ALCOS Our History
History of the Alabama Course of Study School
The need for a Course of Study school arose in 1992 with discussions between Larry Bryars in the Alabama-West Florida Conference and Walter Cash in the North Alabama Conference, Chairpersons of their respective Local Pastor Committee.
After three years of planning, a proposal was drafted to begin a COS extension school in Alabama under the Emory Course of Study Regional School. In the first year, first year classes only would be taught; in the second year to add second through fourth year classes; and in the third year to add fifth year classes. It was further proposed that the director of Emory Course of Study would direct the Alabama School for the first three years. This proposal was presented to the Course of Study Council of Directors at a meeting at Claremont in February of 1995 and it passed.
The Alabama Course of Study School began in the fall of 1995 teaching only first year classes both at Huntingdon College and Birmingham- Southern College; in the fall of 1996, second, third and fourth year classes were added. During the 1996-97 school year, half of the first through fourth year classes were taught at Huntingdon and the other half at Birmingham-Southern. In the fall of 1998, fifth year classes were added. During the 1997-1998 school year, half of the classes (10) were taught at Huntingdon and the other half (10) were taught at Birmingham-Southern. Each year since then, the classes have been switched with those taught at Huntingdon moving to Birmingham-Southern and those taught at Birmingham-Southern moving to Huntingdon.
Linda Minor was director of the Alabama COS when the school began in 1995 and Beth Luton-Cook served as director from 1996-1998. Walter Cash was the assistant director from 1995-1998. In the fall of 1998, Walter Cash became director of the Alabama School. He retired in June of 2019 and Alecia Glaize was hired July 1 as his replacement, serving until December 2021. Currently Peggy Ryan, ALCOS Registrar, is the face of the Alabama Course of Study School, operating under the guidance Amy Walker, Assistant Director of the Emory Course of Study School.