Agnes Scott College, a private liberal arts college for women closely connected with the Presbyterian Church, announced today that it had abandoned a 20-year rule barring appointment of non-Christians to its faculty. The school, which has an enrollment of about 750, does not practice racial or religious discrimination in its admissions policy and there have been Jewish girls in its student body for many years. A provision of the school charter says it is to provide education “distinctly favorable to the maintenance of the faith and practice of the Christian religion.”
The school’s policy on faculty appointments was challenged by the American Jewish Committee last year. In a restatement of policy today, the Board of Trustees said consideration would be given “to any competent person,” this eliminating the “Christians only” requirement.
As the Year Turns, Support the Journalism You Trust. JTA covers the stories shaping Jewish life around the world — with the depth this moment calls for. As you reflect on the year ahead, consider a gift that keeps independent Jewish journalism strong.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.