MidAmerica Nazarene University

Last updated
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Former names
Mid-America Nazarene College (1966–1996)
MottoTo Learn, to Serve, to Be
Type Private university
Established1966
Religious affiliation
 Nazarene
Academic affiliations
 CCCU, NAICU, NCACS
President David Spittal
Students1,500 (Fall 2023)
Undergraduates 1,000 (Fall 2023)
Postgraduates 500 (Fall 2023)
Location
Olathe
,
Kansas
,
United States

38°52′27″N94°46′59″W / 38.874160°N 94.783120°W / 38.874160; -94.783120
CampusSuburban
Colors Red, white and blue
     
Nickname Pioneers
Sporting affiliations
 NAIA – HAAC
MascotPioneer
Website mnu.edu
MNU Logo Full Title Hz.png

MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) is a private Nazarene (evangelical Christian) university in Olathe, Kansas in the Kansas City metropolitan area. It was established in 1966.

Contents

History

MidAmerica Nazarene University Campus MNU Campus.jpg
MidAmerica Nazarene University Campus

Mid-America Nazarene College (MANC) [1] was founded in 1966. [2] In 1996 Mid-America Nazarene College formally changed its name to MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU). [3]

Campus

The 105- acre (42  ha ) campus is located at 2030 East College Way, Olathe, Kansas, United States. [2] [4] The land was donated by Robert R. Osborne, a retired banker. [5] Proposed sites for the college also included Wichita, Topeka, and Ottawa, Kansas. [6]

Affiliations

As one of eight U.S. self-described "liberal arts colleges" [7] affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, [8] the college receives financial backing from the Nazarene churches in its region. Part of each church budget is paid in to a fund for its regional school. Each college is also bound by a gentlemen's agreement not to actively recruit outside its respective educational region. [9] MNU is the college for the North Central Region of the United States, which comprises the Dakota-Minnesota (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota), Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Kansas City, Joplin, and Missouri districts.

MNU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities [10] and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. [11] MNU has been accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (now the Higher Learning Commission) since 1974. [3]

Academics

MNU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 50 majors, and seven graduate degrees in nursing, counseling, education and business. The academic calendar is on a semester system. [2] There were 1,500 students at the university in 2023.

Athletics

The MidAmerica Nazarene (MNU) athletic teams are called the Pioneers. Their official colors are scarlet, white, and navy blue. [12] The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) since the 1980–81 academic year.

MNU competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, drumline and weightlifting.

Facilities

MNU's athletic facilities include Cook Center (men's and women's basketball, and volleyball in the Bell Family Arena), Land Gym (intramurals), MNU Soccer Field, Pioneer Stadium (torn down summer 2012), Robbie Jones Field at Dixon Stadium (baseball), and Williams Field (softball).

Men's basketball

The men's basketball team won the NAIA Division II basketball championship in 2007 and was the runner up in 2001. The team has been coached by Rocky Lamar (a 1976 MNU graduate) since 1986. It placed second in the NCCAA men's basketball championships in 1997 and 1998. Including its NAIA title games it has appeared in the Final Four in 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. It moved up to Division I in 2009. The court in the Bell Family Arena is named “Rocky Lamar Court.”. [13]

Women's basketball

The women's basketball team, coached by Jon Lewis, won the NAIA Division I National Basketball Championship in 2016.

Student life

Interior of sanctuary of College Nazarene Church on campus (2013) College Nazarene Church (Olathe, Kansas).JPG
Interior of sanctuary of College Nazarene Church on campus (2013)

Enrollment comprises approximately 1,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate students, mostly from the North Central United States. Men and women are fairly equal in number. Over 25 percent of undergraduate students are over 25 years old. Members of the traditional undergraduate population who do not live locally with relatives must reside in campus housing. Traditional undergraduate students also attend chapel services and must follow the university lifestyle policy. Students participate in religious and service organizations, student leadership, musical and theatrical groups, intramural sports, and varsity sports. [2]

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Adventist University</span> Private university in Takoma Park, Maryland, US

Washington Adventist University is a private Seventh-day Adventist university in Takoma Park, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockhurst University</span> Private university in Kansas City, Missouri, US

Rockhurst University is a private Jesuit university in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 as Rockhurst College, Rockhurst University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It enrolled 2,980 students in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivet Nazarene University</span> Private university in Bourbonnais, Illinois, US

Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) is a private Nazarene university in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Named for its founding location, Olivet, Illinois, ONU was originally established as a grammar school in east-central Illinois in 1907. In the late 1930s, it moved to the campus in Bourbonnais. The university is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene and is the annual site of the church's Regional Celebrate Life youth gathering for the Central USA Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevecca Nazarene University</span> Private liberal arts college in Tennessee, US

Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) is a private Nazarene liberal arts college in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1901.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest Nazarene University</span> Christian university in Nampa, Idaho, US

Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) is a private Nazarene university in Nampa, Idaho.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graceland University</span> Private university in Iowa and Missouri, US

Graceland University is a private university with campuses in Lamoni, Iowa, and Independence, Missouri. The university offers degree completion and master's degree programs. It also offers undergraduate and graduate programs online. The university was founded in 1895. Graceland was established by, and is affiliated with, the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Nazarene College</span> Christian college in Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.

The Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) is a private, Christian college in Quincy, Massachusetts. Established as a holiness college in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1900, the college moved to Rhode Island for several years. With its expansion to a four-year curriculum, it relocated to Wollaston Park in 1919. It has expanded to additional sites in Quincy and, since the late 20th century, to satellite sites across the state. Its academic programs are primarily undergraduate, with some professional graduate education offered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Nazarene University</span> Christian college in Bethany, Oklahoma, U.S.

Southern Nazarene University (SNU) is a private Nazarene university in Bethany, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Vernon Nazarene University</span> Christian university in Mount Vernon, Ohio, U.S.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) is a private Christian university in Mount Vernon, Ohio, with satellite locations in the surrounding area. It was founded in 1968 by the Church of the Nazarene and offers a variety of Bachelor's and Master's degrees to both traditional and non-traditional students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethel University (Indiana)</span> Christian liberal arts college in Indiana, U.S.

Bethel University is a private Christian university in Mishawaka, Indiana. It was established in 1947 and is affiliated with the evangelical Christian Missionary Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point Loma Nazarene University</span> Christian liberal arts college in San Diego County, California

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is a private Christian liberal arts college with its main campus on the Point Loma oceanfront in San Diego, California, United States. It was founded in 1902 as a Bible college by the Church of the Nazarene.

Mid-America Christian University (MACU) is a private Christian university in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. MACU is an endorsed agency of the Church of God and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. MACU was initially founded as the South Texas Bible Institute in 1953 in Houston Heights, Houston, Texas.

Jonathan Ryan Quinn is an American football coach and former player. He played professionally as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears. He was selected with the 25th pick of the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Middle Tennessee State University by the Jaguars. Quinn served as the head football coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas from 2009 to 2013.

The University of Sioux Falls (USF) is a private Baptist university in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. In fall 2014, the university enrolled a total of 1,142 undergraduate students and 311 graduate students.

The Nazarene International Education Association (NIEA) is now called Nazarene Educators Worldwide(NEW) and is a part of the Church of the Nazarene. The Church of the Nazarene owns and operates 11 liberal arts institutions in Africa, Canada, Korea, and the United States, as well as 3 graduate seminaries, 37 undergraduate Bible/theological colleges, 3 nurses training colleges, 1 junior college, and 1 education college worldwide. At least in terms of the American institutions, the Church of the Nazarene seems to have changed its original official philosophy of abandoning academies, bible colleges, and universities to focus on liberal arts colleges, as 7 of the 8 "liberal arts colleges" call themselves universities, and there is now a bible college in Colorado Springs. The early-twentieth-century philosophy, as expressed by J.B. Chapman:

It was originally the plan to call every school we started a “university” ... It was our ultimate aim to have universities and our schools were named according to our vision of future developments. But I am, personally, convinced that we should definitely abandon the idea of building any universities, that we should drop these names from our schools... [Moreover,] it is my conclusion that we ... cannot permanently maintain academies and they do not meet our need, that a special Bible school does not meet our needs and that we should express ourselves on this conviction.... That the College, with the necessary fitting school and Bible department[,] is the school that we need and will build."

Paul G. Cunningham was a minister and general superintendent emeritus in the Church of the Nazarene.

Anthony Darvise Davis is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) who played from 1993 to 2000. He was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 11th round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Utah. In 2008, Anthony joined the coaching staff at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas to coach the linebackers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers</span> Athletic teams representing MidAmerica Nazarene University

The MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers are the athletic teams that represent MidAmerica Nazarene University, located in Olathe, Kansas, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) since the 1980–81 academic year.

Jony Muñoz is an American college soccer player who currently plays for the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers men's soccer program in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Muñoz is the 2020 recipient of the Gatorade Boys' Soccer Player of the Year Award, a national honor recognizing the best high school soccer player in the United States. After graduating high school, Muñoz played two seasons of NCAA Division I soccer: one with Liberty University and one with University of Missouri–Kansas City, before transferring to NAIA.

Jon "Rocky" Lamar is an American retired college basketball coach.

References

  1. ↑ HLC of NCA confirms hyphen in original name and its removal after renaming.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "MidAmerica Nazarene University -- Kids Encyclopedia - Children's Homework Help - Kids Online Dictionary - Britannica" . Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Higher Learning Commission" . Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "MidAmerica Nazarene University: About". Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  5. ↑ Victoria Sizemore Long. (1997, April 6). Philanthropy organization plans to honor three in area Retired banker who helped hospital, school among them :[Metropolitan Edition]. Kansas City Star, p. F.3. Retrieved May 17, 2009, from ProQuest Newsstand database. (Document ID: 14721148).
  6. ↑ Collins, Terry and Downs, Stacy. (1997, January 1). Olathe at 140: Proud heritage, promising future :[Johnson County Edition]. Kansas City Star, p. 1. Retrieved May 17, 2009, from ProQuest Newsstand database. (Document ID: 13834037).
  7. ↑ J. Matthew, Price. "Liberal Arts and the Priorities of Nazarene Higher Education" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-06-27. Retrieved 2008-07-10. Nazarene higher education is based on the liberal arts model. Eastern Nazarene is the only Nazarene institution to retain the "college" moniker, although no Nazarene school fits the standard national definition Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine of a "research university".
  8. ↑ "Nazarene Educational Regions" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2008-07-10. See Church of the Nazarene: Organization for more information on regions.
  9. ↑ Guidelines and Handbook for Educational Institutions of the Church of the Nazarene (PDF). Church of the Nazarene International Board of Education. 1997. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-10. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  10. ↑ "CCCU Members". Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  11. ↑ "NAICU Members - E". Archived from the original on 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  12. ↑ College Tookit: MidAmerica Nazarene University
  13. ↑ "MNU Athletics - 2009-10 Basketball (M) Coaching Staff" . Retrieved 28 September 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.