College of the Ozarks

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College of the Ozarks
Collegeofozarks-seal.png
MottoHard Work U
Type Private college
Established1906;118 years ago (1906) [1]
Religious affiliation
 Nondenominational Christianity [ citation needed ]
Academic affiliations
Endowment $480.5 million (2020) [2]
President Brad Johnson [3]
Academic staff
83 [1]
Administrative staff
190 [1]
Students1,508 [4]
Undergraduates 1,508 [4]
Location
Point Lookout
,
Missouri
,
United States

36°37′05″N93°14′26″W / 36.6181°N 93.2405°W / 36.6181; -93.2405
CampusRural, 1,000-acre (1.6 sq mi; 404.7 ha)
Nickname Bobcats and Lady Cats
Sporting affiliations
 NAIA – Continental
NCCAA – Independent
Website www.cofo.edu

College of the Ozarks is a private Christian college in Point Lookout, Missouri. The college has an enrollment of 1,426 and over 30 academic majors in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs. [5]

Contents

The college charges no tuition for full-time students due to its student work program and donations. The program requires students to work 15 hours a week at an on-campus work station and two 40-hour work weeks during breaks. A summer work program is available to some students to cover room and board costs. [6] The college refers to itself as "Hard Work U" [7] and places emphasis on character education.

History

Aerial photo of college of the Ozarks with Lake Taneycomo, Branson, and Table Rock Lake beyond UserKTrimble AP College of the Ozarks Pt Lookout Mo Oct 2009.jpg
Aerial photo of college of the Ozarks with Lake Taneycomo, Branson, and Table Rock Lake beyond

Forsyth

The school was first proposed in 1901 as a high school by James Forsythe, pastor of Forsyth, Missouri Presbyterian Church. (The college now declares itself to be interdenominational.) Forsythe was from the St. Louis, Missouri area.

Forsythe was said to have been inspired to make the proposal after encountering a boy on a squirrel hunt who told him that his parents couldn't afford to send him to the closest high school 40 miles (60 km) away in Springfield, Missouri. [8]

The School of the Ozarks opened on September 11, 1906, in a 75-by-50-foot (23-by-15-meter) building atop Mount Huggins (named for brothers Louis and William Huggins from St. Joseph, Missouri who were among the founders of Nabisco [9] and had donated money for the school). In its first term it had enrollment of 180 with 36 boarders. [10]

From the start, the school adopted its practice of having its students work instead of paying tuition.

On January 12, 1915, the original building was destroyed in a fire. The school temporarily held classes in the Forsyth public school. [8]

Point Lookout

The school then relocated farther up the White River at Point Lookout, Missouri on a 16-acre (6.47 ha) campus. The campus has changed quite a bit since this era, but has remained at the Point Lookout location ever since. [11] The central building of the campus was the Maine Hunting and Fishing Club building, which had been transported to the site by sportsmen from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair where it had been the State of Maine exhibit. It was renamed the Dobyns Building in honor of W. R. Dobyns, president of the trustees at the time. The building burned on February 1, 1930. [12] [13]

In the 1920s what would become the Ralph Foster Museum depicting Ozark heritage had its start in the basement of the boys dormitory: Abernathy Hall.

In 1934 the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen opened to offer work for students. It is now one of 90 work stations. More than 100 fruitcakes are now baked daily. [14]

1950s expansion

The Williams Memorial Chapel built in 1956. Chapel at the College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri.jpeg
The Williams Memorial Chapel built in 1956.

In the 1950s under Robert M. Good and M. Graham Clark the school dramatically changed.

The campus expanded to 1,400 acres (567 ha), the school's Gothic chapel was built on the location of the original Dobyns Building and a hospital was added.

In 1956, with high schools becoming increasingly available in the area, the school became a junior college.

The Museum of the Ozarks took over the entire Abernathy Building and was renamed the Good Museum after president Good. It was later renamed for country music pioneer Ralph D. Foster, who donated money and exhibits for it. The museum expanded in 1969, 1977 and 1991. [15] Among the exhibits is an original George Barris 1921 modified Oldsmobile Beverly Hillbillies truck donated by series creator Paul Henning who was inspired to do the show after a Boy Scout camping trip in the Ozarks. The museum also contains a large firearm display, including a rifle belonging to Pancho Villa. [16]

1960s to present

In 1965 it became a four-year college, but it did not garner regional accreditation until the 1990s. [17]

In 1994 it was renamed the College of the Ozarks when regional accreditation was conferred. [17]

The former president, Jerry C. Davis, instituted five goals for the college that now stand as their pillars for students to emulate: [18]

According to the school, out of more than 4,000 applicants, approximately 400 students are accepted to College of the Ozarks each fall semester. [19] Students are encouraged to have at least a 20 composite on the ACT, or a 1030 on the SAT. A GPA of at least a 3.0 and ranking in the top 50% of their class is also preferred. College of the Ozarks also considers other factors for admission such as leadership, service, and financial need.

Controversies

The College of the Ozarks has faced numerous controversies, particularly regarding its policies against LGBT people, [20] its strict biblically inspired moral code, [21] lack of ethnic and racial diversity, and its boycott of Nike products following an ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick. [22] Former LGBT students recounted pressure to undergo conversion therapy, a widely condemned practice based on pseudoscience that claims to change sexual orientation. [23] [24]

In 1994, the college was compared to Jonestown due to its lack of academic freedom, which contributed to struggles with accreditation. [25]

During the 2003–2004 semesters, a professor revealed that one of the college's deans, Larry Cockrum, had obtained a fraudulent Ph.D. from Crescent City Christian College, a diploma mill. The professor was suspended and later terminated for bringing this to light, while the college's then-president, Jerry C. Davis, defended the dean. Larry Cockrum later became president of The University of the Cumberlands. [26]

In 2017, the college introduced a controversial requirement for incoming freshmen to take a course titled "Patriotic Education and Fitness," which combines military-style physical education with military science to promote patriotism. [27]

The college has also faced criticism for its low representation of African American students. A 1993 article in *The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education* ranked the College of the Ozarks second to last among Christian colleges in terms of the proportion of black students, with only 0.1% of its student body being black. [28] [29] [30] Additionally, the college's decision to boycott Nike products after the Colin Kaepernick ad was criticized for racial overtones. [31]

In 2017, The Princeton Review ranked the College of the Ozarks as the most hostile campus toward LGBT and non-binary people. [32] [20] In response, public relations director Valorie Coleman stated that the school does not consider itself hostile, though it enforces strict rules against "sexual immorality". [33] The college employs licensed counselors who openly practice conversion therapy, leaving reparative therapy materials in their offices. The institution's rigid enforcement of conservative Christian values has drawn sharp criticism for promoting harmful practices and stifling the expression of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. [23]

The Keeter Center Hotel, operated by the college, reserves the right to prohibit events or services inconsistent with the college's beliefs, though it claims this policy is not intended to exclude or discriminate against legally protected groups. However, this practice, coupled with the college's ongoing lawsuit against the Biden administration over dormitory segregation policies, demonstrates its continued resistance to contemporary interpretations of equality and anti-discrimination laws. [34]

In November 2018, two students were abducted and sexually assaulted after arriving at campus ten minutes after curfew. Though the college stated that students could call security to be let in after curfew, alumni have reported fear of expulsion for missing curfew, with some resorting to sleeping in their cars to avoid punishment. [35] [36] [37]

Presidents

Since 1906, there have been 15 presidents, 2 acting presidents and two chancellors. [38]

  • 1906 – A. Y. Beatie
  • 1907 – George Gordon Robertson
  • 1907–10 – W. I. Utterback
  • 1910 – F. O. Hellier
  • 1911–13 – George K. Knepper
  • 1913–15 – William L. Porter
  • 1915–16 – John E. Crockett
  • 1916–20 – George L. Washburn
  • 1920–21 – Thomas M. Barbee
  • 1921–52 – R. M. Good
  • 1952–75 – M. Graham Clark
  • 1975–81 – Howell W. Keeter, Chancellor
  • 1981–82 – Jim Spainhower
  • 1983–87 – Stephen G. Jennings
  • 1988–2022 – Jerry C. Davis [39]
  • 2022–Present – Brad Johnson [40]

Athletics

The College of the Ozarks (CofO) athletic teams are called the Bobcats. The college is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent (and full-time since the 2021–22 school year) in the Central Region of the Division I level.

CofO competes in ten intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country and track & field, while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, track & field, and volleyball.

Previously, CofO competed as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) from 1994–95 to 2014–15 (the final season after which the conference was later dissolved). Then CofO competed in the Association of Independent Institutions (AII, basically as an independent school in the NAIA) since the 2015–16 school year. In March 2021, mid-season, former college president Jerry C. Davis decided to drop out of NAIA athletics competition (effective immediately during the 2020–21 school year), with no prior warning or discussion with players, coaches, or administrators. The president did not give a reason for the decision. [41] After two years in the NCCAA, the school returned to the NAIA in 2023. [42]

Basketball

The 2005-06 men's basketball team won the NAIA Division II national championship, while the Lady Cats were the runner up. The men's team was second in the basketball tournament in 2000 and 2009. [43] From 2000 to 2017, Keeter Gymnasium was host to the NAIA Division II Basketball Championship games. In 2014, Ozarks made headlines by defeating second-ranked College of Idaho in the national tournament. [44]

In the wake of the 2016–2017 national anthem protests at athletic events in the United States, the college announced that they would refuse to play any team whose players took a knee in the same manner as the protests. [45] In response, College of the Ozarks chose to withdraw from hosting the Division II men's basketball champion game and agreed to aid in moving it to another venue. The championship game had been held there since 2000. [46] In September 2018, the president of the college released a statement explaining that the school would no longer use uniforms made by Nike: "If Nike is ashamed of America, we are ashamed of them." [47]

Campus

The campus consists of the following parts: [48]

Notable alumni

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "About C of O". College of the Ozarks. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  2. ↑ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ "News". www.cofo.edu. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "College of the Ozarks - The Princeton Review College Rankings & Reviews". princetonreview.com.
  5. ↑ "College of the Ozarks - US News Best Colleges". US News. March 10, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ "College of the Ozarks - Best Colleges - Education - U.S. News & World Report". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. August 19, 2009. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  7. ↑ "College of the Ozarks, Hard Work U". Cofo.edu. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "The School of the Ozarks: Beginnings". thelibrary.org.
  9. ↑ Sampson, Francis Asbury (January 23, 2008). Missouri historical review - Google Books . Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  10. ↑ "College of the Ozarks, Hard Work U". Cofo.edu. Archived from the original on April 10, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  11. ↑ Davis, Jerry C. (2007). Miracle in the Ozarks : the inspiring story of faith, hope, and Hard Work U. College of the Ozarks. OCLC   1036707953.
  12. ↑ "The Keeter Center". Keetercenter.edu. February 1, 1930. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  13. ↑ "College of the Ozarks" . Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  14. ↑ "College of the Ozarks, Hard Work U". Cofo.edu. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Ralph Foster Museum - College of the Ozarks". Rfostermuseum.com. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Ralph Foster Museum - Beverly Hillbillies Car, Point Lookout, Missouri". Roadsideamerica.com. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  17. 1 2 "College of the Ozarks, Hard Work U". Cofo.edu. July 30, 1971. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  18. ↑ "No-Tuition College | Christian Liberal Arts College | C of O". cofo.edu. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  19. ↑ "FAQ | Admissions". College of the Ozarks. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  20. 1 2 "Ozarks home to nation's most conservative, sober, LGBTQ-unfriendly college".
  21. ↑ "Bible Belt Ivy: How College Of The Ozarks Became One Of America's Most Exclusive Schools". Forbes .
  22. ↑ "College of the Ozarks cuts ties with Nike over controversial Kaepernick ad". September 5, 2018.
  23. 1 2 "No Queer Person Should Face the Abuse I Endured at College of the Ozarks". August 4, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Students who are openly gay and Christian challenge OCC, other religious colleges". March 3, 2018.
  25. ↑ "On the Dark Side: College of the Ozarks" (PDF).
  26. ↑ "College of the Ozarks dismisses professor who questioned dean's degree". January 14, 2004.
  27. ↑ "A Christian College Just Rolled Out a Mandatory Military Patriotism Class". October 25, 2017.
  28. ↑ "The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education". JBHE Foundation. 2006. p. 42. JSTOR   25073429.
  29. ↑ "White Supremacist Ideas Have Historical Roots In U.S. Christianity". NPR .
  30. ↑ "College of the Ozarks cuts ties with Nike over controversial Kaepernick ad". September 5, 2018.
  31. ↑ "College of the Ozarks cuts ties with Nike over controversial Kaepernick ad". September 5, 2018.
  32. ↑ "LGBTQ-Unfriendly Colleges".
  33. ↑ "Expelled for being LGBT? Missouri college named the worst for gay and trans students". Archived from the original on August 27, 2017.
  34. ↑ "College of the Ozarks granted expedition request". Archived from the original on August 11, 2021.
  35. ↑ "College of the Ozarks Students Kidnapped, Sexually Assaulted Near Campus, Officials Say". November 11, 2018.
  36. ↑ "C of O alumni question strict curfew policy after alleged sexual assault".
  37. ↑ "College of the Ozarks alumni react to alleged sexual assault of students". November 15, 2018.
  38. ↑ "College of the Ozarks, Hard Work U". Cofo.edu. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  39. ↑ "COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS PRESIDENT JERRY C. DAVIS TO ASSUME ROLE AS CHANCELLOR, EFFECTIVE JUNE 2022". College of the Ozarks. November 29, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  40. ↑ "BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNOUNCES DR. BRAD JOHNSON AS NEW PRESIDENT OF COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2022". College of the Ozarks. May 10, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  41. ↑ Kerkhoff, Wheeler (March 12, 2021). "College of the Ozarks says its athletics program is ending its relationship with the NAIA". Springfield News-Leader.
  42. ↑ Collingwood, Ryan (March 18, 2023). "Former Kickapoo and Strafford standouts lead College of the Ozarks to NCCAA title". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  43. ↑ "College of the Ozarks, Hard Work U". Cofo.edu. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  44. ↑ "Santiago Leads Bobcats in Upset of No. 2 Seed College of Idaho". Victory Sports Network. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  45. ↑ Riley, Claudette. "If you kneel, the game is over, C of O tells opposing teams". Springfield News-Leader.
  46. ↑ Wheeler, Wyatt D. "Anthem protest policy moves NAIA basketball tournament away from College of the Ozarks". Springfield News-Leader.
  47. ↑ Kerkhoff, Blair (September 6, 2018). "The Nike swoosh is out at Missouri's College of the Ozarks because of Kaepernick ad". The Kansas City Star.
  48. ↑ "College of the Ozarks Visit". cofo.edu. December 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
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