University of Dubuque

Last updated
University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque-3.jpg
Former names
German Theological College and Seminary (1852–1864)
The German Theological School of The North West (1864–1911)
German Presbyterian Theological School (1911–1916)
Dubuque Theological German College and Seminary (1911–1916)
Dubuque College and Seminary (1916–1920)
Dubuque College (1916–1920) [1]
MottoMancherlei Gaben und Ein Geist (German) (1 Corinthians 12:4)
Motto in English
Many Gifts and One Spirit
Type Private university
Established1852;172 years ago (1852)
Religious affiliation
 Presbyterian Church (USA)
Endowment $179.0 million (2020) [2]
President Jeffrey Bullock
Students2,190 [3]
Location
Dubuque, Iowa
,
U.S.

42°29′54″N90°41′32″W / 42.498460°N 90.692194°W / 42.498460; -90.692194
CampusUrban, 77 acres (31 ha) [4]
Colors     Blue & white
Nickname Spartans
MascotSparty the Spartan
Website www.dbq.edu
The arches from the former Steffens Hall. Blades Hall and the Dunlap Technology building are also visible. UnivDubuque1.JPG
The arches from the former Steffens Hall. Blades Hall and the Dunlap Technology building are also visible.
Charles C. Myers Library CharlesCMeyerLibraryUDMar2006.JPG
Charles C. Myers Library
Meyers Teaching and Administrative Center under construction MeyersAdminCenterUD.JPG
Meyers Teaching and Administrative Center under construction

The University of Dubuque (UD) is a private Presbyterian university in Dubuque, Iowa. About 2,200 students attend the university.

Contents

History

The University of Dubuque has had a long history in Dubuque since its founding in 1852.

Early years

Adrian Van Vliet founded the German Theological College and Seminary, the initial predecessor to the University of Dubuque, in 1852. Van Vliet, who was pastor of the German Presbyterian Church (now known as the First Presbyterian Church of Dubuque), [5] wanted to train ministers to serve the influx of immigrants to the upper midwest. Van Vliet believed the large number of immigrants—particularly German farmers and miners—would need ministers of the gospel for the communities they were establishing. He began by training two young men, conducting classes in his home. Although Van Vliet was Dutch, until 1896 all classes were conducted in German.

Initially the school was Van Vliet's independent endeavor. In 1864, the Presbytery of Dubuque assumed control of the institution, and it became known as The German Theological School of The North West. In 1870 the Presbyterian Church of the United States took control of the school. In 1871, following the death of Van Vliet, Jacob Conzett was selected to lead the school. In 1872 the school moved to a brick building on the north side of 17th street, where it would remain for the next 35 years.

In 1901 Cornelius Martin Steffens came on board as financial secretary. He proved to be an outstanding fund raiser. He also helped the school expand its curriculum. A liberal arts college and academy were added to the school, and the first college degrees were granted in 1906. It was Steffens's idea to move the school to larger quarters. Property on the western edge of the city was acquired in 1905 for that purpose. Steffens served as school president from 1908 to 1924.

The school moved to its present location on University Avenue in 1907. The first buildings constructed at this new location were the Administration Building (1907, later renamed Steffens Hall), Severance Hall (1911), the University Bookstore (1912), McCormick Gymnasium (1915), Peters Commons (1916), and Van Vliet Hall (1926). All except Steffens Hall are still standing. Steffens Hall was demolished in 1980 and replaced with Blades Hall, but some of its archways were preserved and can be seen today.

In 1911, the college became coeducational and changed names to the Dubuque Theological German College and Seminary (alternatively the German Presbyterian Theological School). In 1916, the school dropped the word "German" from its name, due in part to anti-German sentiment inflamed by the First World War, and became just Dubuque College. This caused controversy, however, because this was also the name of an existing college, the Catholic school now known as Loras College. After a series of court causes leading up to 1920, neither school ultimately kept the name: the preexisting Catholic school took the name of Mathias Loras, first archbishop of Dubuque while the Presbyterian school became the University of Dubuque on June 17. [6]

Expansion

The new portion of the Goldthorp Science Hall, under construction in March 2006. A portion of the original building can be seen at the right rear of the image. GoldthropUD.JPG
The new portion of the Goldthorp Science Hall, under construction in March 2006. A portion of the original building can be seen at the right rear of the image.

In the 1950s and 60s, during the administration of Gaylord Couchman, a number of building projects took place: the Seminary Library (1955), Smith Hall, a seminary residence (1956), Goldthorp Science Hall (1959), Aitchison Hall, a women's residence (1963), Ficke-Laird Library (1966), Cassat Hall, a men's residence (1966), and Donnell Hall, another men's residence (1967).

McCormick Gymnasium was expanded in 1967. Another large addition to it, named the Stoltz Sports Center, was made later. The original building was also renovated to include a new indoor swimming pool, racquetball courts, a hall of fame, and a multi-purpose area.

Controversy, change, and new leadership

In 1999, the university informed 14 professors, 10 of whom held tenured positions, that they would lose their positions due to a financial crisis. [7] A report by The American Association of University Professors raised concerns about this action, and the AAUP placed the university on its list of censured administrations (where it still remains). [7] The university was granted a provisional six-year accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools due to concerns about academics in the wake of the financial crisis. In 2005, however, the university was granted a full accreditation after a lengthy review process. [8]

In 2003 the university received an endowment to implement the Lester G. Wendt and Michael Lester Wendt Character Initiative, currently overseen by the Wendt Center for Character Education, which among other tasks encourages ethical character development of university students and integration of the same into the university curriculum. [9] Also associated with the Wendt name was a Wendt University Professorship, granted in 2005 to Paul Jeffries, a professor of philosophy. (This is not Paul C. Jeffries, who also has a Ph.D. in philosophy, who used to be in academia but now works in technology.) As the Wendt professor, Jeffries was to oversee the initiative and "speak broadly" about it in the university and external community.

During the same year, Jeffries came up for a new tenure contract. The university offered him a contract, but he objected to a provision restricting negative speech about the university, which he felt could interfere with his objectivity in speaking about ethics and character. The offer of tenure was immediately revoked and Jeffries was dismissed from the university, an action that stirred considerable unrest among students and faculty. [10]

Continued development

The university has completed building additional student housing on land adjacent to Dodge Street, the main east–west thoroughfare through the city. This property remained vacant for many years until the new apartments were built. Park Village apartments are typically only available to upperclassmen. The university currently has approximately 2000 students in attendance.

Academics

The University of Dubuque consists of a Theological Seminary and three schools:

The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the Council on Aviation Accreditation, and the Association of Theological Schools in North America. It is also approved by the State of Iowa Department of Education. [11]

Athletics

Chalmers Field, home of the Dubuque Spartans football team Buena Vista vs. Dubuque (53324229840).jpg
Chalmers Field, home of the Dubuque Spartans football team

The school has been involved in intercollegiate sports for many decades. The teams are called the Spartans, and the school colors are blue and white. There was a brief period, from 1925 to 1928, when the university withdrew from intercollegiate sports and focused on intramural competition. This was done because University president Karl Wettstone was opposed to the commercialization of sports and the recruiting of athletes with offers of free tuition, room, and board. There also were concerns about the salaries some coaches had received, which were felt to be excessive compared to the compensation paid other department heads. Following the reinstatement of intercollegiate competition, the University of Dubuque joined the Iowa Conference, now known as the American Rivers Conference, in 1929.

The University of Dubuque is a member of NCAA Division III, and is part of the American Rivers Conference, which, in addition to the University of Dubuque, currently includes Buena Vista University, Coe College, Central College, Luther College, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Men's varsity sports include football, baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, and wrestling. Women's varsity sports include basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track, tennis, and volleyball. [12]

In 2008, the school officially recognized its first club sports team, ice hockey. Students now have the opportunity to participate in an increasingly popular winter sport against other conference rivals including Loras and Cornell college while attending the University of Dubuque. A recent addition to club sport includes a campus Bass Fishing team which is one of the top-ranked in the country.

Notable alumni

Notable graduates of the University of Dubuque include Walter Soboleff, a Tlingit scholar, elder and religious leader. He was the first Native Alaskan to become an ordained Presbyterian minister. Solomon "Sol" Butler, a track star who set national and world records, competed in the 1920s Olympics and was one of the first black players in the National Football League as well as an early actor in Hollywood films. 1926 graduate of the university, Nemesio Rodriguez, an exchange student from Lima, Peru, later went on to become the prime minister of education for the country of Peru (he also married classmate of '26, Florence Parker), actor Tony Danza, [13] a star of the TV sitcoms Taxi and Who's the Boss? ; and novelist Eckhard Gerdes, author of thirteen published novels, including My Landlady the Lobotomist and Hugh Moore. George O'Leary, former football coach at the University of Central Florida played football at the university in the 1960s but did not graduate. O'Leary gained notoriety when he was hired then dropped as Notre Dame head coach when it was discovered that he fabricated his resume.

Transportation

The university is located west of downtown Dubuque and served by The Jule transit system. The Grey Route and AM Commuter West Route stop on University Avenue at the north edge of campus. [14] Lamers Bus Lines stops at Blade Hall providing intercity bus service towards Madison and Milwaukee. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubuque, Iowa</span> City in Iowa, United States

Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Dubuque was 59,667. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a region locally known as the Tri-State Area. It serves as the main commercial, industrial, educational, and cultural center for the area. Geographically, it is part of the Driftless Area, a portion of North America that escaped all three phases of the Wisconsin Glaciation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of the Cumberlands</span> Christian university in Williamsburg, Kentucky, U.S.

The University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian university in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Over 20,000 students are enrolled at the university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loras College</span> Private university in Dubuque, Iowa, US

Loras College is a private Catholic college in Dubuque, Iowa. It has an enrollment of approximately 1,600 students and is the oldest post-secondary institution in the state of Iowa. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of four four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, one of four Catholic colleges in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and one of six Catholic colleges in the state of Iowa. The campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Loras College Historic District in 2020.

Bethel University is a private Cumberland Presbyterian-affiliated university in McKenzie, Tennessee with satellite campuses in Jackson, and Paris. It is accredited to award degrees up to the master's level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Iowa, USA

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dubuque is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or archdiocese, of the Catholic Church in the northeastern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedarville University</span> Baptist university in Cedarville, Ohio, US

Cedarville University is a private Baptist university in Cedarville, Ohio. It is chartered by the state of Ohio, approved by the Ohio Board of Regents, and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princeton Theological Seminary</span> Private school of theology in New Jersey, US

Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Established in 1812, it is the second-oldest seminary in the United States, founded under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the College of New Jersey. It is also the largest of ten seminaries associated with the Presbyterian Church.

Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) is a theological seminary in the Reformed theological tradition with campuses in multiple locations in the United States. Founded by conservatives in the Southern Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church in the United States, in 1966, it serves primarily students from more conservative branches of the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions.

Dana College was a private college in Blair, Nebraska. Its rural 150-acre campus is approximately 26 miles (40 km) northwest of Omaha and overlooks a portion of the Missouri River Valley. It closed in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presbyterian College</span> Presbyterian college in Clinton, South Carolina, US

Presbyterian College (PC) is a private liberal arts college in Clinton, South Carolina, United States. It was founded in 1880 and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).

<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">John Hennessy (bishop)</span> Irish-born prelate

John Hennessy was a 19th-century Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop and archbishop in the United States. He served as bishop and then the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, from 1866 to 1900.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Byrne (archbishop of Dubuque)</span> American prelate of the Catholic Church (1908–1996)

James Joseph Byrne was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of Dubuque from 1962 to 1983, having previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul (1947–1956) and Bishop of Boise (1956–1962).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Beckman</span> American prelate

Francis Joseph Beckman was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln in Nebraska (1924–1930) and as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in Iowa (1930–1946).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackburn College (Illinois)</span> Private college in Carlinville, Illinois, US

Blackburn College is a private college in Carlinville, Illinois. It was established in 1837 and named for Gideon Blackburn. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Bullock</span>

Jeffrey Francis Bullock is an American academic administrator and the current president of the University of Dubuque, a Presbyterian college in Dubuque, Iowa. He is also an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University.

St. Pius X Seminary is associated with Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, and run under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The seminary prepares Minor (College) Seminarians for the priesthood, specifically preparing candidates for entrance into Major Seminary & Theological studies. Through Loras, the seminary provides full training in Philosophical studies, while giving students the necessary religious studies courses required for entrance into Major Seminary. Founded in 1839 by Bishop Mathias Loras as St. Raphael Seminary, the seminary has operated under various names and conditions at Loras College until adopting its present name in 1954. St. Pius X has prepared countless Seminarians across Iowa & surrounding states for the priesthood, counting over 30 Bishops as alumni. Currently, the seminary is housed at the Vianney House and serves Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and the Diocese of Des Moines. The current rector of St. Pius X Seminary is Fr. David Schatz and the spiritual director is Fr. Tom McDermott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Chapel Hall</span> United States historic place

Old Chapel Hall, also known as Alumni Hall, is a historic building located on the campus of the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. The school started as a German Presbyterian Seminary in 1852. A period of expansion between 1904 and 1922 saw the institution become a liberal arts college called the Dubuque German College and Seminary. This building was part of that expansion. Steffens Hall was completed in 1907, and became the first building on the school's new campus. The chapel was added onto the rear of that building later the same year. It was a gift of the Frank Peters family from St. Louis. The red brick Gothic Revival structure features stone trim, paired lancet windows, a rose window, and a small open bell tower above the entrance. Religious services were held here until 1980 when Blades Chapel was completed. As part of that project Steffens Hall was torn down, except for the front arcade and porch, which makes the old chapel the oldest building on campus. A courtyard was created where the old building stood directly in front of the old chapel. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay James (politician)</span> American politician

Lindsay James is a Democratic politician who has represented the 71st District in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2019.

References

  1. ↑ "University of Dubuque". www.encyclopediadubuque.org. Encyclopedia Dubuque. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  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. ↑ "University of Dubuque 2007-2008 Fact Sheet". Alumni.dbq.edu. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  4. ↑ "University of Dubuque". U.S. & World News Report. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  5. ↑ "The University of Dubuque, 1923, History". Wiki.genealogytoday.com. 2014-06-14. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  6. ↑ University of Dubuque. "History" . Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Reeb, Donald J.; Derrick, M. Elizabeth; Moore, Robert K. (September–October 2001). "Academic Freedom & Tenure: University of Dubuque". Academe: Bulletin of the AAUP. 97 (5). Washington, D.C.: American Association of University Professors: 62–73.
  8. ↑ "University of Dubuque Viewbook". Dbq.edu. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  9. ↑ "The Wendt Character Initiative". Dbq.edu. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  10. ↑ "The Story Thus Far". Whatwentwrong.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  11. ↑ "University of Dubuque: Education for a Changing World". Dbq.edu. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  12. ↑ "University of Dubuque - Official Athletics Website". University of Dubuque. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "Tony Danza Biography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  14. ↑ "The Jule Route Map" . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Dubuque Madison Milwaukee Daily Route" . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
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.