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Freed–Hardeman University is a
private university Private universities and private colleges are higher education institutions not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments. However, they often receive tax breaks, public student loans, and government grants. Depending on the count ...
associated with the
Churches of Christ The Churches of Christ, also commonly known as the Church of Christ, is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations located around the world. Typically, their distinguishing beliefs are that of the necessity of baptism for salvation ...
and located in Henderson, Tennessee. It is primarily
undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education, usually in a college or university. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, ...
and residential. The university also serves some commuting, part-time and adult students on-campus and through distance-learning programs. The university is governed by a board of trustees, all of whom are required to be members of Churches of Christ. Courses are offered by 12 academic departments in 5 colleges: Arts and Sciences, Biblical Studies, Business, Education and Behavioral Sciences, and the Honors College.


History

Freed–Hardeman traces its origin to the 1869 charter of a private high school and college for Henderson, the Henderson Male Institute. It was known at various times as the Henderson Masonic Male and Female Institute, West Tennessee Christian College, or Georgie Robertson Christian College. It was named Georgie Robertson Christian College after George Ann "Georgie" Robertson. In the 1907 spring term Georgie Robertson Christian College closed. N. B. Hardeman, a Georgie Robertson Christian College alumnus, and A. G. Freed worked together to establish a new institution, the National Teachers' Normal and Business College to fill the educational void created in Henderson by the closing. The NTNBC was incorporated on May 21, 1907, but classes did not start until the fall of 1908. In 1919, it was renamed Freed–Hardeman College in honor of its founders. In February 1990, it became Freed–Hardeman University. The college did not accept African-American students until 1964, when its president, Hubert A. Dixon, stated that black students would be admitted in response "to the mistake of accepting federal funds". The first black graduate was Elizabeth Saunders in 1967. The university offers courses outside of the Henderson area in
Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...
. It also offers European study abroad programs based at the FHU facility in
Verviers Verviers (; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Ensival, Heusy, Lambermont, Petit-Rechain, Stembert, and Verviers. It is also the cent ...
, Belgium. Other opportunities include programs in Spain, Israel, Costa Rica, New York City, Canada, and Seoul. The university was granted an exception to Title IX in 2016 allowing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity where conflict exists with religious tenets. During the 2019–2020 academic year, the university celebrated its 150th anniversary and a volume of university history, ''By the Grace of God: The Story of Freed–Hardeman University'', was published.


Campus buildings

Loyd Auditorium is the main auditorium on campus and is used for Daily Chapel, FHU Lectureships, sports banquets, and the annual Homecoming Play. The Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center, opened in 2016, houses the Loden-Daniel Library, a café, and other resources. Opposite Old Main is Crews Colbert Activity Center. It has two theaters, "Maroon Theater" and "Gold Theater", and a large activity room used for activities and meetings.


Student life

Freed–Hardeman does not have
fraternities and sororities In North America, fraternities and sororities ( and ) are social clubs at colleges and universities. They are sometimes collectively referred to as Greek life or Greek-letter organizations, as well as collegiate fraternities or collegiate sorori ...
in the traditional sense. Instead, the university has co-educational social clubs. These are local only to Freed–Hardeman and have no connection to any national Greek system. Students participate in intramural sports, club meetings and devotionals with their respective clubs. Social Clubs: Sigma Rho (ΣΡ), Phi Kappa Alpha (ΦΚΑ), Omega Chi (ΩΧ), Chi Beta Chi (ΧΒΧ), Xi Chi Delta (ΞΧΔ)


Rankings

'' U.S. News & World Report'' included the university in its affordability ranking ("Great Schools, Great Prices"), listing it 13th among Southern master's degree-granting universities. The university reported a 44% acceptance rate of applicants for the fall 2012 semester. The university is ranked among the "Absolute Worst Campuses for
LGBT LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...
Q Youth" by '' Campus Pride''.


Athletics

The Freed–Hardeman sports teams are called the "Lions" and "Lady Lions". 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 higher education, colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic schola ...
(NAIA), primarily competing in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) since the 2020–21 academic year. The Lions and Lady Lions previously competed in the American Midwest Conference from 2013–14 to 2019–20, in the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TranSouth or TSAC) from 1996–97 to 2012–13 and in the Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference (TCAC) from 1986–87 to 1995–96. Freed–Hardeman competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field. Women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.


Men's basketball

In 2014, the men's basketball coach, Jason Shelton, was awarded the Don Meyer Award, presented annually to the top NAIA coach in college basketball. In 2024, the men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship, defeating Langston University 71-67.


Women's basketball

On 20 March 2018, the Lady Lions basketball team won its first NAIA National Championship, defeating Westmont College 76–64.


Notable alumni and faculty

* Grace Alonso de Armiño, Spanish professional basketball player, 3x3 Olympian * Carl Bell, musician * George S. Benson, university administrator * John Brown, businessman * T. Jeff Busby, politician * John Dale, minister * John DeBerry, minister and politician * Todd Farmer, screenwriter and actor * Kerby Farrell, baseball player * Dorsey B. Hardeman, politician * Jere Hargrove, politician * Hugo McCord, Bible scholar * Dianne Odell, iron lung survivor * Charles P. Roland, historian * Rubel Shelly, author and college administrator * Thomas B. Warren, theologian * Sue Shelton White, suffragist lawyer


References


External links

* *
Official athletics website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freed-Hardeman University Universities and colleges affiliated with the Churches of Christ Private universities and colleges in Tennessee Education in Chester County, Tennessee Universities and colleges established in 1869 Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Buildings and structures in Chester County, Tennessee 1869 establishments in Tennessee