Forman Christian College

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Forman Christian College
FCUniversity-Logo.jpg
Other name
FC College, FCC, FCCU
Former names
FC College
MottoBy love serve one another
Type Private nonprofit university
Established1864 (1864)
Chancellor Governor of Punjab
Rector Jonathan Addleton
Academic staff
220
Students9,000
Address,
Lahore-54600
, ,
Campus Residential college, 108 acres (44 ha)
Colors    
Website www.fccollege.edu.pk

Forman Christian College is a private nonprofit liberal arts university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was founded in 1864 and is administered by the Presbyterian Church. The university follows an American-style curriculum. [1] [2]

Contents

Founded in 1864 by American Presbyterian missionary Charles William Forman, the college was initially named Mission College, and changed its name in 1894 to Forman Christian College, in honor of its founder. Forman served as an associated college of the University of Calcutta until 1947 when it became affiliated with the University of Punjab. In 2004, the government granted it university charter hence providing it with degree awarding authority. [3] [4]

The college was initially based in the Rang Mahal in the Walled City of Lahore, which was leased by Charles with the support from foreign missions. [5] In 1889, it was shifted to Napier Road and was inaugurated by Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne. Again, in 1940, the college was moved to its present campus on the banks of the Lahore Canal. [5] The college remained financially autonomous until 1960 when the Pakistani government began annual grants for the college for its nursing program. [5] The college was nationalized in 1972 and remained nationalized until 2003 when control was returned to the Presbyterian Church. [6]

Forman is also known for its noted alumni and staff, including former Indian Prime Minister I. K. Gujral, world badminton champion Sarwan Khan, former Pakistani Presidents Farooq Leghari and Pervez Musharraf, diplomat Jamsheed Marker, journalist Kuldip Nayar, and activist Eqbal Ahmad. [7] As of 2020, Forman was home to 8,435 students including 3,173 Intermediate students, 4,712 Baccalaureate students and 550 graduate students. It also has 220 full-time faculty members (more than 100 of whom have PhDs) as well as an alumni population of well over 21,000. Christians make up nearly 15% of the student body while the college runs a $1 million fund to finance scholarships for its students. [8] [9] As of 2016, the college has been ranked ninth highest in Pakistan among medium-sized universities and is the only institution in Pakistan which is a member of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance. [10] [11] Jonathan S. Addleton was inaugurated as the new Rector on 31 October 2020, following the retirement of his predecessor James A. Tebbe, who was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan; James A. Tebbe was in turn was preceded by Peter H. Armacost who had previously served as president of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.

History

Forman Christian College in 1930 FCC-in-1930.jpg
Forman Christian College in 1930

Forman Christian College was founded in Lahore, British India by Presbyterian Christian missionary Charles William Forman as Rang Mahal School, a Christian mission school. [12] Forman arrived in Calcutta in what was then colonial India in 1847 and, two years later, settled in Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan). [13] The school added a college department in 1865 which later became a university in 2005 known as Forman Christian College University. It started offering an American-style world-class education in Pakistan. FCCU started new postgraduate courses along with MBA in 2007. [14]

In 1972, the government in Pakistan took over all private schools, including the one linked to Forman. In 2003, the school was given back to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Nowadays, a group of Pakistani Christian leaders oversees the college. In 2004, FCCU became a chartered university. This means they can create their own lessons, hold exams, and give out degrees. As of the fall of 2022, over 9,000 students are enrolled at the university. [15]

Native to Lahore, Surendra Kumar Datta was a professor of history and biology from 1909 to 1914 and served as the principal of Forman Christian College from 1932 to 1942, later becoming the president of the All India Conference of Indian Christians and representing the Christian community of colonial India in the Round Table Conferences. [16] [17]

One of Forman's faculty members, Prof. Arthur Compton, conducted the bulk of his research on cosmic rays at FCC University for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1927.

One of Professor Compton's former students Professor Piara Singh Gill taught at the college as lecturer in Physics between 1940 and 1947. Two alumni, Sir S. S. Bhatnagar and Bashir Ahmad, laid the foundation for scientific and industrial research in both parts of South Asia by establishing ICSIR and PCSIR respectively.[ citation needed ]

The first two Science graduates of FC College University were also the first Science graduates of the University of the Punjab (1900–1902). In this way FCCU was the first to establish, in this part of the sub-continent, Departments of Biology (1898), Greek, Latin and Hebrew Languages (1895–96), Industrial Chemistry (1917), Geography (1924), setting up the Experimental Psychology Laboratory, introducing the tutorial system [ clarification needed ] (1908), appointing Deans of the Faculties introducing co-educational system (1902), and establishing an alumni Association (1896).[ citation needed ] Besides this FCCU also started Software engineering, CS, and IT in 2006.

Campus

Forman Christian College University has a 108-acre vast campus. As student enrollment continues to rise, ongoing efforts are directed toward improving the facilities. This includes renovations and expansions in administrative and academic buildings, as well as faculty and staff housing.

Hope Tower (Female Hostels) Ground Breaking Ceremony Groundbreaking ceremony for the USAID-funded women's hostel at Forman Christian College (7943815342).jpg
Hope Tower (Female Hostels) Ground Breaking Ceremony

Notable additions on the campus following denationalization include the Armacost Science Building, Hope Tower, Mercy Health Care facility, the Light of Hope Elementary School, and the Media Center. All of these structures signify the institution's commitment to modern education and research.

In addition, the men's hostels, originally built in the 1940s, have undergone complete renovations, now offering modern amenities and comfortable living spaces. The institution overall has four hostels for intermediate students, two for graduate and undergraduate male students and one for female students, the Hope Tower built in 2014.

Recently, the institution has constructed a substantial 177,000-square-foot Campus Center. This multipurpose facility features an auditorium, Forman Business Incubation Centre, a spacious dining hall, versatile meeting rooms, and well-equipped offices. Notably, it will soon house a cutting-edge digital library, enhancing the institution's resources for academic exploration and innovation. These developments showcase the institution's dedication to providing a top-notch educational experience. [15]

Achievements

FC College Gold Medal.JPG

Achievements of other Formanites, as the graduates are called, include:

Accreditation

The university has designed its four-year bachelor's degree program in accordance with the standards for accreditation in the U.S., and is seeking accreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Commemorative stamp

A Postage Stamp for Forman Christian College FC College's Postage Stamp.png
A Postage Stamp for Forman Christian College

Forman Christian College has received a commemorative postage stamp in the celebration of completing the successful 150 years. Issued by Pakistan Post, The stamp highlights a Sinclair Hall which was built to mark the centenary of FC College and was named after a devoted Principal Dr EJ Sinclair who served FCC for many years as a faculty member and Principal.

International Linkage

Global Liberal Arts Alliance

The Council of Independent Colleges - USA

Association of American International Colleges and Universities [18]

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) [15]

Notable alumni

Politicians

Bureaucrats and diplomats

Judiciary

Educators and scholars

Sakhawat Ali - A Formanite received Best Green-Tech Award at 1st Climate Action Conference at Ministry of Planning from Chief SDGs Unit Mr. Ali Kemal Sakhawat Ali - A proud Formanite received Innovation Award at 1st Climate Action Conference at Ministry of Planning from Chief SDGs Unit Mr. M Ali Kemal.jpg
Sakhawat Ali - A Formanite received Best Green-Tech Award at 1st Climate Action Conference at Ministry of Planning from Chief SDGs Unit Mr. Ali Kemal

Industry

Journalism

Literature and arts

Armed forces

Sports

FCCU offers a variety of intramural sports clubs, including basketball, cricket, football, hockey, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, and wrestling. Both men and women actively take part in these sports on campus.

The sports facilities at FCCU are impressive, with an 8-lane standard 400m grass track for running, a 25-meter swimming pool for shorter races, six tennis courts, basketball courts, badminton courts, and dedicated grounds for cricket, football, hockey, and handball. There's also a table tennis hall for enthusiasts to enjoy their games. [15] [22]

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References

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  11. "FCC Rankings".
  12. Kurian, George Thomas; Lamport, Mark A. (10 November 2016). Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 905. ISBN   978-1-4422-4432-0. Forman decided at the outset to use English as the medium of instruction so that Western knowledge would be available to his students, making Rang Mahal the first English-language school in north India. In 1864 Forman added a college department, later renamed Forman Christian College after its founder.
  13. Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History Volume 16 North America, South-East Asia, China, Japan, and Australasia (1800-1914). BRILL. 29 June 2020. ISBN   978-90-04-42990-1.
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  17. 1 2 Black, Brian; Hyman, Gavin; Smith, Graham M. (2014). Confronting Secularism in Europe and India: Legitimacy and Disenchantment in Contemporary Times. A&C Black. pp. 88–91. ISBN   978-1-78093-607-9.
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  22. Munir, Haroon Christy. "Sports Office". FCCU University. Retrieved 5 November 2023.