<< BackNew Academic Center Opens as Main Campus in West Point
Publication date: 24 July 2012
On July 18, over 250 people stood in the morning sun outside the Point University Academic Center in West Point, Ga., to welcome the University to the Greater Valley Area. The Chamber of Commerce and the University hosted a ribbon cutting to dedicate and officially open its recently relocated main campus.
The executive director of the Chamber, Elinor Crowder, led the ceremony and presented each distinguished guest, including West Point Mayor Drew Ferguson, Lanett Mayor Oscar Crawley and Valley Mayor Arnold Leak.
“This is a remarkable event,” said Ferguson. “It [Point] is a remarkable institution that will have remarkable impact on our community, both in terms of economic revitalization but most importantly because of human revitalization.”
“I’m proud to be a part of this family. We think that God has blessed this community and God has brought us through a time where we could have evaporated easily,” said Leak. “Now we’ve got a positive influence in our area…and it’s going to affect all of us in a great way.”
State representative Kip Smith and state senator Joshua McKoon also extended words of welcome and encouragement to the University.
“The great equalizer in America is the ability to access quality education and to have an institution of this caliber right here in West Point is a true game-changer,” said McKoon.
Point University President Dean Collins spoke last, saying how exciting this time is both for the University and the local communities, after trustee Ralph Swearngin closed the ceremony with a dedicatory prayer. 
After Collins cut the ribbon, guests filtered into the lobby, which features a continuous waterfall feature that incorporates a cross image. Attendees toured the three-story building at their own pace, with University employees available to answer any questions. Formerly West Point-Pepperell headquarters, the Academic Center has been renovated to include faculty and staff offices, classrooms, Learning Commons, Educational Resource Center, Preaching Lab and two state-of-the-art science laboratories.
Football and volleyball practice will begin on July 28 with soccer starting soon after on August 11. New student orientation will begin on August 20 and traditional classes will begin on August 22 after a Convocation ceremony on that day at 8:30 a.m. at the Sportsplex in Valley, Ala.
“When does a dream become a reality? When relationships are formed,” said Collins. “We have been so touched and overwhelmed by these communities. Everyone has been so supportive, and without that support, this could have never happened.”
-Joy Ugi, Communications Coordinator