North Central University

Last updated
North Central University
North Central University logo.gif
Former names
North Central Bible Institute (1930–1957)
North Central Bible College (1957–1998)
Motto"Your Life, Our Mission"[ citation needed ]
Type Private university
Established1930
Religious affiliation
Assemblies of God
President Doug Graham
Academic staff
130
Students992 (2022) [1]
Undergraduates 893
Postgraduates 99
Location, ,
United States

44°58′09.58″N93°15′40.22″W / 44.9693278°N 93.2611722°W / 44.9693278; -93.2611722
CampusUrban
Colors Navy Blue and Vegas Gold
Nickname Rams
MascotBama the Rama
Website www.northcentral.edu

North Central University (NCU) is a private Christian university in Minneapolis, Minnesota, associated with the Assemblies of God. It is owned and operated by 11 Assemblies of God districts of the upper Midwest. NCU was founded in 1930 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It is one of 17 Assemblies of God institutions of higher education in the United States.

Contents

History

The university was founded in 1930 as the North Central Bible Institute under the ownership of the North Central District Council of the Assemblies of God. After several years of increasing enrollment, the school moved to its current location in Minneapolis in 1936.

The school began to offer four-year degrees in 1955, and became the North Central Bible College in 1957.

The college became in a university in 1998, adopting its current name, North Central University. [2]

Academics

Academic and spiritual requirements

All of North Central University's bachelor's programs contain a General Education Core, a Christian Studies Core, and a Major Core, most of which can be earned by completing 124 credits. [3] The Christian Studies Core is a required portion of all bachelor's degrees. [3] Students are also required to attend daily chapel service and can voluntarily attend other methods of spiritual formation, both faculty- and student-led.

Student lifestyle

Students must agree to a student code of conduct common to many Christian universities. They are prohibited from activities such as alcohol consumption and tobacco use and must adhere to curfew restrictions and other policies designed to help them develop character and maintain a Christian lifestyle. As the school has grown the rules have fluctuated. Debate as to the viability of certain rules continues among both students and employees.[ citation needed ]

The university has a partial exception to Title IX that allows it to discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons. Same-sex relationships are forbidden by policy. [4] Several students have been forced to leave the school because they were vocal about LGBT identity or for having gay relationships, even nonsexual. [5]

Ministry focus

While transitioning into a Christian liberal arts university, NCU has retained its ministry focus and Bible college roots.[ citation needed ] Each major has a Christian Studies core as part of the curriculum. Each major is focused on providing professional competency while equipping students to live out their Christian faith in both secular and church roles. It blends academic rigor with Pentecostal spirituality. Daily chapel services are a key component of campus life. Many students are involved in local churches or provide ministry leadership for campus groups and organizations.[ citation needed ]

Deaf Studies

Established in 1974 by J. David Fleck, the Deaf Studies program offered degrees to deaf students preparing for vocational ministry positions. The program was one of first in the country. A unique[ citation needed ] aspect of the program was that it allowed students to practice their ASL skills in daily chapel services or local churches. The program has since been terminated and replaced most closely by the ASL Interpreting program.

On-campus housing

NCU has six different living areas. One of the reserved buildings is the 1500 building. It is right outside the cafeteria and reserved for married couples enrolled at North Central. The 901 building is open to NCU staff. Another exclusive building on campus is the Orfield Apartments. These are right across from the sanctuary and reserved for upperclassmen. And there are three dorms, Phillips Hall, Miller Hall, and Carlson Hall. Phillips is a co-ed suite-style dorm with same-sex floors. Miller is for female residents and houses 200 students. Carlson is for men and also houses 200. [6]

Colleges, schools, and departments

College of Arts and Sciences

College of Business and Technology

College of Fine Arts

College of Church Leadership

College of Graduate and Professional Education

Athletics

The Rams are members of the NCAA Division III intercollegiate teams for men—baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track and field; for women—basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. A variety of club and intramural sports are available. The Clark-Danielson College Life Center Gymnasium is the home court for the basketball and volleyball teams. The CLC center was refurbished in late 2016. Partnering with the city of Minneapolis, a full-sized soccer field was completed in 2015. [7] This field is home to the Men and Women's soccer teams and men's lacrosse team. Until 1998, the school's nickname was the "Flames", with black and red the school colors.

During 2012, North Central became an associate member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in all varsity sports. NCU became a full member of the UMAC in 2013. In 2018, the men's soccer team claimed the DII National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship crown, their overall record was 13–7–2.

Radio station

In 2007, FM radio station KNOF, which broadcast a Full Gospel schedule of programs and southern gospel music, was donated to the university. A partnership was formed between Praise Broadcasting and the university to offer a variety of worship music throughout the day. In 2008, it was announced that the radio station would move to the former Comm Arts building right behind the Trask Worship Center.

In 2014, the university sold KNOF to Praise Broadcasting for $5 million. Praise soon sold the signal to the Pohlad family for $8 million. The Pohlads converted the station into KZGO 95.3 Go, a mix of modern and old-school rap and hip-hop.[ citation needed ] By July 2021, Praise had repurchased the station and reinstated the KNOF call letters and religious format.

Presidents

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Northwestern – St. Paul</span> Private Christian college in Roseville, Minnesota, U.S.

University of Northwestern (UNW) is a private Christian university in Roseville, Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest University (United States)</span> Christian university in Kirkland, Washington

Northwest University is a private Christian university in Kirkland, Washington. The university offers associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees through its College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business and Management, School of Education, Mark and Huldah Buntain School of Nursing, College of Ministry, and College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. It has a satellite campus in Salem, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethany Lutheran College</span> Private Lutheran college in Mankato, Minnesota, US

Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) is a private Christian liberal arts college in Mankato, Minnesota. Founded in 1927, BLC is operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The campus overlooks the Minnesota River valley in a community of 53,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Park University</span> Christian university in Chicago, Illinois, US

North Park University is a private Christian university in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church. It is located on Chicago's north side and enrolls more than 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Minnesota Morris</span> Public college in Morris, Minnesota, US

The University of Minnesota Morris (UMN–Morris) is a public liberal arts college in Morris, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the University of Minnesota system and was founded in 1960 as a public, co-educational, residential liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Master's University</span> Private Christian university in Santa Clarita, California

The Master's University is a private non-denominational Christian university in Santa Clarita, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee University</span> Private university in Cleveland, Tennessee, U.S.

Lee University is a private Christian university in Cleveland, Tennessee. It was founded in 1918 as the Church of God Bible Training School with twelve students and one teacher, Nora I. Chambers. The school grew to become Lee College, with a Bible college and junior college on its current site, in 1948. Twenty years later, Lee received accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a four-year liberal arts college. In 1997, Lee became a university; it now offers master's degrees as well as undergraduate degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Catherine University</span> Catholic university in Saint Paul, Minnesota, US

St. Catherine University is a private Catholic university in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was established as one of the first institutions of higher learning specifically for women in the Midwest and was known as the College of St. Catherine until 2009. St. Kate's offers baccalaureate programs for women as well as graduate and associate programs for women and men.

Nelson University, formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU), is a private Christian university in Waxahachie, Texas. Nelson is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and endorsed by the Assemblies of God USA. The university offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in a variety of liberal arts programs, as well as programs in Bible and church ministries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanguard University</span> Private university in Costa Mesa, California, U.S

Vanguard University is a private Protestant university in Costa Mesa, California. It was the first four-year college in Orange County. Vanguard's required core curriculum includes courses on American politics and history, theology, fine arts, and public speaking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concordia University Nebraska</span> Lutheran university in Seward, Nebraska, US

Concordia University, Nebraska is a private Lutheran university in Seward, Nebraska. It was established in 1894 and is affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod as one of seven schools in the Concordia University System. The university is organized into three schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, and the College of Graduate Studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crown College (Minnesota)</span> Christian college in Minnesota, U.S.

Crown College is a private Evangelical Christian college in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. It is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judson University</span> Private university in Elgin, Illinois, US

Judson University is a private Baptist university in Elgin, Illinois. It is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. Judson was formed out of the liberal arts component of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. When the seminary moved from Chicago to Lombard, Illinois, it was decided to make the college separate from the seminary. Originally known as Judson College, it was named after Adoniram Judson, the first American Baptist missionary to foreign shores. The university has campuses in Elgin and Rockford, Illinois, and a student body of approximately 1,300. Judson College became Judson University on August 28, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wingate University</span> Private university in Wingate, North Carolina, U.S.

Wingate University is a private liberal arts university with campuses in Wingate, Charlotte, and Hendersonville, North Carolina. It identifies as a university with "Judeo-Christian heritage."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushnell University</span> Private university in Eugene, Oregon

Bushnell University is a private Christian university in Eugene, Oregon. It is historically affiliated with the Christian Church and the Christian churches and churches of Christ.

Oak Hills Christian College is a private, nondenominational Christian college outside of Bemidji, Minnesota. It is a division of Oak Hills Fellowship, which was founded in 1927 for the purpose of instructing youth and adults "in Bible without denominational emphasis or bias." In addition to its many evangelistic ministries, the Fellowship opened Oak Hills Christian Training School, a residential college, in 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Wesleyan University</span> Christian university in Central, South Carolina, US

Southern Wesleyan University is a private Christian university in Central, South Carolina, United States. It was founded in 1906 by what is now the Wesleyan Church. The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

KNOF is a non-profit FM radio station licensed to St. Paul, Minnesota, and serving the Twin Cities area. The station is broadcasts a Christian Contemporary radio format and is owned by Christian Heritage Broadcasting, Inc. KNOF's radio studios and offices are on Elliot Avenue in Minneapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBHL</span> Radio station in Osakis, Minnesota

KBHL is a Contemporary Christian Music radio station in Osakis, Minnesota, United States, owned by Christian Heritage Broadcasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio Christian University</span>

Ohio Christian University (OCU) is a private Christian college in Circleville, Ohio. It is denominationally affiliated with the Churches of Christ in Christian Union.

References

  1. "History". www.northcentral.edu. North Central University. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Majors & Minors - North Central University - Minneapolis, MN". North Central University. Retrieved Aug 27, 2019.
  3. Birkey, Andy (July 15, 2015). "Eight Minnesota colleges discriminate against LGBT students, staff, and faculty". The Column. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  4. Eckholm, Eric (April 18, 2011). "Even on Religious Campuses, Students Fight for Gay Identity". The New York Times. Waco, Texas. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  5. "Residence Life". North Central University. Retrieved Aug 27, 2019.
  6. "Soccer field to be put in Elliot Park this summer". The Northerner. Apr 30, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved Aug 27, 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Tammy Faye (Bakker) Messner Biography - Biography.com" . Retrieved Aug 27, 2019.
  8. "Carry Your Candle: Does God hate the sin, but love the sinner?". Dec 7, 2006. Retrieved Aug 27, 2019.
  9. Green, Arne (27 March 2022). "Jerome Tang's unconventional journey to become Kansas State's head basketball coach". Topeka Capital-Journal. Topeka, Kansas. Retrieved 28 March 2022.