The Executive Committee of the Appalachian College Association (ACA) announces it has selected King University in Bristol, Tennessee to serve as the Association’s headquarters.

“We are delighted the ACA has chosen our Bristol campus to be the center of its work, which complements the mission of King,” states King University President Alexander W. Whitaker IV. “We are grateful for the work of the ACA and its service to its member schools, including King, throughout the central Appalachian region.”

The location at King University is at the geographic center of the Association’s member schools and will serve as an ideal location for collaborative meetings and workshops. “We look forward to moving to Bristol, and appreciate the fine partnership King University has provided, and will continue to provide for the Appalachian College Association,” says ACA’s President Dr. Beth Rushing. The ACA headquarters will be housed in Nicewonder Hall with staff members beginning operations at the site in January 2020.

“ACA member institutions are critical contributors to their local and regional communities. Each campus serves its particular region by providing students and the surrounding community access to exceptional educational and cultural experiences,” said ACA Board Chair Marcia Hawkins. “King University serves the Tri-Cities region in this way and we are honored to be locating our headquarters on the King campus.”

Serving nearly 70,000 students annually, with more than 3,000 full-time faculty members, ACA schools collectively generate nearly $1.3 billion in direct annual expenditures, further supporting the central Appalachian region.

About Appalachian College Association

The Appalachian College Association is a non-profit consortium of 35 private four-year liberal arts institutions located in the central Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The mission of the Association is to serve Appalachian communities through the transformational work of its faculty, staff, and students. Programs offered by the Association are designed to promote cooperation and collaboration among member institutions, and to support scholarly and creative activities of faculty and students.