News

East Texas will soon have additional services for mental healthcare. The East Texas Medical Center (ETMC) Foundation recently awarded East Texas Baptist University a $100,000 grant to help meet the growing need for mental healthcare in Smith County.  Plans include opening a community mental health clinic that will also offer the University’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, located at 1301 S. Broadway in Tyler at the former American Cancer Society building.

East Texas Baptist University strengthens the unique public/private partnership with Tyler Junior College by offering a specialized Master of Education program to TJC faculty and staff, as well as high school teachers who wish to teach dual credit/dual-enrollment courses. The 30-hour graduate degree, offered online through ETBU, will give those enrolled a new venue for career advancement with increased opportunities for teaching at the collegiate level.

East Texas Baptist University held its Spring 2020 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, June 13, at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn presided over the socially distanced ceremonies as 173 students received undergraduate degrees and 20 earned graduate degrees, for a total of 193 graduates. Students were allowed to choose their participation style either “in-person” or “virtual” at the celebratory worship services.

The unfinished walls of East Texas Baptist University’s new Chapel on the Hill were covered in heartfelt blessings of Scripture and prayers from ETBU faculty, staff, and community members on Monday, May 19. After an initial gift from the Ponder family of Marshall, the project, including Kenny Ponder Park, broke ground last August. Upon completion, the chapel and adjacent park will serve as a dedicated house of worship to focus on the power of prayer, the sanctity of biblical marriage, and the celebration of loved ones.

The University held a special “virtual” degree conferral for Spring 2020 ETBU graduates on Tuesday, May 19, at 10:00 a.m. The livestream event was available on all of ETBU’s social media accounts. Graduates also received a delivery of ETBU graduate gift boxes filled with regalia, and were encouraged to wear their cap and gown to take pictures commemorating their remarkable achievements of completing a bachelor’s or a master’s degree. All ETBU Tigers everywhere, including family and friends, were encouraged to wear Blue and Gold in their honor on May 19.