Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Last updated
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Oklahoma Wesleyan University seal.svg
Former names
Central Pilgrim College (1905–1968)
Bartlesville Wesleyan College (1968–2001)
Type Private university
Established1905
Religious affiliation
 Wesleyan Church
Endowment US$5,461,866 (as of 2014) [1]
President Jim Dunn
Students1,204
Location
Bartlesville
,
Oklahoma
,
U.S.

36°43′03″N95°57′24″W / 36.71750°N 95.95667°W / 36.71750; -95.95667
Colors Navy blue and yellow [2]
   
Nickname Eagles
Sporting affiliations
 NAIA – KCAC
NCCAA Division I – Central
Website www.okwu.edu
Oklahoma Wesleyan University logo.svg
OKWU's Lyon Chapel and Fine Arts Center OKWU Campus.jpg
OKWU's Lyon Chapel and Fine Arts Center

Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) is a private university of the Wesleyan church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. OKWU offers over 30 undergraduate degrees to students at its Bartlesville campus, and it also offers six graduate degree programs as part of its online offerings. [3]

Contents

OKWU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission [4] while the education, business, and nursing programs are accredited through program-specific organizations. [5] In 2022, OKWU had 902 students enrolled, with approximately 782 of those in its undergraduate programs. [1]

History

Oklahoma Wesleyan University was founded by The Wesleyan Church to provide higher education within a Christian environment for Wesleyan youth. Central Pilgrim College, its predecessor, was founded on the campus in Bartlesville, Oklahoma from a series of mergers of several schools: the Colorado Bible College (Colorado Springs, Colorado), the Pilgrim Bible College (Pasadena, California), and the Holiness Evangelistic Institute (El Monte, California). Central Pilgrim College was renamed Bartlesville Wesleyan College in 1968, following a merger of the Pilgrim Holiness Church and the Wesleyan Methodist Church to become the Wesleyan Church. In 1972, the college merged with a Kansas school, Miltonvale Wesleyan College; the resulting school became a four-year college having about 1300 students. [6] In August 2001, Bartlesville Wesleyan College became Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU). [6]

2015 withdrawal from Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

A longtime member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), in 2015 the university withdrew from the organization. OKWU's president cited CCCU's "reluctance to make a swift decision" in response to the decisions of two member schools (Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite University) which changed their hiring policies to include same-sex couples, as an unwillingness to defend the biblical definition of marriage. [7]

2016 Title IX lawsuit

On August 15, 2016, OKWU joined a court challenge to a 2011 mandate from the U. S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights requiring colleges and universities adjudicate what they called "a unconstitutional process and standard." Former president Piper stated, in part, that they "refuse to accept any government intrusion that would require OKWU to teach the antithesis of our Christian beliefs concerning sexual behavior" and that OKWU's students "should have the legal right to avail themselves of local law enforcement without their petition being compromised by the intrusion of an OCR-mandated committee of amateurs that contravenes the due process and confidentiality of the legal process." The suit was sponsored by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. [8]

Antecedent schools

The following is a list of antecedent schools: [9]

Timeline

Oklahoma Wesleyan University traces its history back to 1905 [10] through several antecedent schools.

In 1958 [11] , the current day campus was purchased by Colorado Springs Bible College, which began operating as Central Pilgrim College in 1959 [11] . The campus purchase included La Quinta Mansion, the former home of oilman H.V. Foster and his family. The school changed its name to Bartlesville Wesleyan College in 1968 [10] , the same year of the merger of the Pilgrim Holiness and Wesleyan Methodist denominations.

OKWU's Campus OKWU Campus 2.jpg
OKWU's Campus

In 1972 [11] , Miltonvale merged with Bartlesville Wesleyan College. That same year, BWC was accredited as a four-year, degree-granting institution.

Over the years the campus grew to include new dorm buildings, the Campbell Science Building, and the Haltom Campus Center. BWC’s first ever intercollegiate athletic team was the 1971 men’s basketball team [11] . The campus athletic center, Mueller Sports Center, was completed in 1979 [11] . The Chapel Fine Arts Center was dedicated in 2000 [11] .

In 2001, BWC became Oklahoma Wesleyan University [10] .

Presidents

Academics

OKWU offers 54 majors through its five schools: its School of Arts & Sciences, School of Ministry & Christian Thought, School of Business, School of Education and Exercise Science, and School of Nursing. [13]

Rankings

In 2019, it was ranked #85 in Regional Universities West, according to U.S. News & World Report . [14]

Athletics

The Oklahoma Wesleyan (OKWU) athletic teams are called the Eagles. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference since the 2015–16 academic year. [15] They are also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Central Region of the Division I level. The Eagles previously competed in the defunct Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) from 1994–95 to 2014–15 (when the conference dissolved). [15]

OKWU competes in 19 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball (added in 2021–22), cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and eSports. [15]

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference</span> NAIA conference

The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The KCAC is the oldest conference in the NAIA and the second-oldest in the United States, tracing its history to 1890.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity International University</span> Christian liberal arts university in Bannockburn, Illinois, U.S.

Trinity International University (TIU) is an evangelical Christian university headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. It comprises Trinity College, Trinity Graduate School, a theological seminary, a law school, and a camp called Timber-lee. The university also maintains campuses in North Lauderdale, Florida & Miami, Florida; the camp is located in East Troy, Wisconsin. TIU is the only university affiliated with Evangelical Free Church of America in the United States and enrolls about 2,700 students. On February 17, 2023, TIU announced it was moving the undergraduate program to online modalities only and closed the residential campus at the end of the Spring 2023 semester.

<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.

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">Indiana Wesleyan University</span> Christian university in Marion, Indiana, US

Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a private evangelical Christian university headquartered in Marion, Indiana, and affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. It is the largest private university in Indiana.

Evangel University is a private Christian university and seminary in Springfield, Missouri. It is affiliated with the Assemblies of God Christian denomination, which is also headquartered in Springfield. The campus sits on 80 acres that were originally part of O'Reilly General Hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York University (Nebraska)</span> Private university in York, Nebraska, US

York University is a private college affiliated with the Churches of Christ and located in York, Nebraska. It was founded in 1890.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingswood University</span> Private Christian university in Canada

Kingswood University is an evangelical Christian university associated with the Wesleyan Church, located in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada. It is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education. It is chartered by the province of New Brunswick and authorized to confer degrees in church-related education. The university is also registered with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, the Association of Christian Schools International, and the Christian Higher Education Canada (CHEC).

<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.

Pilgrim Holiness Church (PHC) or International Apostolic Holiness Church (IAHC) is a Christian denomination associated with the holiness movement that split from the Methodist Episcopal Church through the efforts of Martin Wells Knapp in 1897. It was first organized in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the International Holiness Union and Prayer League (IHU/IAHC). Knapp, founder of the IAHC, ordained and his Worldwide Missions Board sent Charles and Lettie Cowman who had attended God's Bible School to Japan in December 1900. By the International Apostolic Holiness Churches Foreign Missionary Board and the co-board of the Revivalist the Cowmans had been appointed the General Superintendents and the Kilbournes the vice-General Superintendent for Korea, Japan and China December 29, 1905. The organization later became the Pilgrim Holiness Church in 1922, the majority of which merged with the Wesleyan Methodists in 1968 to form the Wesleyan Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservative holiness movement</span>

The conservative holiness movement is a loosely defined group of theologically conservative Christian denominations with the majority being Methodists whose teachings are rooted in the theology of John Wesley, and a minority being Quakers (Friends) that emphasize the doctrine of George Fox, as well as River Brethren who emerged out of the Radical Pietist revival, and Holiness Restorationists in the tradition of Daniel Sidney Warner. Schisms began to occur in the 19th century and this movement became distinct from parent Holiness bodies in the mid-20th century amid disagreements over modesty in dress, entertainment, and other "old holiness standards". Aligned denominations share a belief in Christian perfection, though they differ on various doctrines, such as the celebration of the sacraments and observance of ordinances, which is related to the denominational tradition of the specific conservative holiness body—Methodist, Quaker, Anabaptist or Restorationist. Many denominations identifying with the conservative holiness movement, though not all, are represented in the Interchurch Holiness Convention; while some denominations have full communion with one another, other bodies choose to be isolationist.

<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, California

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazarene Bible College</span> Bible college in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Nazarene Bible College (NBC) is a private Nazarene Bible college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It was founded in 1964, chartered in 1967, and approved by the Colorado Department of Education to grant degrees in 1970. NBC has a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

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.

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

Southwestern Christian University is a private Pentecostal university in Bethany, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1946 as Southwestern Bible College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was the first Pentecostal educational institution in the state. While it was established as a Bible college for the training of Christian church leaders within the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, the denomination planned to quickly expand the school into a junior college.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference</span>

The Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) was an intercollegiate athletic conference that competed in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Members of the conference were located in the Midwest United States and were located in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

The Churches of Christ in Christian Union (CCCU) is a Wesleyan-Holiness and Restorationist Christian denomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Christian University</span> Private university in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US

Oklahoma Christian University (OC) is a private Christian university in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1950 by members of the Churches of Christ.

References

  1. 1 2 "Oklahoma Wesleyan University". US News Best Colleges. U.S. News & World Report LP. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  2. ↑ Oklahoma Wesleyan University Brand Guidelines (PDF). August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Majors". Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Higher Learning Commission". www.hlcommission.org.
  5. ↑ "Accreditation". Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
  6. 1 2 Linda D. Wilson, "Oklahoma Weslayan University." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  7. ↑ J.C. Derrick (August 31, 2015). "Second school leaves the CCCU". WORLD Magazine. Retrieved August 8, 2016. "We believe in missional clarity and view the defense of the biblical definition of marriage as an issue of critical importance," said Everett Piper, former president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, "The CCCU's reluctance to make a swift decision sends a message of confusion rather than conviction."
  8. ↑ "Oklahoma Wesleyan Files Suit Challenging Department of Education". Press Release. Oklahoma Wesleyan. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  9. ↑ "OKWU History". Oklahoma Wesleyan University. OKWU. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mission & History". Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "OKWU Milestone Timeline" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "Charles Joiner – American Behavioral". American Behavioral Benefits Managers. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Residential Academic Programs". Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Oklahoma Wesleyan University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  15. 1 2 3 "Oklahoma Wesleyan to Join KCAC in Fall 2015". KCAC. Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. June 23, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 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.