{{Short description|Private, non-profit, American-accredited college in Greece}} {{Infobox university | name = The American College of Greece | image = ACG Logo.jpg | motto = ''Non Ministrari, Sed Ministrare'' (Latin) | motto_lang = la | mottoeng = Not to be Served, but to Serve | established = {{start date|1875}} ({{age|1875|1|1}} years ago) Smyrna | type = Private, co-educational elementary, secondary school, college, graduate school | president = Edward C. Wingenbach<ref>{{cite web|title=Edward C. Wingenbach, Ph.D., Named Eighth President of The American College of Greece|url=https://www.acg.edu/news-events/news/edward-c-wingenbach-named-eight-president-of-the-american-college-of-greece//|website=acg.edu|access-date=3 July 2025|date=17 June 2025}}</ref> | city = Agia Paraskevi, North Athens | province = Attica | country = Greece | coor = {{coord|38.0025|23.8295|type:edu_region:GR|display=inline,title}} | campus = Agia Paraskevi campus, Spata East campus, downtown Athens campus | mascot = Griffin | sports_nickname = ACG | affiliations = NECHE;<ref name="auto">{{Cite web | url=https://www.acg.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AM-College-of-Greece_5-15-20.pdf | title=To whom it may concern | website=www.acg.edu}}</ref> AAICU;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aaicu.org/the-american-college-of-greece/|title=Association of American International Colleges and Universities, The American College of Greece (ACG)|date=February 29, 2016}}</ref> Open University UK; AMBA; MSA accreditation | website = {{URL|https://www.acg.edu/}} | mapframe = no }}

'''The American College of Greece''' ('''ACG''') is a private college, graduate business school and primary and high school in Agia Paraskevi, Greece

== History == ACG was founded in Smyrna (currently İzmir, Turkey), in Ottoman Empire in 1875 as a school for girls by United Church of Christ American missionaries.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YPGaQy6gnCcC&q=%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C+%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AD%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BF+%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%AF%CE%B1+%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%BA%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%AE | title=Πρακτικα της Ακαδημιας Αθηνων | last1=Αθηνων | first1=Ακαδημια | date=1986 }}</ref> The first Dean was Minnie Mills.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y72rtTlfGgAC&dq=minnie+mills+the+american+college&pg=PP159 | title=America's Black Sea Fleet: The U.S. Navy Amidst War and Revolution, 1919–1923 | date=15 November 2012 | publisher=Naval Institute Press | isbn=978-1-61251-302-7 }}</ref> The school relocated to Athens in 1923 after the Greco-Turkish War and the population exchange.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A-lFEAAAQBAJ&dq=minnie+mills+the+american+college&pg=PA23 | title=Twice a Stranger: How Mass Expulsion Forged Modern Greece and Turkey | isbn=978-1-78378-902-3 | last1=Clark | first1=Bruce | date=4 November 2021 | publisher=Granta Publications }}</ref> It became co-educational in 1932 and changed its name to The American College of Greece in 1962.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/history/ | title=History | website=The American College of Greece }}</ref> It was relocated to Hellenikon, Athens, after the loss of Asia minor to the Turks at the invitation of then Prime Minister of Greece Eleftherios Venizelos.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harokopio University Library & Information Center |url=https://estia.hua.gr/file/lib/default/data/6968/theFile |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=estia.hua.gr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://left.gr/news/ta-diatiritea-toy-ellinikoy-kai-ta-kateythynomena-dimosieymata | title=Τα διατηρητέα του Ελληνικού και τα κατευθυνόμενα δημοσιεύματα | date=5 August 2016 }}</ref> During the Axis occupation of Greece, its premises were used as a hospital under German command. After the war, the college reopened at Hellenikon, where it remained until it moved to its new campus in the Athens suburb of Agia Paraskevi, where it operates to this day<ref>Giles Milton, Not to be served, but to serve, A History of The American College of Greece. Livani Publications, ISBN 978-960-14-2426-2</ref>

Undergraduate and graduate studies are based on the 64-acre main campus in Aghia Paraskevi. Another campus, East Campus, is in Spata and serves pre-K and elementary students. Alba Graduate Business School is in downtown Athens.

John S. Bailey served as president from 1975 to 2008. David G. Horner was the president from 2008 till June 30, 2025. He was succeeded by Edward C. Wingenbach. The college is governed by a board of trustees.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/561553312/nipiagogeio-kai-dimotiko-tha-apoktisei-to-pierce/ | title=Νηπιαγωγείο και δημοτικό θα αποκτήσει το Pierce | date=25 October 2021 }}</ref>

== Academics == ACG comprises three academic divisions: Deree, the undergraduate and graduate division; Alba Graduate Business School, the graduate business school; and Pierce, the primary & secondary education division.<ref name="EGOS r210">{{cite web | title=The Venue- About The American College of Greece | website=EGOS | url=https://www.egos.org/2015_athens/further_information_from_the_athens_egos_colloquium_organizers/the_venue-_about_the_american_college_of_greece | language=de | access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref>

== Pierce == Pierce was founded in Smyrna (modern day İzmir) in 1875. It was initially situated in Palaio Faliro, a suburb in the southern Athens and later on in Elliniko, in the area where the old Athens Airport was.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.capital.gr/oikonomia/3146778/to-kolegio-thileon-to-kazino-kai-oi-kontres-gia-to-elliniko/|title=Το Κολέγιο Θηλέων, το καζίνο και οι κόντρες για το Ελληνικό|website=Capital.gr}}</ref> In 1963 it moved to Aghia Paraskevi suburb in north-eastern Athens. The school was for girls only until 1982 when it became co-educational. Until 2021 it had only a gymnasium & lyceum, based in Aghia Paraskevi. From 2022, a new campus (East Campus) opened in Spata and it currently houses Pre-K to 12 Grade.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.megatv.com/2022/09/07/to-pierce-amerikaniko-kolegio-ypodexetai-mathites-protovathmias-ekpaideysis/ | title=Το Pierce – Αμερικανικό Κολέγιο υποδέχεται μαθητές πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης | date=7 September 2022 }}</ref>

As of November 2022 the school was accredited by Middle States Association – Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, MSA-CESS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msa-cess.org/school-profile/|title=School Profile – MSA-CESS |work=MSA-CESS }}</ref> As of Fall 2023, it enrolls approximately 2.000 students.

== Deree == Deree was named after Socrates Derehanis who was a benefactor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tovima.gr/2016/01/22/vimagazino/i-anekdoti-synenteyksi-toy-thodwroy-aggelopoyloy/|title=Η ανέκδοτη συνέντευξη του Θόδωρου Αγγελόπουλου|date=January 22, 2016|website=ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ}}</ref> It offers 38 undergraduate programs in Business & Economics, Liberal Arts & Fine Arts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.acg.edu/academics/undergraduate/|title=The American College of Greece &#124; Undergraduate}}</ref> It also operates a Graduate School which offers 9 master programs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.acg.edu/graduate/|title=The American College of Greece &#124; Graduate |work=The American College of Greece }}</ref> It enrolls ~5,000 students as of Fall 2023. The school is accredited by New England Commission of Higher Education.<ref name="auto" /> Open University UK is a partner institution and accredits the degrees of Deree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www5.open.ac.uk/validation-partnerships/about-ou-validation/ou-validation-partner-institutions|title=The Open University|website=www5.open.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Certificate of Accreditation |url=https://www.acg.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Accreditation-Certificate-ACG.pdf |access-date=28 December 2025 |website=www.acg.edu}}</ref> In February 2026, Deree in collaboration with Roger Williams University applied for a University Legal Entity license, as per law 5094 of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/ekpaideysi/564098470/epta-nees-aitiseis-gia-mi-kratika-panepistimia/|title=Επτά νέες αιτήσεις για μη κρατικά πανεπιστήμια|date=February 27, 2026|website=Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ}}</ref>

== Alba == Alba Graduate Business school was created in 1992 through a joint initiative of the Federation of Greek Industries (ΣΕΒ) and the Hellenic Management Association (ΕΕΔΕ).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/561597961/kainotoma-kai-epikaira-programmata-spoydon/ | title=Καινοτόμα και επίκαιρα προγράμματα σπουδών | date=25 November 2021 }}</ref> It merged with The American College of Greece in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/economy/business/440724/enonoyn-dynameis-deree-kai-alba-me-ditto-stocho/|title=Ενώνουν δυνάμεις Deree και Alba με διττό στόχο|first=Του Αποστολου|last=Λακασα|date=October 23, 2011|website=Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ}}</ref> It offers 9 MSc programs, an MBA, an Executive MBA and an Online MBA course. It is accredited by AACSB<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aacsb.edu/about-us/advocacy/member-spotlight/innovations-that-inspire/2019/alba-graduate-business-school|title=The American College of Greece &#124; 2019 Innovations &#124; AACSB|website=www.aacsb.edu}}</ref> and Association of MBAs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://amba.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.comamba/business-schools/accreditation/accredited-schools|title=AMBA Accredited Business Schools Members|website=amba.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.comamba}}</ref> As of fall 2023 it has approximately 500 students enrolled.

== Criticism for involvement with Israel authorities == Faculty at the college have cooperated with authorities of Israel. In 2025, they came under heavy criticism for failing to recognize Israel's part in the Gaza genocide whilst continuing this cooperation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ανταρσία στο Deree. Δεκάδες μαθητές καταδικάζουν τη συνεργασία με το Ισραήλ |url=https://info-war.gr/antarsia-sto-deree-dekades-mathites-katadi/ |website=INFOWAR |access-date=4 September 2025}}</ref> Ultimately in August 2025, Deree's administration was forced to cancel a project involving an educational visit to Israel after receiving heavy criticism from their own students.<ref>{{cite web |title=Νίκη σπουδαστών στο Deree: Ακυρώθηκε "εκπαιδευτική επίσκεψη" στο Ισραήλ |url=https://www.efsyn.gr/ellada/koinonia/481745_niki-spoydaston-sto-deree-akyrothike-ekpaideytiki-episkepsi-sto-israil |website=Efsyn |access-date=4 September 2025}}</ref> Later in the same month, the college was criticized for hosting The Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology (EUROCRIM 2025), organized by the European Society of Criminology, because Israeli universities were invited by the organizer. Panteion University retracted its auspices [https://www.panteion.gr/2025/08/apofasi-sygklitou-gia-synedrio-eurocrim-2025/] along with the Athens Municipality [https://www.cityofathens.gr/o-dimos-athinaion-aposyrei-tin-aigida-to-synedrio-eurocrim-2025/]. The college received attention from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. There was a protest outside the college's premises on the opening day of the conference.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Μακρής |first1=Νίκος |title=Διαμαρτυρία στο Deree: "Ανεπιθύμητοι οι συνένοχοι στη γενοκτονία" – Αποσύρθηκαν Πάντειο και Δήμος Αθηναίων |url=https://www.alfavita.gr/ekpaideysi/489032_diamartyria-sto-deree-anepithymitoi-oi-synenohoi-sti-genoktonia-aposyrthikan |website=Alfavita |access-date=4 September 2025}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.acg.edu/ Official website]

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Category:Universities and colleges in Greece Category:Private universities and colleges in Greece Category:Liberal arts colleges Category:Educational institutions established in 1875 Category:American international schools in Greece Category:1875 establishments in the Ottoman Empire