East Texas Baptist University

East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) is a private Baptist university in Marshall, Texas. It is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

History
ETBU is located on the site of the former Van Zandt Farm at the highest altitude in Harrison County. ETBU was founded as the College of Marshall in 1912, after a campaign to create a Southern Baptist college in East Texas. The campus' first building, Marshall Hall, was completed in 1916. It was designed to house a gymnasium, library, chapel/theatre, administrative offices and classrooms. The College of Marshall opened the following year in 1917 as a two-year junior college and academy. The college was greatly enlarged during the tenure of President Frank Shelby Groner who served as president of the college from 1928 until 1942. It became East Texas Baptist College in 1944.

In June 2015, J. Blair Blackburn, a native of Minden, Louisiana, was inaugurated as the 13th president of East Texas Baptist University. He succeeded Samuel "Dub" Oliver, who instead became in 2014 the president of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.

In 2015 the university applied for and received an exception to Title IX allowing it to discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.

Accreditation
ETBU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It also is accredited by The Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), the Commissions of Collegiate Nursing Education, and the National Association of Schools of Music.

Security
During the day, the campus is patrolled by the on-campus security officer. Security cameras record 24 hours a day and are monitored from 8:00 am – 10:00 pm. Call boxes are placed in strategic locations around campus. At night, the campus is monitored by private security officers (off-duty Marshall City Police Officers).

Academic buildings



 * Marshall Hall
 * Scarborough Hall
 * Rogers Spiritual Life Center
 * Ornelas Student Center
 * Dean Healthplex
 * Craig Hall
 * Harvey Daniel Bruce Hall
 * Murphy Science Building
 * Bennett Student Commons
 * Redwine Instrumental Music Building
 * Jenna Guest Music Building
 * Fred Hale Business Building
 * Mamye Jarrett Library
 * Meadows Hall

Residence halls

 * Centennial Hall
 * Feagin Hall
 * Fry Hall
 * Linebery Hall
 * Mabee Housing Complex
 * Ornelas Residential Center
 * Oaks on Grove
 * University Apartments
 * University Park Row Apartments

Men's athletics

 * Football
 * Basketball
 * Baseball
 * Cross Country
 * Track & Field
 * Soccer
 * Tennis
 * Ice Hockey
 * Bass Fishing
 * Golf
 * Lacrosse

Women's athletics

 * Basketball
 * Cross-Country
 * Track & Field
 * Soccer
 * Softball
 * Tennis
 * Volleyball
 * Cheerleading
 * Pom
 * Aerobics and Tumbling

Intramural Sports
 * Basketball
 * Flag-Football
 * Kickball
 * Soccer
 * Softball
 * Volleyball

Mascot
The mascot for ETBU is a tiger, "Toby" and recently added, "Tabby." ETBU also has a live Tiger mascot named "Sarge" who is housed off campus.

Notable alumni

 * Rick Edmonds, Southern Baptist pastor and since 2016 the District 66 member of the Louisiana House of Representatives in East Baton Rouge Parish.
 * Sam B. Hall, member of the United States House of Representatives (1976–85) and United States District Judge (1985-94).
 * Cameron McCasland, Emmy-nominated film and television producer
 * Chris Dier, Author of “The 1868 St. Bernard Parish Massacre: Blood in the Cane Fields,” and 2020 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year.

Sponsored Christian camps
As of 2019, East Texas Baptist sponsors Mission 58 Christian Camps.