as in mathematics.

In 1903, Reverend James Albert Bray, later elected a Bishop in the CME Church, was elected president.

Built in 1905 and known as the “Crown Jewel” of the campus, Bray Hall received a complete interior overhaul, costing $2.2 million.

In 1907, James Franklin Lane, the son of Bishop Lane was elected as president of the institution.

The new vocational school opened in 1938 in the original Geary School at Fourth and Madison in Eugene.

Following the October 1964 election, Lane was founded and ETVS was folded into the new community college.

The first classes were held on September 20, 1965, at facilities at 200 North Monroe in Eugene.

A $9.9 million construction bond issue for the construction of the main campus was passed by the voters in 1966.

KLCC-FM(link is external), a public broadcasting station, began broadcasting in 1967 and has earned a reputation as a major news and jazz radio station.

Classes were offered there for the first time in September 1968.

Doctor Kirkendoll served for twenty (20) years until his election as a Bishop of the CME Church in May 1970.

Since 1973 the college has been a member of the League for Innovation in the Community College(link is external), a consortium of community colleges committed to stimulate experimentation and innovation in all areas of community college development.

The first telecourse was offered on cable television in the spring of 1979.

Beginning in 1981, the Business Assistance Center provided aid to small businesses.

Responding to the changing economy of Lane County, Lane established the Dislocated Worker Program (renamed Workforce Development) in 1983 to provide training and job search assistance to residents who lost their jobs due to changes in the economy.

Since 1984, Lane has housed the Oregon Small Business Development Network.

He was succeeded by Doctor Alex A. Chambers who took office on June 1, 1986.

The Transitions to Success (now Women in Transition) program, established in 1987, assists displaced homemakers, single parents and other women in transition to become economically self-sufficient through access to education, training and employment.

In April 1996, the College purchased the property formerly owned by the Budde & Weiss Manufacturing Company, a firm that designed and made church furniture.

In February 1997, the $5.2million building was named the Chambers-McClure Academic Center (CMAC).

In September 2001, the Board of Trustees approved the administration’s strategic plan to expand the College’s curriculum, strengthen the quality of its faculty, and increase student enrollment.

Under Doctor McClure’s leadership, the College’s accreditation was reaffirmed in 2002, with commendations for library resources and information technology.

As a result of these renovations, on November 4, 2004, the Cyber Café opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In July 2005, the College acquired the FCC license to operate its own radio station, WLCD-FM. Lane is one of only two private colleges or universities in West Tennessee with its own full-time radio station.

In October 2010, the College completed construction of the new Berry Hall, replacing the former building that was moved to campus over 65 years ago.

The year 2012 was marked by enormous growth, but also the upholding of its Mission to serve the disadvantaged.

In July 2013, the College acquired the former Baptist Student Union Building located on Middleton Street from the Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Education (TBM&E) Convention.

One of Doctor Hampton’s marquee initiatives is the Power of Potential® (POP) Scholars Program launched in 2015.

In 2017, President Hampton led the campus to develop five strategic themes.

For the first time since 2019, the Works Student Dance Concert will be performed for a LIVE audience on May 20th an… https://t.co/BjDUGY3YGj