Clarks Summit University is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

Bible college A Bible college, sometimes referred to as a Bible institute or theological institute, is an evangelical Christian or Restoration Movement Christian institution of higher education which prepares students for Christian ministry with theological educ ...

Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania Clarks Summit is a borough in Lackawanna County, northwest of Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The population was 5,108 at the 2020 census. It is also the northern terminus of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, I-476. History T ...

. It offers on-campus and online degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These include a high-school dual enrollment option, as well as associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Baptist Bible Seminary offers master's and doctoral degrees in remote, on-campus and web-enhanced options.

History

The school was founded as the Baptist Bible Seminary in 1932 in

Johnson City, New York Johnson City is a Administrative divisions of New York#Village, village in Broome County, New York, Broome County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 15,174 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Binghamton, New York, Bin ...

. For its first 36 years, the college used the facilities of First Baptist Church in Johnson City. Additional buildings were purchased or built to accommodate the growing student body. Steady growth of enrollment by the 1960s prompted school leaders to search for a new location. In 1968, a site in Clarks Summit was found with the help of Gov.

William Scranton William Warren Scranton (July 19, 1917 – July 28, 2013) was an American Republican Party politician and diplomat. Scranton served as the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1967, and as United States Ambassador to the United Nations f ...

. The school received its accreditation from the

Association for Biblical Higher Education The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), formerly The Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC) is an evangelical Christian organization of bible colleges in the United States and Canada. It is a member of the International Co ...

in 1968 and received approval to grant degrees from the

Pennsylvania Department of Education The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with publicly funded preschool, K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by ...

in 1969. These developments, along with the offering of associates of arts degrees, led the school to change its name again in 1971, becoming the Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania. The separate Baptist Bible Seminary was spun off in 1972, taking on the original name of the college from its foundation in 1934. Graduate studies began in 1989. The name was changed to the current Clarks Summit University in 2016.

Campus

Clarks Summit University is located on a suburban campus. The site includes 17 major buildings, athletic facilities, and a 4.5-acre lake. Huckaby Gymnasium in the Phelps Student Center hosts home basketball and volleyball contests

Academics

The university has more than 80 programs including associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. All students who earn a bachelor's degree earn a major in Biblical Studies as well as their chosen career major. Clarks Summit University is accredited by the

Middle States Commission on Higher Education The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (abbreviated as MSCHE and legally incorporated as the Mid-Atlantic Region Commission on Higher Education) is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit membership organization that performs peer evalua ...

and the

Association of Biblical Higher Education Association may refer to: *Club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal *Trade association, an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry *Voluntary associatio ...

. Its education programs are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Athletics

The Clarks Summit University Defenders field teams in several sports. Men's teams include soccer, basketball, golf, cross-country, tennis, volleyball and baseball. Women's teams include basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Clarks Summit University is affiliated with both the

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

(NCAA)

Division III In sport, the Third Division, also called Division 3, Division Three, or Division III, is often the third-highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Association football *Belgian Thir ...

, and the

Colonial States Athletic Conference The Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) is an NCAA Division III collegiate athletic conference in the Mid-Atlantic United States. There are currently nine full member institutions as of 2018. The conference's membership, as with most Midd ...

. Athletic history includes 75

National Christian College Athletic Association The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) is an association of Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada whose mission is "the promotion and enhancement of intercollegiate athletic co ...

(NCCAA) Division II East Regional Championships in seven sports and 23 NCCAA Division II National Championships in six sports. Defender teams have appeared in three NCAA Division III national tournaments. Clarks Summit University has had 2 individual

National Collegiate Wrestling Association The National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) is a nonprofit association of 162 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organize the wrestling programs of many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. ...

(NCWA) champions in wrestling. There is currently no wrestling at any level at the school. The Clarks Summit University Defenders colors are royal blue, silver, and black. The Lady Defender basketball team earned a spot in the NCAA DIII playoffs after winning the Colonial States Athletic Conference championship in 2022.

Notable alumni

* Syracuse University basketball chaplain William Payne * Brian Higgins, field expert in public safety and former police chief, Bergen County, NJ * Founder and executive director of Grace Relations Dr. Charles Ware * Counseling expert and author Robert Kellemen, founder of RPM Ministries * Pastor and Author John Elton Pletcher * General surgeon who earned the International Surgical Volunteerism Award, Dr. Bruce Steffes * Award-winning producer Amy Brodrick * Ron Clark Academy Language Arts Teacher Korey Collins * Chaplain Colonel James May

References

External links

*
Official athletics website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarks Summit University Educational institutions established in 1932 Universities and colleges in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Private universities and colleges in Pennsylvania 1932 establishments in Pennsylvania Colonial States Athletic Conference schools Former United East Conference schools