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Taylor 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 ...
,
interdenominational Interdenominationalism is an evangelical Protestant movement of cooperation among various Christian denominations. History The movement has its origins in the founding of the London Missionary Society, a missionary society, in 1795 by variou ...
,
evangelical Christian Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being " born again", in which an individual exper ...
university in
Upland, Indiana Upland (pronounced as "up-land") is a town in Jefferson Township, Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,845 at the 2010 census. It is most notable for being the home of Taylor University, a Christian college with 2,103 studen ...
. Founded in 1846, it is one of the oldest evangelical Christian universities in the country. The university is named after
Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
William Taylor (1821–1902). The university sits on an approximately
campus A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a college campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls, student centers or dining halls, and park-like se ...
on the south side of Upland. It also preserves a
arboretum An arboretum (plural: arboreta) in a general sense is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, man ...
and an additional of undeveloped land northeast of campus which has more of arboretum space. Taylor University has 1,798 undergraduate students, 33 graduate students, and 395
distance learning Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually in ...
students. The student body hails from 38 states and 26 foreign countries, with 44 percent from Indiana. Taylor is a member of NAIA with 16 men's and women's sports teams. The university is
accredited Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...
by the
Higher Learning Commission The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...
and is a member of the
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) is a global organization of evangelical Christian colleges and universities. The headquarters is in Washington, D.C. History In 1976, presidents of colleges in the Christian College Cons ...
and the
Christian College Consortium The Christian College Consortium is an affiliation of 13 Christian colleges and universities in the United States. Member schools provide each other with mutual support through scholarships, conferences, and exchange programs. History The Consort ...
. In August 2021, Dr. Michael Lindsay was named as the current president.


History


Founding

In 1846, Taylor University was originally established as Fort Wayne Female College in
Fort Wayne Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...
,
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
. In the first full year of the school, about 100 women were enrolled, paying $22.50 per year. During this time, it was common for women to obtain an M.E.L. degree, the Mistress of English Literature. Fort Wayne Female College was founded by the
Methodist Church Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related Christian denomination, denominations of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John W ...
as an all-female school. In 1850, Fort Wayne Female College started admitting men
coeducational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...
ly and changed its name to Fort Wayne College. In 1890, Fort Wayne College acquired the former facilities of nearby Fort Wayne Medical College that were vacated after Fort Wayne Medical College's merger with Indiana Asbury College, another
Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...
-affiliated college. Upon completing this acquisition, Fort Wayne College changed its name to Taylor University in honor of
Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
William Taylor. The original Taylor University campus was on College Street in
Fort Wayne Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...
.


Move to Upland

In 1882, a guest-preaching engagement in the Upland Methodist Church afforded Fort Wayne College president Thaddeus Reade the chance to meet the minister of Upland Methodist Church, Rev. John C. White. Because the school was having financial difficulties at its location in Fort Wayne, White and Upland citizen J.W. Pittinger worked to bring the school to Upland. In the spring of 1893, White negotiated an agreement between the trustees of the now-named Taylor University and the Upland Land Company. The university agreed to move to
Upland, Indiana Upland (pronounced as "up-land") is a town in Jefferson Township, Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,845 at the 2010 census. It is most notable for being the home of Taylor University, a Christian college with 2,103 studen ...
, and the company agreed to provide Taylor with $10,000 in cash and of land. That summer, Taylor University relocated to Upland. White was able to find the resources to support Taylor University because of the recent discovery of large deposits of natural gas in the area. In 1915, Taylor paid seven thousand dollars to purchase more from Charles H. and Bertha Snyder. Early in the 1920s, the university added another to its present location when the Lewis Jones farm was purchased. After 1922, Taylor University was no longer formally affiliated with Methodism.


Summit Christian College and Fort Wayne

In 1992, ninety-nine years after moving to Upland, Taylor University acquired Summit Christian College located in the city of
Fort Wayne Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...
. The college was subsequently renamed Taylor University Fort Wayne. Summit Christian College was founded in 1904 as the Bible Training School of Fort Wayne, later becoming Fort Wayne Bible Institute, and eventually, in 1950, Fort Wayne Bible College. In 1989 the school was renamed Summit Christian College. Prior to acquisition by Taylor University, Summit Christian College was affiliated with the
Missionary Church The Missionary Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of Anabaptist origins with Wesleyan and Pietist influences. Faith and practice The Missionary Church is a Trinitarian body which believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God and ...
. With the urban setting of the campus in Fort Wayne, the academic programs tended to be more vocational and its student body more non-traditional. Reflecting this, of TUFW's 1,040 member student body, approximately 224 students lived on campus with the rest commuting or taking courses online.Quick Facts – Taylor University Fort Wayne
Popular majors included Professional Writing, Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, Education, English, and Business. The Taylor University Fort Wayne Falcons participated in the
United States Collegiate Athletic Association The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) is a national organization for the intercollegiate athletic programs of 72 mostly small colleges, including community/junior colleges, across the United States. The USCAA holds 15 nationa ...
. The school offered basketball for men and women, soccer for men and women (2008–2009 was the first year for the women's program), and women's volleyball. On October 13, 2008, the university announced plans to discontinue traditional undergraduate programs on the Fort Wayne Campus. Programs that remained after the closure or were transitioned to the Upland campus included the MBA program, the online program, and the radio station,
WBCL WBCL is an FM radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 90.3 MHz. WBCL is owned by Taylor University in Upland, Indiana with its studios located at the university's Fort Wayne campus. It ...
.


2006 Van accident

On April 26, 2006, Taylor received national attention when a university van was involved in a fatal accident outside
Marion, Indiana Marion is a city in Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,948 as of the 2010 United States Census. The city is the county seat of Grant County. It is named for Francis Marion, a brigadier general from South Carolina in the ...
, while traveling between the Fort Wayne and Upland campuses. The accident happened when a northbound
semi-trailer truck A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semitruck, (or semi, eighteen-wheeler, big rig, tractor-trailer or, by synecdoche, a semitrailer) is the combination of a tractor unit and one or more semi-trailers to carry freight. A semi-trailer ...
driver fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the median and struck the southbound passenger van on
I-69 Interstate 69 (I-69) is an Interstate Highway in the United States currently consisting of 10 unconnected segments with an original continuous segment from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, at ...
. Four students and one staff member were killed, and three staff members and one student were injured. The accident occurred two days before former university president Eugene Habecker's
inauguration In government and politics, inauguration is the process of swearing a person into office and thus making that person the incumbent. Such an inauguration commonly occurs through a formal ceremony or special event, which may also include an inaugu ...
ceremony. The truck driver was convicted of reckless, involuntary
manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th cen ...
and received a four-year
prison sentence In law, a sentence is the punishment for a crime ordered by a trial court after conviction in a criminal procedure, normally at the conclusion of a trial. A sentence may consist of imprisonment, a fine, or other sanctions. Sentences for multip ...
. The
Grant County Grant County may refer to: Places ;Australia * County of Grant, Victoria ;United States *Grant County, Arkansas *Grant County, Indiana * Grant County, Kansas *Grant County, Kentucky *Grant County, Minnesota *Grant County, Nebraska *Grant C ...
coroner A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into Manner of death, the manner or cause of death, and to investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within th ...
and Taylor officials failed to positively identify all the victims. The incident made international headlines when there was a case of
mistaken identity Mistaken identity is a defense in criminal law which claims the actual innocence of the criminal defendant, and attempts to undermine evidence of guilt by asserting that any eyewitness to the crime incorrectly thought that they saw the defendan ...
between two of the victims. Senior Laura Van Ryn, who died on the scene, was mistaken for surviving freshman Whitney Cerak. A funeral was conducted with a closed casket for Whitney Cerak, and the mistake was not discovered until Cerak identified herself after waking up from a
coma A coma is a deep state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light, or sound, lacks a normal wake-sleep cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. Coma patients exhi ...
over a month later. On May 32, 2009, Cerak graduated from Taylor, and the two families remain close. On April 26, 2008, the second anniversary of the accident, the university dedicated the $2.4 million Memorial Prayer Chapel as a memorial to the victims: students Laurel Erb, Brad Larson, Betsy Smith and Laura Van Ryn, along with Taylor employee Monica Felver. As a result of this incident,
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
changed its procedure for identifying victims involved in accidents.


Vision 2016

Upon inauguration President Eugene Habecker unveiled his Taylor University Vision 2016 plan for the university. The initiative involved the creation of several centers of excellence on campus. The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence was established and endowed. The center for Scripture engagement was partially endowed. And centers for Missions Computing, Ethics, C.S. Lewis and Faith, Film, and Media are in the process of being created. Programs were created in Ireland and Ecuador. The initiative involved the construction of several buildings around campus: 2008 - The Prayer Chapel, built in memorial of the 2006 van crash was completed; 2008 - Campbell Hall, an off campus university apartment complex completed; 2012 - The Euler Science Complex, an addition to the Nussbaum science complex completed; 2012 - Wolgemuth Hall an off campus university apartment complex completed; 2013 - Breuinger Hall a residence hall connected to Gerig hall completed; and 2016 - LaRita Boren Campus Center, a replacement for the old student union was completed. 2016 - As well, as upgrades to athletic facilities, landscaping, and other buildings were also undertaken.


Res Publica controversy

In 2018, several professors who believed their
fundamentalist Fundamentalism is a tendency among certain groups and individuals that is characterized by the application of a strict literal interpretation to scriptures, dogmas, or ideologies, along with a strong belief in the importance of distinguishing ...
and
conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
viewpoints were not well represented in the student newspaper published an anonymous underground newspaper called ''Excalibur''. The student newspaper responded by asserting that they had not refused to publish any submitted articles and that when the associated professors published a piece in the newspaper the prior year they received pushback from the student body. The university president Lowell Haines criticized the publications, citing the targeted distribution of the paper in rooms of minorities and supporters of
social justice Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. In Western and Asian cultures, the concept of social justice has often referred to the process of ensuring that individuals fu ...
, along with the unaccountability and inability to create and maintain dialogue with anonymous publications. At this point the authors of the newspaper, Jim Spiegel, Gary Ross, Richard Smith, and Ben Wehling, came forward, apologized for any perceived slights due to distribution, and stated that their goal was to create dialogue about viewpoints they felt were under-represented Several open letters were published, with one addressing the newspapers arguments directly, and another criticizing what it saw as the president's harsh response.


2019 Commencement controversy

On March 24, 2019, university president Paul Lowell Haines announced that
Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...
Mike Pence Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician who served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 50th ...
would be delivering the commencement speech at the 2019 graduation ceremonies. Controversy was immediate, the faculty voting on a motion of dissent, with 61 against the Pence invitation, 41 in favor and 3 abstaining. Competing petitions were organized, calling for the invitation to be rescinded or supporting the invitation. Student and faculty organized protests to walk out before the commencement speech, or to sit silently during the speech. Students and faculty expressed several reasons for protesting: the lack of faculty and student input into the decision, concerns that Pence's invitation was an endorsement of specific political and religious views, Pence's affiliation with
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
, and the belief that Pence did not represent the same Christian values the university endorsed. On May 18, 2019, dozens of students and several faculty members walked out of commencement ceremonies shortly before Pence delivered the commencement address. The majority of students and faculty remained seated. At the end of his speech, Pence received a standing ovation, during which the majority of students and faculty that remained stayed silent and seated. Afterwards, students linked hands and sang the
doxology A doxology (Ancient Greek: ''doxologia'', from , ''doxa'' 'glory' and -, -''logia'' 'saying') is a short hymn of praises to God in various forms of Christian worship, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns. The tradition derives ...
in an attempt to show that even if they have different viewpoints, they can still respect and love each other. On June 24, university president Haines resigned, effective August 15, 2019.


Academics

There are 100 undergraduate programs, in 61 majors, with popular focuses including education, business, new media and exercise science. In 2003, Taylor began offering graduate-level programs again after having dropped such degrees nearly 60 years earlier. Since then, the university has expanded its offerings to include a Master of Environmental Science, a
Master of Business Administration A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounti ...
, a
Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Development (MAHE) Master or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles * Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans * Grandmaster (chess), National Maste ...
, and a Master of Arts in Ministry. The concept of
integration of faith and learning The integration of faith and learning is a focus of many religious institutions of higher education. The broad concept encompasses the idea that the Christian worldview, faith, and practices of the student should be deeply connected within the learn ...
, the idea that knowledge and faith meet their highest potential when coupled together, is a central educational theme at Taylor. The two distinct columns of the Rice Bell Tower on campus and the spotlights that shine up from each of them symbolize this theme to the campus community.


Overseas campuses

Besides offering a number of off-campus programs, Taylor hosts two of its own study abroad programs – in
Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
and Ireland. The Ecuador program is run through the university's Spencer Centre for Global Engagement and is based in Cuenca. The semester-long, immersion program involves a three-prong partnership with Taylor University, the
Universidad del Azuay Universidad del Azuay (UDA) is an Ecuadorian university located in the Province of Azuay, its campus are in the city of Cuenca and in the parish of Baños. The university was founded in 1968 as part of the Universidad Católica de Santiago de ...
, and the Arco Church of Cuenca. The Irish Studies Program is based at Coolnagreina in seaside
Greystones Greystones () is a coastal town and seaside resort in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies on Ireland's east coast, south of Bray, County Wicklow, Bray and south of Dublin city centre and has a population of 18,140 (2016). The town is bordered ...
. Courses are taught by the university's own professors.


Accreditation and memberships

Taylor University is accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...
. The university is also accredited by the
Council on Social Work Education The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a nonprofit national association in the United States representing more than 2,500 individual members, as well as graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Founded in 19 ...
, and the
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) was a professional accreditor focused on accrediting teacher education programs in U.S. colleges and universities. It was founded in 1954 and was recognized as an accreditor by ...
. Taylor's music program is accredited by the
National Association of Schools of Music The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) is an association of post-secondary music schools in the United States and the principal U.S. accreditor for higher education in music. It was founded on October 20, 1924, and is based in Reston ...
and programs in Computer Engineering and Engineering Physics are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of
ABET The ABET (incorporated as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.) is a non-governmental organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied and natural sciences, computing, engineering and engineering ...
.


Campus life


Life Together Covenant

Students, faculty and staff are required to sign the "Life Together Covenant" (LTC) upon joining the university. Community members pledge to adhere to certain standards of conduct and refrain from certain behaviors, including social dancing (excepting marriages taking place off of school property and choreographed or folk dance), premarital sex, homosexuality, smoking, and the consumption of alcohol, with the intention of strengthening the community as a whole. Students cannot register for classes or housing unless they have signed the LTC pledge each year. The LTC is viewed as not only a covenant, but as a binding contract as well. Penalties for not adhering to the LTC range from "citizenship probation" to expulsion from the university. In 2013 the dancing rule was modified to allow officially sanctioned school dances. The Life Together Covenant covers activities and behaviors not only on the Taylor campus, but off-campus as well. The purpose is to strengthen the Christian community and to maintain a sense of maturity and accountability. Chapel services are held three times a week, from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Services generally follow a modern nontraditional Christian theme. Chapel attendance is encouraged but attendance is on the honor system. Chapel is always well attended.


Multicultural development

Multicultural students are supported by the Office of Intercultural Programs, and other faculty and staff through various student leadership groups, social clubs, and programs on campus. Programs include International Student Society, Multicultural Student Association,
Mu Kappa Missionary’s kids (or MKs) are the children of missionary parents, and thus born or raised abroad (that is, on the "mission-field"). They form a subset of third culture kids (TCKs). The term is more specifically applied when these children retur ...
International (founded at Taylor in 1985), Asian Society for Intercultural Awareness, Black Student Union, Middle Eastern Cultural Association, Voices of Praise Gospel Choir, and Latino Student Union. These groups and their subsequent events and programs play a role the university's goal of "...promoting diversity awareness, social justice, and globally minded Christianity throughout the campus".


Campus facilities


Academic facilities

In 1902, Sickler Hall, the oldest of three remaining original buildings on the campus, was built with a gift from the estate of Christopher Sickler, an early Taylor trustee. Originally, the building was a residence hall that provided free housing for the children of ministers and missionaries. Later, it served as a science hall and educational department center; more recently, it was the location of the communication arts department. Remodeled in 1995, Sickler Hall currently houses the William Taylor Foundation, professional writing department, and alumni and parent relations. A campus prayer chapel is located on the main floor and is open 24 hours a day for personal worship, meditation, and prayer. In 1911, Helena Memorial Hall was built and is the second oldest building on campus. It serves as the university welcome center. The building was drastically remodeled in 1987 and houses Admissions and the Offices of the President and Provost. First a music building and then art and theatre building, this building is named for Mrs. Helena Gehman, an early benefactress to the university. In 1986, Zondervan Library was opened and is a sprawling complex at the center of campus. Named in honor of Peter J. "Pat" Zondervan and his wife, Mary, who contributed over $1 million to the project. Part of the complex is the Engstrom Galleria and Special Collections & University Archives which houses the British Author Collections. The collections consist of first editions, manuscripts, photographs, and other materials related to the lives and works of the five collected authors:
C.S. Lewis CS, C-S, C.S., Cs, cs, or cs. may refer to: Job titles * Chief Secretary (Hong Kong) * Chief superintendent, a rank in the British and several other police forces * Company secretary, a senior position in a private sector company or public se ...
,
George MacDonald George MacDonald (10 December 1824 – 18 September 1905) was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister. He was a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow writer Lewis Carroll. I ...
,
Dorothy Sayers Dorothy Leigh Sayers (; 13 June 1893 – 17 December 1957) was an English crime writer and poet. She was also a student of classical and modern languages. She is best known for her mysteries, a series of novels and short stories set between th ...
, Charles Williams, and
Owen Barfield Arthur Owen Barfield (9 November 1898 – 14 December 1997) was a British philosopher, author, poet, critic, and member of the Inklings. Life Barfield was born in London, to Elizabeth (née Shoults; 1860–1940) and Arthur Edward Barfield (1864 ...
. Sitting beside the library complex is the Rice Bell Tower. It is one of the distinctive architectural elements to the campus and stands at 71 feet, 10 inches in height. (The "bell" tower contains no bells, merely loudspeakers contained inside painted metal boxes.) It was dedicated in memory of Garnet I. Rice's husband, Raymond. The twin spires of the tower that meet at the apex of the structure symbolize the integration of faith and learning. On the west side of campus is the Jim Wheeler Memorial Stadium with a seating capacity of 4,000. It has been the home of Trojan football since its completion in 1980. It was built with funds donated by 1954 alumnus John Wheeler in memory of his son, Jim Wheeler, an aspiring Christian recording artist who died of cancer shortly after his graduation from the university in 1979. In 1958, the Taylor University Dome was designed by Orus Eash and built. It originally was the campus cafeteria, and later served as the student union. In June 2022, the building was demolished to make way for a new film and entrepreneurship building. In 2003, the Modelle Metcalf Visual Arts Center opened and includes 38,000 square feet of art studios, computer design labs, teaching auditoriums, and art galleries. In 2004, the Kesler Student Activity Center (KSAC, named after president emeritus Jay Kesler), was completed and features 88,000 square feet of athletic activities space, including an indoor track, multi-purpose courts used for intramural sports, an exercise room, an aerobics room, and multiple locker rooms. In January 2011, the Eichling Aquatics Wing was completed and includes a
lap pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...
and several classrooms and offices. In 2010, the university began a massive $41.1 million, addition to its Nussbuam science education complex on the south-east side of campus. The building was completed in time for the 2012 fall semester and dedicated during Homecoming weekend. Named the Euler Science Complex, the center featured two
wind turbine A wind turbine is a device that converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. Hundreds of thousands of large turbines, in installations known as wind farms, now generate over 650 gigawatts of power, with 60 GW added each year. ...
s; and still features a
heliostat A heliostat (from ''helios'', the Greek word for ''sun'', and ''stat'', as in stationary) is a device that includes a mirror, usually a plane mirror, which turns so as to keep reflecting sunlight toward a predetermined target, compensating ...
,
green roof A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage ...
ing, geothermal heating and cooling, and solar paneling. With an emphasis on sustainable energy, the university hopes not only to save energy and costs, but also to use these features as a teaching tool. The university has received a Gold
LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction ...
certification Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...
for the new complex.


Residence halls

Bergwall Hall, 1989, was occupied and named for Evan Bergwall Sr., president of Taylor University (1951–1959) during the fall semester of 1989 and currently houses 195 students—women on the third and fourth floors and men on the first and second floors. Each floor has a lounge and study facilities and communal bathrooms. Breuninger Hall was opened to students in 2013 and is the newest residence hall. Located on the south side of campus, it houses 150 students across one floor of men and two floors of women. English Hall, 1975, opened on the far south end of campus, is a women's residence hall housing 224 students. It is named for Mary Tower English, the spouse of one of Taylor's most distinguished graduates. English Hall provides private living room areas as rooms are arranged around a suite that is shared by 8–12 women. It is of a unique compartmental
brutalism Brutalist architecture is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era. Brutalist buildings are characterised by Minimalism (art), minimalist constructions th ...
architecture. Olson Hall was constructed in the 1960s and named in honor of long-time and distinguished history professor Grace D. Olson. It is the largest residence hall (in terms of housing) on the campus with 300 beds. The hall underwent major renovations between 2006 and 2008. The hall is arranged along a typical corridor with a shared common bath. Mirrored by Olson is Wengatz Hall, 1965, named for alumnus John C. Wengatz, a pioneer missionary to Africa. It houses 266 men. Samuel Morris Hall, 1990, was completed, and colloquially referred to as “Sammy,” and named in honor of late 19th century African student Samuel Morris and is the university's most modern large-scale residence hall and its largest in terms of square feet. It sits on the northeast corner of campus and houses 286 men. It is the third building named after Morris, the second being demolished in the mid-1990s. The building has four floors, each with its own unique culture and traditions: Foundation, Sammy II, The Brotherhood, and Penthouse. Swallow Robin Hall, 1917, is the oldest residence hall and third oldest building on campus by
Samuel Plato Samuel M. Plato (1882–1957) was an American architect and building contractor who is noted for his work on federal housing projects and U.S. post offices, as well as designing and building other structures in the United States such as privat ...
. and then remodeled and restored in the fall of 1990. Silas C. Swallow and his wife (maiden name Robin) financed a major portion of the original construction cost for the building and asked that it be named in honor of their mothers. The hall was designed by
Samuel Plato Samuel M. Plato (1882–1957) was an American architect and building contractor who is noted for his work on federal housing projects and U.S. post offices, as well as designing and building other structures in the United States such as privat ...
, a notable architect of the early 20th century. Most recently, the university added two new off-campus housing apartment halls on the north side of campus: * Campell Hall, 2008, at was constructed in 2008 and opening that fall, is named in honor of Walt and Mary Campbell. It is located on the northwest edge of campus and consists of fifteen apartments housing 60 upper-level students in an apartment-style setting. * Wolgemuth Hall, 2011, the larger, opened in fall of 2011 and incorporates the architectural style of Samuel Plato. At it has room for 92 upper-level students and is named after Sam and Grace Wolgemuth. Haakonsen Hall, 1975, was constructed as the student health center. The building is named after medical care provider Lily Haakonsen who was employed by the university. In 2006 it was renovated and re-purposed as housing. Since then, it has served a variety of purposes and is currently home to Taylor University Media Services.


Athletics

The Taylor athletic teams are called the Trojans. The university is a member of the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic scholarships to its stu ...
(NAIA), primarily competing in the
Crossroads League The Crossroads League (formerly the Mid-Central College Conference) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Its members are private Christian colleges in Indiana, Michigan, an ...
(formerly known as the Mid-Central College Conference (MCCC) until after the 2011–12 school year) since the 1994–95 academic year. The Trojans previously competed in the
Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Founded as the Indiana Collegiate Athletic Confe ...
(ICAC; now currently known as the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) since the 1998–99 school year) of the
NCAA Division III NCAA Division III (D-III) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. D-III consists of athletic programs at colleges and universities that choose not to offer athletic scholarships to their stu ...
ranks from 1987–88 to 1990–91. Taylor competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include competitive cheer. Former sports included men's and women's tennis.


Football

The Taylor football program competes in the Mideast League of the
Mid-States Football Association The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri. The MSFA was organized in 1993, and on-field competition b ...
. The Trojans football team ended the 2009 season ranked #19 in the NAIA coaches poll.


Volleyball

The Taylor women's volleyball 2009 season ended in a single elimination game as part of the top 12 teams in the NAIA playoffs with the team ranked #11 in the NAIA.


Cross Country

The Taylor men's cross country team has qualified for NAIA nationals 32 times. They ran to a runner up finish in 2019 and went on to win nationals in 2020 giving Taylor their first NAIA national championship in any sport. They also have won 22 Conference Championships. The Taylor women's cross country team has qualified for NAIA nationals 14 times. They ran to third-place finish in both 2018 and 2020. They also have 10 conference championships including eight in a row from 2013 to 2020.


Basketball


Silent Night

Every year the Friday before final exams, Taylor University has the Silent Night Men's Basketball game. In it, students remain quiet until the tenth point is scored and then erupt in cheering. In the late moments of the game, "
Silent Night "Silent Night" (german: "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht", links=no, italic=no) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an ...
" is sung. A former assistant coach came up with the idea in the late 80s and it was a packed event by the mid-to-late 1990s. Afterward, students can go to the President's campus-wide party involving live Christmas music, making and eating Christmas cookies, and making gingerbread houses.Taylor University – Entry Details
. 192.195.234.6 (2008-11-17). Retrieved on 2011-06-15.
The 2010 game was more formally named the 27th Annual Ivanhoe Classic and resulted in a 112–67 win over Ohio State-Marion. This was the most scored by the Taylor men's basketball team since the 1993–94 squad scored 139 points in a victory over
Robert Morris University (Illinois) Robert Morris University Illinois, formerly Robert Morris College, was a private university with its main campus in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1965 but its oldest ancestor was the Moser School founded in 1913. It changed its name to ...
. This allowed Taylor students to quiet down and erupt in celebration again after the 100th point. Casey Coons scored the tenth point in the 2009 Silent Night, the 2010 Silent Night, and 2011 silent night on free throws. Casey Coons received the NAIA Mid-Central College Conference Division II Player of the Week award for the week of the 2010 game. Coach Paul Patterson coached without shoes for the 2009, 2010, and 2011 games to raise money for Samaritan's Feet (400 pairs of shoes were raised at the 2009 event for the Dominican Republic and 170 pairs of shoes were raised for Guatemala at the 2010 event).
Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twic ...
paid tribute to the Silent Night Event in its December 27, 2010, issue. The 2011 game received significant media attention as well. The 2014 Silent Night game was a 91–59 victory over Kentucky Christian and was covered by ESPN.


Media

Taylor university operates a radio station, WTUR, with student led talk shows, student selected music, and chapel services. Taylor University currently has entered into a partnership with and simulcasts WBCL on 87.9, the frequency WTUR used to broadcast on. Currently WTUR is solely broadcast online. Taylor also hosts a student newspaper, ''The Echo'', which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012–13. The paper is both print and online. The ''Ilium'', Taylor's annual yearbook, is a 200+ page print publication put together by students.


Notable alumni and faculty

*
Nelson Appleton Miles Nelson Appleton Miles (August 8, 1839 – May 15, 1925) was an American military general who served in the American Civil War, the American Indian Wars, and the Spanish–American War. From 1895 to 1903, Miles served as the last Commanding Gen ...
, General-in-Chief of the United States Army *
Thomas Atcitty Thomas Atcitty (November 1, 1933 – October 11, 2020) was an American politician and educator who served in the New Mexico House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party, 2nd Vice President of the Navajo Nation, and briefly served ...
, third president of the
Navajo Nation The Navajo Nation ( nv, Naabeehó Bináhásdzo), also known as Navajoland, is a Native American reservation in the United States. It occupies portions of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah; at roughly , the ...
*
Andrew Belle Andrew Belle is an American singer-songwriter. Belle currently resides in Chicago, IL – although he has lived in both Nashville and Los Angeles in recent years. He has toured alongside many accomplished artists such as Mat Kearney, Ben Recto ...
, Popular Singer/Songwriter * Joseph Brain, American
physiologist Physiology (; ) is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. As a sub-discipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical a ...
and
environmental health Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment affecting human health. In order to effectively control factors that may affect health, the requirements that must be met in ...
researcher at
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is the public health school of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts. The school grew out of the Harvard-MIT School for Health Officers, the nation's first ...
*
Jason Burkey Jason Burkey (born 1985) is an American actor. Filmography Film References External links * *Road Less Traveled https://www.google.com/search?q=road+less+traveled+cast&oq=road+less+traveled&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j46l2j0l3j69i65j69i64.7910j ...
, Actor * Frank G. Carver, one of the translators of the
New American Standard Bible The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is an English translation of the Bible. Published by the Lockman Foundation, the complete NASB was released in 1971. The NASB relies on recently published critical editions of the original Hebrew and Gre ...
*
Charles W. Clark Charles William Clark (15 October 1865 – 4 August 1925) was an American baritone singer and vocalist teacher. He is generally regarded as the first American baritone singer to be famous in Europe, and as one of the greatest baritone si ...
, famous baritone singer *Paige Cunningham, president emeritus at Taylor University, Director of The Center for Bioethics at Trinity International University * Ralph Edward Dodge,
Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
of The Methodist Church *
Ted Engstrom Theodore Wilhelm Engstrom (1916–2006) was the head of Youth for Christ and World Vision International. The evangelical leader and author was known in part for instructing churches, parachurch ministries, and other non-profit organizations how to ...
, former president of
World Vision International World Vision International is an evangelical Christian humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organization. It prefers to present itself as interdenominational and also employs staff from non-evangelical Christian denominations. It was fo ...
*
Rick Florian Rick Florian (born April 10, 1962) is a musician, songwriter and producer, most known for being the lead singer of contemporary Christian music rock band White Heart from 1986 through to their disbandment in 1998. He lives in Franklin, Tennessee ...
, recording artist *Dan Gordon, president of
Gordon Food Service Gordon Food Service (GFS) is a foodservice distributor based in Wyoming, Michigan serving the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest regions of the United States and coast-to-coast in Canada. It also operates stores in Florida, Illinois, I ...
*
John Groce John Gordon Groce (; born September 7, 1971) is an American college basketball coach, currently the head coach for the Akron Zips men's basketball team. Prior to coaching for Akron, he was the head coach at Illinois and Ohio. Coaching career P ...
, head coach of the
Akron Zips men's basketball The Akron Zips men's basketball team represents the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference East division. The Zips are currently coached by John Groce. Prior to becoming members of the MAC in ...
team * Eugene Habecker, president emeritus of Taylor University, former president of the
American Bible Society American Bible Society is a U.S.-based Christian nonprofit headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As the American member organization of United Bible Societies, it supports global Bible translation, production, distribution, literacy, engage ...
* Lowell Haines, lawyer, president emeritus of Taylor University *
Chris Holtmann Christopher Adam Holtmann (born November 11, 1971) is an American college basketball coach who is currently the head coach at Ohio State University. Holtmann grew up in Nicholasville, Kentucky, and started his college playing career in-state a ...
, head coach of the
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes play their home games at Value City Arena in ...
team * Julienne Johnson, artist * Stephen L. Johnson, former administrator,
Environmental Protection Agency A biophysical environment is a biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development, and evolution. A biophysical environment can vary in scale f ...
* Jay Kesler, president emeritus of Taylor University, former president of
Youth for Christ Youth For Christ (YFC) is a worldwide Christian movement working with young people, whose main purpose is evangelism among teenagers. It began informally in New York City in 1940, when Jack Wyrtzen held evangelical Protestant rallies for teenagers ...
* D. Stephen Long, Methodist theologian and professor of ethics at
Southern Methodist University , mottoeng = "The truth will make you free" , established = , type = Private research university , accreditation = SACS , academic_affiliations = , religious_affiliation = United Methodist Church , president = R. Gerald Turner , prov ...
*
Phil Madeira Philip Kamm Madeira (born 1952) is an American songwriter, producer, musician and singer. He was raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, and attended Taylor University, graduating in 1975. His songs have been recorded by The Civil Wars, Buddy Mill ...
, award-winning songwriter and recording artist, and member of
Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...
' band. *
Rolland D. McCune Rolland D. McCune (June 3, 1934 – June 17, 2019) was an American theologian and ordained Baptist minister (First Baptist Church of Warsaw, Indiana). He was professor of Systematic Theology at the Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary in Allen Par ...
, American theologian and professor of
Systematic Theology Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topi ...
at
Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary is an independent Baptist seminary in Allen Park, Michigan, operated in association with the Inter-City Baptist Church in Allen Park. The institution, which was established in 1976, enrolls men for graduate pro ...
* Jeff Meyer, assistant coach for the
Michigan Wolverines The Michigan Wolverines comprise 29 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except women's water polo, which competes in the NCAA inter-divisio ...
*Teresa Meredith, former president of Indiana State Teachers Association *John Molineux, founder and president of Tiny Hands International *
Geoff Moore Geoff Moore (born February 22, 1961) is an American contemporary Christian music singer. He began recording as a solo artist in 1984. In 1987, he formed Geoff Moore and The Distance, his touring band, which released eight albums generating a st ...
,
Contemporary Christian Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...
music artist, songwriter * Samuel Morris, 1872–1893 (formerly Prince Kaboo of
Western Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurita ...
) * David Nixon, film director and producer *
Harold Ockenga Harold John Ockenga (June 6, 1905 – February 8, 1985) was a leading figure of mid-20th-century American Evangelicalism, part of the reform movement known as "Neo-Evangelicalism". A Congregational minister, Ockenga served for many years as ...
, pastor, educator, and founding president of the
National Association of Evangelicals The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is an association of evangelical denominations, organizations, schools, churches and individuals, member of the World Evangelical Alliance. The association represents more than 45,000 local churches ...
*
Paris Reidhead Paris Reidhead (May 30, 1919 - March 23, 1992) was a Christian missionary, teacher, writer, and advocate of economic development in impoverished nations. Life and career Reidhead was born in a Minnesota farming community in 1919. When in his late t ...
, a Christian missionary, teacher, writer, and advocate of economic development in impoverished nations *
Charles Wesley Shilling Capt. Charles Wesley Shilling USN (ret.) (September 21, 1901 – December 23, 1994) was an American physician who was known as a leader in the field of undersea and hyperbaric medicine, research, and education. Shilling was widely recognized ...
, leader in the field of
undersea The underwater environment is the region below the surface of, and immersed in, liquid water in a natural or artificial feature (called a body of water), such as an ocean, sea, lake, pond, reservoir, river, canal, or aquifer. Some characterist ...
and
hyperbaric medicine Hyperbaric medicine is medical treatment in which an ambient pressure greater than sea level atmospheric pressure is a necessary component. The treatment comprises hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), the medical use of oxygen at an ambient pressure ...
, research and education * Joel Sonnenberg, Christian motivational speaker *
William Vennard William Vennard (January 31, 1909 Normal, Illinois – January 10, 1971, Los Angeles, California) was a famous American vocal pedagogist who devoted his life to researching the human voice and its use in singing. He was one of the driving fo ...
, vocal teacher and opera singer *
Tim Walberg Timothy Lee Walberg (born April 12, 1951) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented the from 2007 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2023. Early life, educa ...
, US Representative for
Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
's 7th congressional district *
Jackie Walorski Jacqueline Renae Walorski (, August 17, 1963 – August 3, 2022) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Indiana's 2nd congressional district from 2013 until her death in 2022. She was a member of the Republican Pa ...
, US Representative for Indiana's 2nd district since 2013, former Republican Indiana State Representative for District 21 * Robert Wolgemuth, author, former chairman of the
Evangelical Christian Publishers Association The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade association whose member companies are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to ...


List of university presidents

*Thaddeus Reade, 1891–1902 *Charles W. Winchester, 1904–1907 *Monroe Vayhinger, 1908–1921 *James M. Taylor, 1921–1922 *John H. Paul, 1922–1931 *Robert L. Stewart, 1931–1945 *Clyde W. Meredith, 1945–1951 *Evan H. Bergwall, 1951–1959 *B. Joseph Martin, 1960–1965 *Milo A. Rediger, 1965–1975; 1979–1981 *Robert C. Baptista, 1975–1979 *Gregg O. Lehman, 1981–1985 * Jay Kesler, 1985–2000 *David Gyertson, 2000–2005 * Eugene Habecker, 2005–2016 * Lowell Haines, 2016–2019 *Paige Comstock Cunningham, 2019–2021 *
D. Michael Lindsay David Michael Lindsay (born 16 November 1971) is an American sociologist and president of Taylor University. He was also president of Gordon College, a private, Evangelical Christian liberal arts college on Boston's North Shore from 2011 to ...
, 2021–present


Gallery

Image:Nussbaum Science Center.JPG, Nussbaum Science Center File:Taylor University, Upland, Indiana - Rice Bell Tower..jpg, Rice Bell Tower Image:Taylor Bell Tower Snow.JPG, Rice Bell Tower in a snowstorm File:Social Justice Week Cardboard Village.JPG, Part of social justice week at Taylor Image:Taylor Winter Panorama 1.JPG, View of the prayer chapel and Zondervan Library from Wengatz during sunrise Image:Taylor Winter Panorama 2.JPG, View of Nussbaum from Wengatz during sunrise Image:Taylor University Prayer Chapel Alter.JPG, The Taylor University Memorial Prayer Chapel Image:Taylor University Prayer Chapel Interior Center.JPG Image:Taylor University Prayer Room.JPG Image:Gerig and English Hall.JPG, English Hall (left) and Gerig Hall (right) Image:Zondervan Library.JPG,
Zondervan Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). They are a part of HarperCollins Christian Publ ...
Library Image:Taylor University Dining Commons.JPG, Hodson Dining Commons


References


External links

*
Official athletics website
{{Coord, 40, 27, 29, N, 85, 29, 50, W, scale:6000, display=title Nondenominational Christian universities and colleges Education in Grant County, Indiana Buildings and structures in Grant County, Indiana Education in Fort Wayne, Indiana Liberal arts colleges in Indiana Educational institutions established in 1846 Evangelicalism in Indiana Council for Christian Colleges and Universities 1846 establishments in Indiana Private universities and colleges in Indiana