Cornerstone 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 ...
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
university in
Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Cornerstone University has undergraduate and graduate programs, two seminaries (
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and Asia Biblical Theological Seminary based in
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai (, from th, เชียงใหม่ , nod, , เจียงใหม่ ), sometimes written as Chiengmai or Chiangmai, is the largest city in northern Thailand, the capital of Chiang Mai province and the second largest city in ...
,
Thailand), and a radio division called Cornerstone University Radio (WCSG, Mission Network News). The university offers 60 academic programs in the arts, sciences, humanities, Bible, teacher education, computers and business and journalism. The university maintains Mission Network News (MNN), an evangelical "broadcast ministry". Students are required to abide by a "Lifestyle Statement" intended to reflect trinitarianism. Cornerstone had an enrollment of 1,998 students, including professional and graduate studies and both seminaries.
The university is
accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission, the
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, and the
National Association of Schools of Music. Cornerstone's social work program is accredited by the
Council on Social Work Education.
History
Cornerstone was founded in 1941 as the Baptist Bible Institute by the
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches as an evening. The first class graduated in 1944 and the first degree was conferred in 1947. It was accredited in 1963 as a four-year degree-granting college, Grand Rapids Baptist Bible College and Seminary. They began broadcasting
WCSG in June 1973, with an
easy listening and
fine arts
In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork ...
format.
In 1993, it absorbed the Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music.
On July 1, 1999, following approval by the State of Michigan, Cornerstone College and Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary became Cornerstone University. In June 2003, the graduate theological school became Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.
In the 1990s and early 2000s Cornerstone University expanded and transformed, changing its name, becoming a university, increasing enrollment, adding facilities and improving the campus, introducing an adult program including the MBA and a leadership development experience, adding an Honors Program and "Civitas" Core Curriculum, changing its mascot, colors, and logo.
Presidents
*
David Otis Fuller
David Otis Fuller (November 20, 1903 – February 21, 1988) was an American Baptist pastor. He was a graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and Princeton Theological Seminary. He pastored Chelsea Baptist Church in Atlantic City, New J ...
(1941–1944)
*
Norman F. Douty (1944–1945)
* Paul Jackson (1945–1946) (acting president)
* Gerard Knol (1946–1953)
*
Leon J. Wood
Leon James Wood (1918–1977) was an American theologian.
He is the author of one of the few books on the Holy Spirit as portrayed in the Old Testament as opposed to the New Testament. Wood wrote, "The evidence that spiritual renewal, or regenerat ...
(1953–1954) (acting president)
*
J. Edward Hakes J. Edward Hakes left his mark on Christian higher education, his book being assigned as required reading in the classrooms of several Christian colleges. He served as president of Cornerstone University (1954–1958) and academic dean of Trinity Co ...
(1954–1958)
* Howard A. Keithley (1958–1959) (acting president)
*
W. Wilbert Welch (1959–1983) (Chancellor: 1983–2015)
* Charles U. Wagner (1983–1990)
*
W. Wilbert Welch (1991) (interim president)
*
Rex M. Rogers
Rex M. Rogers (born 1952) has served as President of SAT-7 USA since 2009, the American promotion and fundraising arm of SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry by and for the people of the Middle East and North Africa. SAT-7, based in ...
(1991–2008)
*
Joseph M. Stowell, III
Joseph M. Stowell III, born February 7, 1944, retired as the president of Cornerstone University in May 2021, and is author of over 20 Christian books. He is a graduate of Cedarville University and Dallas Theological Seminary (1970) and was honor ...
(2008–2021)
* Gerson Moreno-Riaño (2021–)
Campus
On Saturday, October 7, 2006, the W. Wilbert and Meryl Welch Tower was dedicated during Cornerstone's 2006
Homecoming. The clock tower has a four faced clock near its top. The tower stands tall, and also has a
WOOD-TV traffic camera on the southeast side of the tower. The clock tower is located between the Gainey Conference Center and Bolthouse Hall on campus.
Athletics
The Cornerstone athletic teams are called the Golden Eagles. The university is a member of the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the
Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) since the 1992–93 academic year.
Cornerstone completes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
Mascot
The official mascot is Rocky the Golden Eagle. The baseball team's honorary mascot is Buster the Bulldog.
Accomplishments
Cornerstone has won the
NAIA Men's Basketball Championships (Division II) in 1999,
2011
File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
and
2015
File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...
.
Notable alumni
*
Stephen Herdsman
Stephen Herdsman (born October 6, 1975 in Kingston, Jamaica), is a former American soccer defender now coaching three time national champion Midwest United FC of Grand Rapids, MI. As well now coaching for Cornerstone University of the NAIA of Gran ...
, soccer player
*
Lisa Kelly, trucker
*
Reid Ribble
Reid James Ribble (born April 5, 1956) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2017. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life and education
Ribble is a third generation Wisconsin resident. He was bo ...
, politician who was a U.S. Representative
*
Derek Scott, distance runner and coach
References
External links
*
Official athletics website
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Nondenominational Christian universities and colleges
Cornerstone
Educational institutions established in 1941
Universities and colleges in Kent County, Michigan
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
1941 establishments in Michigan