The Peace College Board of Trustees has recently announced that the college plans to become

William Peace University, and will begin admitting male students in the fall of 2012. 

Though men are currently allowed to participate in some evening and online courses, this is the first time in the 154-year history that Peace College will be admitting male students to their day, undergraduate programs. 

Beth Cherry, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, said “Becoming William Peace University reflects our growth as an institution and will deepen and broaden our ability to help our students succeed.”

Peace was founded in 1857 by Raleigh’s First Presbyterian Church, and William Peace, a Raleigh businessman and church elder, provided $10,000 and eight acres of land for the school. 

According to their website, Peace originally offered an education for girls and women from kindergarten to college.  It later became a two-year college offering associate’s degrees before becoming a four-year baccalaureate college in the early 1990s .

“The needs of our students are always changing, and Peace is changing with them,” Cherry said, ”This is a great day for our school.”

Not everyone shares this enthusiasm for the intended changes, which was made evident when several alumnae of Peace College gathered to protest the plans to make the college co-ed .

Christopher Goyette , a senior in mechanical engineering, says that he can understand the hesitation of some, but he thinks the change to co-ed is necessary.

“Although it will take away from their traditions, I think it’s good for colleges to admit both sexes because it adds to the overall college experience,” said Goyette .

Some male students may feel hesitant to be one of the first men to attend William Peace University in the fall of 2012, but Goyette said he would find the opportunity exciting. 

“I think it would be fun to be able to be one of the first few guys,” said Goyette , “It would be cool to be there first rather than later on.”

According to Cherry, though the university will become co-ed with classes accessible to all students, they still intend to offer select single-gender courses in targeted disciplines where research shows that women and men learn differently.

“This innovative approach will focus on meeting each student’s individual needs,” Cherry said, “This will be such a wonderful opportunity for our students.”

Though some protested the change, there are others, such as Harvey Schmitt, President and CEO of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, who feel it will be beneficial for the school and the city.

“Peace is an integral part of an increasingly dynamic Raleigh,” said Schmitt.  “Our city welcomes Peace’s plans to grow.  We look forward to the contributions of the young people whom Peace will add to this market.”

Dr. Hope Williams, President of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, also considers this a positive step for Peace.

“Today, Peace College is continuing its 154-year tradition of educational leadership in North Carolina,” Williams said, “These are challenging times for all of higher education, and Peace has once again chosen the path of moving forward to embrace the future with fresh ideas and new ways to meet the needs of students.”

David Diaz, the CEO of Downtown Raleigh Alliance, said that Peace’s plans were exciting for the college and for downtown Raleigh.

“The changes the Trustees announced today not only strengthen Peace College and the educational opportunities it offers to all students,” said Diaz, “they also continue the tradition of innovation in downtown Raleigh.”