(BP) — Hannibal-LaGrange College (HLG) will be known as the University of Hannibal if messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting this fall approve the measure.

The MBC executive board approved the recommendation unanimously July 13 at the request of HLG President Woody Burt, the HLG board of trustees, and its chairman, Terry Buster, pastor of First Baptist Church in Palmyra.

According to a report distributed by HLG, the college informally considered a name change for several years, and trustees began studying the question in earnest last November. They voted unanimously to change from “college” to “university” during their May 8 meeting, with 85 percent (12 trustees) preferring University of Hannibal, one preferring Hannibal-LaGrange University, and one preferring Hannibal Baptist University.

Burt cited the increased prestige associated with the name “university” as opposed to “college” and said the term better describes HLG’s current academic status.