Miles is a four-year accredited Liberal Arts College, enrolling some 1,800 students, located in Fairfield, Alabama, six miles west of downtown Birmingham. Miles is a church related Institution founded in 1905 by the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, now the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The College is still supported by and affiliated with the CME Church. Although the faculty and student body are nondenominational, the curriculum is designed for the development of strong Christian values and the preparation of students for lives of Christian service.

Miles College began its efforts in 1898 by the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in Alabama to
establish an educational institution. At the time, there were only two conferences in the State: the Alabama and the North Alabama Conferences. Each conference made an effort to build an institution, and for some years, each of these conferences operated separate schools. One was at Thomasville, established in 1902.

The College is generally considered to have developed from the high school operated at Booker
City by the North Alabama Conference. It may be considered a merger of the schools, in that the
Thomasville High School served as a feeder school for Miles College for several years.

In the spring of 1907, the Board of Trustees decided to expand the scope of the school’s curriculum. Acting on this decision, they exchanged the site of Booker City for its present site and erected a large brick building, along with one or more frame buildings. The work of the institution as a college began in the fall of 1907.

In 1908, the organization of the school was completed and it was chartered under the laws of the State of Alabama as Miles Memorial College, in honor of Bishop William H. Miles. In 1941, the Trustees voted to change the name of the institution to Miles College.

Miles College works for the welfare of all people especially those in the Black Community. As a result, Miles introduced Head Start and Upward Bound Programs (high school students taking college courses) into the community, and Manpower Training and Teacher Institutes in English, history, mathematics and elementary education.

Miles College is open to all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion or national origin. For most of its many years of service, Miles has been the principal four-year college open to black students in the metropolitan Birmingham area. The College has a proud record of achievement in preparing teachers in the Birmingham area public schools are graduates of Miles College.

The College is a fully accredited member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for
the awarding of baccalaureate degrees, and has had membership in the United Negro College Fund since 1972.

Miles offers Bachelors Degree Programs with majors in accounting, biology, biology education, business administration, computer information technology, business management, chemistry, chemistry education, communications, criminal justice elementary, English, language arts, education, mathematics, mathematics education, political science, social science education, environmental science management, and social work. In addition, courses in art, French, Spanish, philosophy, religion, dance, drama, economics, and history are also offered. Graduates who complete approved teacher education programs qualify for the State of Alabama Class “B” Professional Certificate in elementary education.

University Quick Facts

LOCATION: Fairfield, AL
FOUNDED: 1905
ENROLLMENT: 1,801
NICKNAME: Golden Bears
BAND: The Purple Marching Machine
COLORS: Purple & Gold
WEB SITE: www.miles.edu
Athletics Website: www.milesgoldenbears.com

Sports information:
SID Office Phone: (205) 929-3298
SID Home Phone:
SID Email: milescollege@bellsouth.net
wpatterson@miles.edu
SID Fax: (205) 929-3299

Press Box Phone: (205) 929-3298

Sport Information Director:
Willie K. Patterson, Jr.

President:
Dr. George T. French

Athletics Director:
Augustus James