History. Established in 1878 as the Georgia Baptist Female Seminary, the institution became Brenau College in 1900 when Dr. H.J. Pearce purchased the campus. "Brenau," derived from German and Latin, means "refined gold." Brenau was privately owned until 1911 when a board of trustees assumed stewardship of the college, as is still the case today. In 1928 Brenau created a female, residential, college-preparatory school, grades 9 through 12. And in the early 1970s, Brenau began offering evening and weekend classes to both men and women.

The institution is led by Dr. Ed Schrader, its ninth president, who has held the position since January 2005. In March of 1992, the board of trustees voted to convert the college to a university.

Today Brenau University includes the Academy, the oldest residential preparatory school for girls in the state of Georgia; the Women’s College, which offers traditional liberal arts education including more than 30 majors, as well as one of two occupational therapy programs in the state; and the Evening and Weekend College, which offers bachelor’s, master’s and Specialist in Education degrees for men and women. Also, selected graduate and undergraduate majors are available through distance education programs offered in the Online College.

Student Population. The Women's College continues at the heart of the university with 747 students from 20 states and 13 other countries. Twenty-five percent are from minority groups (not including international students) and 17% are older than 25. Evening and Weekend College students total 1420: 80% are female and 20% male. Minority students make up 32% of this population, the majority of whom are over age 25.

Location. Brenau's 50-acre main campus is located in Gainesville, Ga., approximately 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Brenau University maintains evening and weekend satellite programs at these additional Georgia locations: Atlanta, Augusta, King's Bay and Waleska.

Community. The north Georgia region benefits from the value Brenau contributes. An estimated 25,500 children and 27,500 adults visit Pearce Auditorium each year. In excess of 22,000 community members visit the Brenau University Galleries each year for cultural and educational programs. There are currently 344 teachers in the Gainesville and Hall County school systems who hold degrees from Brenau. The estimated annual economic impact of the university on Hall County is more than $68 million.* Brenau 's 240 plus employees volunteer as leaders and members in a variety of civic, cultural and community-centered organizations.

* Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges