Whitley College

Whitley College is a Baptist theological institute in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The college is associated with the Baptist Union of Victoria (Australian Baptist Ministries) and is one of the theological schools of the University of Divinity.

History

Whitley College was established in 1891 by the Collins Street Baptist Church as Baptist Theological College of Victoria.^[1] William Thomas Whitley was invited to come to Melbourne from England to take up the position of Principal. He remained Principal for the next ten years.

In 1959, the Baptist Union of Victoria began work on a new building for the college. In 1965, it became a residential college of the University of Melbourne. In 1965, it was renamed Whitley College in honor of William Thomas Whitley.^[2] In 1975, Whitley and the Churches of Christ Theological College, now named Stirling Theological College established the Evangelical Theological Association, which was accredited until 2005. Whitley and Stirling now are separate colleges of the University of Divinity. Whitley College now continues solely as a theological college of the University of Divinity, based at the St Paschal Precinct at 90 Albion Rd, Box Hill, while renovation works are underway at the Parkville Campus.

The Geoffrey Blackburn Library at Whitley was built in 2001 and contains approximately 30,000 theological books. It also contains the Boreham Collection, which includes books by and about Frank W. Boreham, as well as items from his personal collection.

In 2017 after a long period of negotiations, the College Council met with the last Warden, Margie Welsford and Deputy Warden Genevieve Leach to inform them that due to a lack of maintenance on the building, a culture that had strayed from the college's original vision and poor financial sustainability, the College would close in December 2017. The college then appointed Principal, Reverend Professor René Erwich who served until September 2023. Since Professor Erwich's departure, Whitley's Dean of Research Rev Associate Professor Darrell Jackson has stepped into the Interim Principal role.^[3]

Academics

In conjunction with the University of Divinity, prospective students at Whitley College are provided with a variety of degrees and courses for further study. The college offers undergraduate diplomas, undergraduate degrees, as well as graduate certificates, graduate diplomas, and master's degrees.

Accreditation

Whitley College is a teaching and research college within the University of Divinity.^[4] The University of Divinity was constituted by the University of Divinity Act 1910 (the Melbourne College of Divinity Act 1910),^[5] passed by the Parliament of Victoria. The Act, most recently amended in 2016, establishes the University Council and empowers it to confer awards as a higher education provider.

Awards and prizes

Whitley College awards an annual prize for excellence in writing, named in honour of a notable author and theologian, Frederick Buechner. All students are encouraged to submit pieces and winners of the prize are selected by faculty members.

Notable alumni

• Tim Costello - CEO of World Vision Australia and former President of the Baptist Union of Australia
• Rowan Downing QC - President United Nations Dispute Tribunal, UN-appointed judge, Khmer Rouge War Crimes Tribunal, Cambodia & Justice, Court of Appeal, Vanuatu
• Matthew Hopcraft - Masterchef contestant

References

External links

• Whitley College website