FHU to Officially Open Grad Education Center in Memphis

Freed-Hardeman University will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. June 27 in Memphis for the Bucy Center. The building has been renovated to serve as the home for graduate courses in the Memphis area. It is named in memory of G.C. and Pam Bucy, whose estate provided the funds for the building.

Located at 5565 Shelby Oaks, just off Sycamore View, the T-shaped building contains eight classrooms, a conference room, offices, and a reception area. The 12,000 square foot building was originally home to the Shelby County Agricultural Extension Service.
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell, Jr., will participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. A representative of the Chamber of Commerce will also speak.

Dr. Karen Cypress serves as the director of the center. Nine graduate education courses, as well as courses for the Master of Science in Counseling are being offered in the center this summer with more planned for the fall. According to Cypress, the center will have courses leading to a Master of Education, School Counseling, Special Education, Administration and Supervision, and the Education Specialist Degree. Courses leading to a Master of Science in Counseling will also be offered.

“With the many changes occurring in education today, our professors aim to be at the forefront of these changes in order to better prepare future educators across the Mid-South. Our programs are tailored to the needs of our students; we offer courses in a variety of formats such as traditional courses, weekend, online, and WebEx. We are extremely excited about our new Bucy Center and look forward to serving the Great City of Memphis and surrounding Mid-South areas,” Cypress said.

Both Freed-Hardeman alumni, the Bucys were long-time educators. G.C. preached for churches of Christ and taught in the Nashville public schools. Pam taught for nearly 30 years at Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tenn. As the first platinum life member of the Associates, she had worked to make the Hardeman House on the FHU campus available for guest lodging.

More than 60 percent of the graduate students in education are from the Memphis area, according to Dr. Elizabeth Saunders, director of FHU’s graduate education program. “The Center gives us a chance to show our presence in the Memphis area,” she said. She praised the helpfulness of the adjunct faculty who “have been willing to do whatever they could to improve the building.” In the future, Saunders would like to host workshops and seminars for area educators at the center.

FHU has offered graduate classes in the Memphis area since 1995. Prior to having the Bucy Center, FHU used rented space to offer graduate coursework.