Cedarville University: Difference between revisions

Cedarville University
	File:Cedarville University logo.gif
Motto	Hearts for God. Minds for Truth. Friends for Life. Service for Eternity.
Type	Private
Established	1887
President	William E. Brown
Undergraduates	3,100
Location	Cedarville, Ohio, U.S.
Campus	Rural
Colors	Blue and Yellow
Affiliations	Baptist
Mascot	Yellow Jackets
Website	http://www.cedarville.edu

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Cedarville University is a private, nonprofit Baptist university sited on a 400-acre campus in Cedarville, Ohio, in the United States. Its environment and culture are underscored by its foundations in Biblical teachings which fundamentally influence student life and school policy.

History

Cedarville University was chartered in 1887 by the Presbyterian church; at the time, the township was largely Presbyterian. The first classes were held in 1892, though the college did not officially open until 1894. David McKinney was the college's first president. ^[1]

The college early on also purchased the former Presbyterian church located near Founders Hall (Old Main), and renamed it the Alford Memorial building. Over the years it has been renovated numerous times and served as a gymnasium, class room space and a theater. Elements of the school's heritage remain on today's campus in the form of two original buildings: Founder's Hall (Old Main) and Collins Hall (Science Building). Also, the University seal is essentially unchanged and still contains the Latin phrase 'Pro Corona et Foedere Christi' (For the crown and covenant of Christ).

In 1953, the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland assumed management of the institution through a cooperative effort with the former board of trustees. The Baptists retained the Presbyterian college seal, surrounding it with the Baptist Bible Institutes's motto, 'For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.'

The current president, Dr. William E. Brown, assumed the office in 2003, succeeding Dr. Paul Dixon.^[2]

Academics

Cedarville University offers one hundred eleven programs of study, including seventy-three undergraduate degrees, which cover most areas of the liberal arts, professional sciences, and theological studies. It also offers forty minors, including a Bible minor, which is required for all students. The university awards limited graduate degrees in education and pharmacy (pending accreditation by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education). A full list of programs offered is here.

Cedarville's teaching body is composed of 211 full-time and 70 adjunct professors who profess to be Christians and support the University's doctrinal statement. The university integrates a Biblical worldview into each discipline. The university is organized into four schools: the School of Biblical and Theological Studies, the School of Humanities, the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, and the School of Social Science and Human Performance.

The student/teacher ratio is 13:1, and the average class size is 20 students.

Spiritual life

With a stated goal of "helping [the student] increasingly reflect the character of God in [his or her] life," Cedarville University is a religious university. All matriculants are required to earn a Bible minor and to attend weekday chapel services on-campus. Students are encouraged to participate in various community service and ministry programs off-campus.

Residential life

Cedarville is a coeducational university and students who choose to reside on campus live in single-sex dormitories. The university has nine male residences and seven female residences. Some students live in a suite-like setting, with three to four bedrooms sharing a comparatively small lounge in each unit. Others live in a single-room, hall-style format with a communal lounge on each floor.

Publications

BBI publications

Before Baptist Bible Institute purchased Cedarville College and moved from Cleveland, Ohio, to Cedarville, Ohio, BBI published two publications: "Marturion" (a student yearbook) and "B. B. Eye", the only known archives of which are in the Cedarville University library and in the Louisiana Serials list ^[3]. ^{[citation needed]}

Present Cedarville publications

Athletics

Cedarville's athletic department, the Yellow Jackets, are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and the American Mideast Conference (AMC). Cedarville offers men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, and women's volleyball during the fall, and men's and women's basketball and men's and women's track during the winter. Both the men's and women's basketball teams have advanced to the NAIA national basketball championships. In 2005, the men's team made it to the final four, and in both 2004 and 2005 the women's team competed in the championship game. Cedarville also offers spring sports including men's baseball and women's softball, and men's and women's tennis.

Cedarville's women's division won the AMC All-Sports Award for the 2004-2005 season.

Accreditation and involvement

Cedarville University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Its professional degrees are also accredited by the relevant commission.

In addition, Cedarville is a member of the following organizations:

Student Organizations

A more complete list of student organizations is available from the Cedarville University web page

Alpha Chi (AX): a men's service organization
Alpha Delta Nu (ADN): Alpha Delta Nu provides criminal justice students with the opportunity to enhance their professional development. Members are students who believe that a career in criminal justice is a ministry in a God-ordained institution, which is government. This organization promotes Christian character, leadership, and service through training, information, and networking to supplement academic studies. The society assists students to prepare for a transition to their professional field as practitioners.
Alpha Delta Omega (ADO): Women's social and service organization
Amplified: focuses on urban ministry
Cedarville University College Republicans
CUEMS: an organization of trained students who provide prompt and professional prehospital care and transportation to Cedarville students in need.
Delta Omega Epsilon (DOE): Men's social and service organization
Eating Disorder Awareness Organization
Gamma Chi: a women's service organization
MENC
Multi-Cultural Community: a group of students from ethnic minorities and/or international backgrounds
Phi Epsilon Beta (PEB): Women's social and service organization
Student Government Association
Sigma Phi Lambda (SPL): Men's social and service organization
Theta Rho Epsilon (OPE): Men's social and service organization
Women of Vision: dedicated to the education of the University family in support of many different issues related specifically to women around the world.

Criticisms and Controversy

Dancing

Cedarville University has been noted for its policies regarding dancing. The university does not sanction dancing, and prohibits certain types of provocative dancing both on and off campus. In addition, students are prohibited from attending or organizing dances (including ballroom and line dancing) either on or off campus.^[4] However, the University does feature classes in ballet and Scottish dancing.

GARBC

After many years of association, the GARBC (General Association of Regular Baptist Churches) approved a motion to separate itself from Cedarville University. The motion in part reads:

"A motion was made and seconded that the Council of Eighteen present the reasons for the decision not to associate with Cedarville University with special attention given to the Biblical statements and principles that warrant such a decision; that this presentation be made publicly to the fellowship of churches at the 2006 GARBC Annual Conference; and that messengers at the Conference be given the opportunity by vote to express their support for or dissent from the Council's presentation. The motion further directed that copies of the Council's presentation be sent to all Fellowship churches not less than 90 days prior to the beginning of the 2006 GARBC Annual Conference. The motion passed."[2]

The GARBC considers Cedarville University's "unofficial but public partnership with Sourthern Baptists of Ohio to be "inconsistent with the Articles of Faith and purpose statement as adopted and practiced historically by the GARBC."^[5]

As a result, in September 2003, the NARB Council of Fifteen, approved a statement urging the GARBC to reconsider its decision to deny partnership status to Cedarville University, stating:

"We believe that the council’s decision to sever relationships with Cedarville University runs contrary to the historic position of the GARBC on ecclesiastical separation."^[6]

Truth and Certainty

Cedarville University has historically held to the position that Christians may know that Christianity is true with certainty. This position is still held today, and each year all faculty must sign a doctrinal statement that includes an affirmation of this position. During the 2007-2008 school year, concerns arose over whether certain professors were promoting views contrary to this position. As a response, the Cedarville University administration drafted a statement on truth and certainty to clarify the school's position. Still, certain students drafted a petition stating that the administration was not dealing within the professors in question in a satisfactory manner. The administration responded strongly, charging the students with failing to handle their concerns in a manner consistent with Matthew 18:15-17.^{[citation needed]}

Notable Alumni

James T. Jeremiah [3]

Joe Stowell [4]

References

Additional works consulted

External links

[1] Origins of Cedarville University - Introduction-2007 - NCA Self-Study Document

[2] Baptist Press - Cooperative program focus in seminary education proposed in SBC plan

[3] Louisiana Serials List

[4] 2006-2007 Cedarville University Handbook, pp. 22

[5] [1]

[6] Baptist Network Northwest - News - September 2003

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