Becoming: Foster College

The Next Chapter of our Historic Saga

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Read the Press Release

What’s Happening? 

After nearly two decades of growth and strategic repositioning, Southern Bible Institute & College is entering into its next chapter as Foster College. This change isn’t just about a new name; it’s a significant step forward that will enhance our influence and impact in higher education. 

The name Foster College reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of twenty-first-century learners while maximizing our status as an accredited, minority-serving institution rooted in biblical education. This transition honors our core values, builds on our rich heritage, and embraces our promising future as a distinguished Christian college. We know there are questions, and this introduction to Foster College aims to address a few and invite you to share in this pivotal moment of our journey!

Are the Mission and Values Changing? 

Not at all! We’re still firmly dedicated to sound biblical higher education, which is at the core of Foster College’s mission. While the essence of our mission and values will continue to emphasize our commitment to the centrality of the Bible in our curriculum, we will update our mission and values statements to reflect our expanding impact. 

Why Change the Name?

We know that the name Southern Bible holds a lot of affection for many, as it has been our institutional identity since 1937. However, its datedness has become a constraint on our growth. Just as our founders recognized the need to change the original name of 'Dallas Colored Bible School' after the first ten years due to its branding limitations, we now believe it is time to once again reframe our identity to achieve a broader reach, stronger appeal, and greater impact.

Why ‘Foster College’? 

Our origin story fittingly attributes the college’s founding to Edmund Ironside—son of the well-known theologian and our first board chairman, Harry Ironside. But it was L. G. Foster, Sr. who approached Edmund and persuaded him to share the knowledge he was gaining from seminary with him and a small group of Black preachers through a study group. This was especially significant given the segregationist laws and discriminatory practices of the 1920s that prevented them from being admitted to that very same seminary. And so, through the providence of God, our college was born. 

After a lot of prayer, deliberation, and conversations with many stakeholders, we chose the name Foster College as an enduring tribute to the resilience of L. G. Foster, Sr.—a humble elevator operator and African American preacher—whose passionate spirit sparked our college’s existence with the powerful question, "Will you teach me?" By adopting this new name, we honor this rich history and reaffirm our commitment to making faith-enriched education accessible to everyone. 

What's Different? 

Foster College’s infrastructure, curated curriculum, and program offerings are constantly being refined and expanded to meet the needs of today’s Christian college students. A few key features that highlight our broadening horizons include the expansion of our traditional ministry pathways, the creation of new career-focused marketplace pathways, accommodating a faith-focused younger demographic, uplifting a determined older demographic, and fostering greater community engagement and impact. Collectively, these efforts reflect our commitment to providing a holistic educational experience that prepares Foster College students to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world. 

What’s the Timeframe? 

Changing the name of a college is a significant task, and it will take time to ensure a smooth and complete transition to Foster College. To that end, we’ve outlined several key dates and activities that will unfold over the next few years, leading up to and beyond our centennial anniversary. 

We’ve already begun processing official filings, making important branding decisions, and planning connections with our stakeholders. Our commitment is to keep everyone in the loop and involved at every level during this exciting transition! 

Here’s a broad timeline: 

What Can Stakeholders and the Community Do? 

Shared investment is essential for the success and meaningful impact of Foster College. We view this shift as an exciting new venture in biblical higher education, and we’re counting on our stakeholders and community to embrace this opportunity with us. As a stakeholder, we want you not only to recognize but also to feel excited about the quality of education and accessibility that Foster College offers as a strong, Christ-centered, historically Black college with a long-standing reputation in the community. 

Your intentional advocacy and support for both enrollment growth and foundational financial investments are crucial to fueling the positive impact we’re making in society today. 

Two essential ways you can contribute to Foster College’s success:  

1. Encourage Enrollment: Help us by urging and supporting prospective students to enroll in one of the many programs, cohorts, and seminars offered at Foster College. 

   PROGRAMS 

   • Associates Degrees 
   • Bachelor’s Degrees 
   • Certificates
   • Seminar Studies/ 
     Micro-Credentials 
   • President’s Cohort 
     (Enrolled Active Senior Pastors) 

     COHORTS 

     • Young Student Cohort 
     • Daniel Scholars 
     • Milestone Degree Cohort
     • President's Cohort
       
       
2. Invest in Impact: Strong financial support is essential for Foster College as we embark on this new higher education venture. We invite you to commit to our mission by selecting the level of investment that best suits you.
   
   
   • STUDENT SUPPORTER: Scholarships; Financial Aid Stipends 
     
   • CULTIVATOR: Event and Project Underwriting 
     
   • IMPACT INVESTOR: Venture Philanthropy