Union University is a four year institution in Jackson, Tennessee, with an additional campus in Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis. The university is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and relates to the Southern Baptist Convention. For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... The date of establishment or date of founding of an institution is the date on which that institution chooses to claim as its starting point. ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... For the film of this title, see Private School (film). ... A faculty is a division within a university. ... In some educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelors degree. ... Degree ceremony at Cambridge. ... Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... Cities with at least a million inhabitants in 2006 An urban area is an area with an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... School colors are the colors chosen by a school to represent it on uniforms and other items of identification. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... Germantown is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... The Tennessee Baptist Convention is the Tennessee statewide organization of churches associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. ... The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a United States-based Christian denomination that consists of numerous agencies including six seminaries, two mission boards and a variety of other organizations such as: the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, which can act for the SBC ad interim between annual meetings...

Union University is the heir of some of the oldest universities in the country and is notable in the sports world as the place where Bear Bryant began his football coaching career. The school is a union of several different schools: West Tennessee College formerly known as Jackson Male Academy, Union University of Murfreesboro, Southwestern Baptist University, and Hall-Moody Junior College of Martin, Tennessee. Paul William Bear Bryant (September 11, 1913–January 26, 1983) was an American college football coach. ...

Jackson Male Academy was founded in 1823 just after the state of Tennessee was opened for settlement ^[1]. Only five years earlier in 1818 was the land purchased from the Chickasaw Indians. For other uses, see Chickasaw (disambiguation). ...

The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and it is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a regional accreditor for over 13,000 public and private educational institutions ranging from preschool to college level in the Southern United States. ... A organization designed to help Christian institutions of higher education communicate with one another. ...

Rankings

Union University has ranked as one of the South’s top tier universities for the 10th straight year by U.S.News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report is a weekly newsmagazine from Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1933 as United States News, which in 1948 merged with World Report. ...

Union also ranked in 6 subcategories:

• 3rd in “faculty resources” category (includes classes with fewer than 20 students, faculty salary and the proportion of professors with the highest degree in the field).

• 4th in the “percent of classes with fewer than 20 students” category - 73%.

• 4th (tied) for SAT/ACT score category.

• 5th (tied) for the “student/faculty ratio” category (ratio of 12/1), placing Union in the top 18 southern universities in this category.

• 7th (tied) in “selectivity rank,” which includes test scores and class rank for incoming students.

• 9th (tied) for “freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class"; 66 percent of freshmen meet that description.

Union is also recognized in:

• Peterson's Guide to Competitive Colleges;
• The Templeton Foundation Guide for Colleges That Encourage Chartacter Development;
• America's Best College Buys and
• America's Best College Scholarships.

History

Early History

In 1907, Dr. T. T. Eaton, a trustee of Southwestern Baptist University, left his 6,000 volume library to the college. Eaton was a former professor of Union University at Murfreesboro, where his father, Dr. Joseph H. Eaton, was a former president.

Southwestern soon changed its name to Union University in honor of the Eatons and others from Union at Murfreesboro who had impacted Southwestern as faculty, administrators, trustees, and contributors.

In 1925 the Tennessee Baptist Convention secured a charter that vested the rights, authority, and property of Union University in the Tennessee Convention. This charter included the election of the University’s trustees. Two years later, the Convention consolidated Hall-Moody Junior College at Martin (1900-1927) with Union University.

In 1948 the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted Union University accreditation. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a regional accreditor for over 13,000 public and private educational institutions ranging from preschool to college level in the Southern United States. ...

In 1962 Union developed a nursing program with the assistance of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital at the request of local physicians.

In 1975 Union moved from downtown Jackson, Tennessee, to a new campus located near the Highway 45-Bypass in north Jackson. Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. ...

The Craig and Barefoot Administrations

During President Robert Craig (1967-85) and President Hyran Barefoot's (1987-1996) administrations:

• enrollment increased from fewer than 1,000 students to more than 2,000;
• the Penick Academic Complex was enlarged several times;
• additional housing units were erected;
• and the Blasingame Academic Complex (1986) and the Hyran E. Barefoot Student Union Building (1994) were constructed.

From the early 1950s to the early 1970s, Union operated an Extension Center in the Memphis area. From 1987-95, Union offered the degree completion program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN track) in Memphis. At that time there were over 300 graduates of this program.

David S. Dockery's Administration

David S. Dockery was elected as the fifteenth president of Union University in December 1995. Dockery brought a desire to take Union to a regional and national prominence in Christian higher education. Thus far he has realized:

• headcount increase from 2200 (in 1996) to more than 3500 (in 2004);
• increased giving to Union, including ten of the largest commitments in Union history;
• construction of two residence halls, Miller Tower, Jennings Hall, Hammons Hall, Fesmire Field House and the new White Hall science building;
• successful completion of the $60 million comprehensive “Building a Future” campaign (1998-2005) (now at $69 million);
• renewed commitment to scholarship and research among Union faculty-part of Union's new Center for Faculty Development;
• new undergraduate majors in political science, physics, theology, digital media studies, church history, ethics, sports management, sports medicine, engineering; and graduate programs in education (M.Ed., Ed.S., and Ed.D.), nursing (MSN with tracks in education, administration, and nurse anesthesia), and intercultural studies (MAIS);
• SAACS Level V accreditation was achieved;
• added programs in undergraduate research;
• Addition of LIFE group programs, student retention programs, student mission involvement, giftedness assessment program for freshman students;
• the establishment of an extension campus in Germantown, TN, which now has almost 700 students;
• the establishment of the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Christian Leadership;
• the establishment of the Charles Colson Chair for Faith and Culture;
• the establishment of the annual Scholarship Banquet (1997-2004);
• achieving top tier recognition in U.S. News and World Report and other important listings.
• Implemented the $110 million "Union 2010" plan that includes the future addition of new tennis courts, new intramural fields, and an ampitheatre, which has already included the completion of a second soccer field,the Fesmire Fieldhouse, and the state-of-the-art science building, White Hall ^[2].
• a Doctor of Pharmacy program, with classes scheduled to begin as soon as the fall of 2008.

Charles Wendell Chuck Colson (born October 16, 1931) was the chief counsel for President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973 and was one of the Watergate Seven, jailed for Watergate-related charges. ... U.S. News & World Report is a weekly newsmagazine. ...

Campus

Jackson facilities

The campus is 290 acres and includes a 2,200-seat gymnasium, dormitories for men and women including a married housing complex, separate lodges for the fraternities and sororities, academic halls, an administration center, baseball and softball parks, two soccer fields, an indoor swimming pool, and wellness center.

Germantown facilities

Union also has a 35-acre campus in Germantown, Tennessee, (suburban Memphis) offering graduate degrees in business, education, Christian studies & nursing. Germantown is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. ... “Suburbia” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ...

Olford Ministries International

In early 2007, it was announced that Olford Minstries would be merged into Union University. Olford is an institution that focuses on pastors' training and theological courses. The Olford campus is a 25-acre, wooded retreat setting in Memphis, Tennessee. For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ...

Housing

In Jackson, Union has apartment-style living. Each student has a separate private bedroom that shares a common living space with as many as four to five roommates. Apartments feature private phone lines and high-speed Internet connection, and many of the apartment living spaces are equipped with a kitchen unit. All private living spaces have a window and the common areas have cable access. There is no student housing at the Germantown campus.

Sports

The school sponsors intercollegiate sports teams that participate in the NAIA's TranSouth Athletic Conference. Its men's sports are soccer, cross country, basketball, baseball, and golf. Its women's sports are soccer, volleyball, cross country, basketball, softball, and cheerleading. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (better known as the NAIA) traces its roots to the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball. ... The TranSouth Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference for smaller colleges and universities located in the Southern United States. ... Soccer redirects here. ... The Minnesota State Highschool Cross Country Meet A cross country race in Seaside, Oregon. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the sport. ... For the ball used in this sport, see Volleyball (ball). ... Soft ball is also a sugar stage Softball is a team sport popular around the world but especially in the United States. ... Youth Cheerleaders during a football halftime show. ...

The women's basketball team won national championships during the 1998, 2005, and 2006 seasons.

Greek system

There are six social fraternities on campus, two music fraternities and numerous academic fraternities.

Fraternities

The fraternities represented on campus are: While the term fraternity can be used to describe any number of social organizations, including the Lions Club and the Shriners, fraternities and sororities are most commonly known as social organizations of higher education students in the United States and Canada but there are fraternities in the whole world (for...

ATΩ (Alpha Tau Omega) is an American fraternity. ... Lambda Chi Alpha (ΛΧΑ), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is one of the largest mens general fraternities in North America with more than 250,000 initiated members and chapters at more than 300 universities. ... is the 339th day of the year (340th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ) is a secret letter, social college fraternity. ...

Sororities

The sororities represented on campus are: While the term fraternity can be used to describe any number of social organizations, including the Lions Club and the Shriners, fraternities and sororities are most commonly known as social organizations of higher education students in the United States and Canada but there are fraternities in the whole world (for...

Chi Omega (ΧΩ) is the largest womens fraternal organization in the National Panhellenic Conference. ... Kappa Delta (ΚΔ) is a sorority founded at the State Female Normal School, now Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. ... Zeta Tau Alpha (ΖΤΑ) is a womens fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at what used to be State Female Normal School but is now known as Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. ...

Academic

The academic fraternities are:

Each of these groups is relatively large in size relative to the size of the institution and consistently contributes to philanthropies, both regionally and globally. Alpha Psi Omega (ΑΨΩ) is the American National Theater Honors Fraternity. ... For other usages see Theatre (disambiguation) Theater (American English) or Theatre (British English and widespread usage among theatre professionals in the US) is that branch of the performing arts concerned with acting out stories in front of an audience using combinations of speech, gesture, music, dance, sound and spectacle &#8212... Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate students, graduate students, and professors of history. ... This article is about the study of the past in human terms. ... Sigma Tau Delta is an international honor society for collegiate students of English. ... English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, South Africa, and the Middle East, among other areas), English linguistics (including English phonetics, phonology...

The school also has chapters of the two largest fraternities in music which are not affiliated with the school's Interfraternity or Panhellenic councils: Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity for women and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity for men. Sigma Alpha Iota (ΣΑΙ) is a music fraternity for women. ... Phi Mu Alpha (ΦΜΑ) Sinfonia is a collegiate social fraternity for men of musicianly character. ...

Publications

• The Cardinal and Cream - campus newspaper
• The Torch - award winning literary and arts publication

Guest Lecture Events

Annual Scholarship Banquet

Union's Scholarship Banquet has brought prominent national and international figures to Union including: former president George H.W. Bush, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Russian president and Nobel Prize winner Mikhail Gorbachev, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former Senator Bob Dole, presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, former British Prime Minister John Major and Winston S. Churchill, Grandson of the former British Prime Minister. Order: 41st President Vice President: Dan Quayle Term of office: January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 Preceded by: Ronald Reagan Succeeded by: Bill Clinton Date of birth: June 12, 1924 Place of birth: Milton, Massachusetts First Lady: Barbara Pierce Bush Political party: Republican George Herbert Walker Bush, KBE (born... General Colin Luther Powell, United States Army (Ret. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev[1] (Russian: , IPA: ; born 2 March 1931) is a Russian politician. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (née Roberts; born 13 October 1925) served as British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 until 1990, being the first and to date only woman to hold either post. ... § Robert Joseph Dole (born July 22, 1923) was a United States Senator from Kansas from 1969-1996, serving part of that time as United States Senate Majority Leader. ... Rudolph William Louis Giuliani III, (born May 28, 1944) is an American lawyer, prosecutor, businessman, and Republican politician from the state of New York. ... For other persons named John Major, see John Major (disambiguation). ... This article is about the living politician. ...

The Union Forum - Union's annual speaker series

Union's Forum has brought several national figures to Union including: Peggy Wehmeyer, William Kristol, Michael Medved, Robert Novak, Stephen Carter, Morton Kondracke, Clarence Page,Juan Williams, and Margaret Carlson. Peggy Wehmeyer is an American journalist. ... William Bill Kristol (born December 23, 1952 in New York City) is an American conservative pundit, inspired in part by the ideas of Leo Strauss. ... Michael Medved (born October 3, 1948) is a Jewish-American, neoconservative radio talk show host, film critic, and author. ... Robert David Sanders Novak (born February 26, 1931) is a conservative American political commentator. ... Stephen L. Carter born October 26, 1954 is an American law professor, legal- and social-policy writer, and novelist. ... Morton M. Kondracke (born April 28, 1939) is an American political commentator and journalist. ... Clarence Page (born June 2, 1947) is a journalist, syndicated columnist and member of the editorial board for the Chicago Tribune. ... Juan Williams is an Emmy Award-winning writer, radio, and television correspondent. ... She has appeared as a panelist on the CNN political programs Inside Politics and The Capital Gang, is on the staff at Time Magazine and writes a weekly column for the Los Angeles Times. ...

Controversy

Claims

Union University has been one of the private, Christian colleges that the group Soulforce has focused their attentions on over the past couple of years. Soulforce has sought to bring awareness to what they call discrimination of homosexual adults in Christian colleges across the U.S. ^[3] They claim that these schools have policies that exclude homosexuals by not accepting openly homosexual students and if students are found to be homosexual, expelling them from the university. They have planned protests twice (one in 2006, the other in 2007) over these "injustices" ^[4]. The first was held during spring break of 2006, while the second never materialized because resources were diverted to the office sit-in of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Dr.Albert Mohler, in response to comments made in his blog in March, 2007. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... R. Albert Mohler, Jr. ...

Responses

Union officials also point out students agree to follow the principles as laid out in the handbook when enrolling ^[5] and refute the claims that homosexuals are immediately expelled when found to be homosexuals, citing that the student handbook states that only those that engage in homosexual activities receive sanctions. ^[6] The sanctions are listed in the same section as other sexual offenses, which include premarital sex and other activities, and the sanctions include fines, community service, and/or counseling with expulsion reserved for those who continue the activities after lesser penalties are issued. ^[7]

Notable alumni

Academic

• Dr. Bob Agee, Executive Director for the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, and President Emeritus, Oklahoma Baptist University.
• Dr. Joshua F. Drake - Musicologist, hymnist and assistant Professor of Music and Humanities at Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania.
• Dr. George H. Guthrie - Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible and chair of the School of Christian Studies , Union University; one of the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible Translation Review Scholars. An expert in Greek Exegesis and writer known for his analysis and expertise on the Epistle to the Hebrews.
• Dr. L. Thomas Strong III - Dean of Leavell College and Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek in Leavell College at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
• Dr. William E. Troutt - President, Rhodes College

Dr. Bob Agee is the Executive Director for the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools and served as the thirteenth president of Oklahoma Baptist University serving from 1982 to 1998. ... Oklahoma Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. ... Joshua F. Drake is an assistant professor of Music and Humanities at Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania. ... A musicologist is someone who studies musicology. ... See also hymn - a program to decrypt iTunes music files. ... Grove City College is a very selective, private liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, with a population of about 2,500 undergraduate students. ... Grove City is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, approximately 50 miles north of Pittsburgh. ... Dr. George H. Guthrie is the Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible and chair of the School of Christian Studies at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. ... The English Standard Version (ESV) is an English translation of the Bible. ... Exegesis (from the Greek to lead out) involves an extensive and critical interpretation of an authoritative text, especially of a holy scripture, such as of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the Talmud, the Midrash, the Quran, etc. ... The Epistle to the Hebrews (abbr. ... Dr. L. Thomas Strong III is the Dean of Leavell College at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and teaches New Testament and Greek in Leavell College. ... The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit institution of higher learning associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, located in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. ... William E. Troutt is the 19th president of Rhodes College, a top tier liberal arts college, which is located in Memphis, Tennessee. ... Rhodes College is a four-year, private liberal arts college located in Memphis, Tennessee. ...

Clergy

• Dr. Steve Gaines - Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

• Dr. Monroe E. Dodd -- Pastor of First Baptist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana, 1912-1950; founder of Dodd College for Girls; and radio minister.

Dr. John Steven Steve Gaines (born December 31, 1957, in Corinth, Mississippi) is a Southern Baptist pastor. ... Bellevue Baptist Church Bellevue Baptist Church is a large, Southern Baptist megachurch in the Cordova area of Memphis, Tennessee, United States. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Monroe Elmon Dodd, Sr. ... : Port City , River City , Ratchet City : The Next Great City of the South United States Louisiana Caddo 117. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Government

• Milton Brown (politician) (W) - U.S. Representative and co-founder of Southwestern University (now Union University) and Lambuth University both located in Jackson, Tennessee.
• Pauline LaFon Gore - mother of United States Vice President Albert Gore, attended Union and was awarded an honorary degree.
• Tom J. Murray (D) - U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1943 to 1966.
• Herron C. Pearson (D) - U.S. Representative from Tennessee.
• John May Taylor (D) - U.S. Representative from Tennessee.
• Joshua Trent - Associate Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute, and 2006 Lincoln Fellow of the Claremont Institute.

Milton Brown (February 28, 1804 - May 15, 1883) was a U.S. Representative from Tennessee. ... Lambuth University is a small, co-educational, liberal arts university located in Jackson, Tennessee. ... Pauline LaFon Gore (1912-December 15, 2004) was the mother of former United States Vice President Al Gore and the wife of former US Senator Al Gore, Sr. ... -1... Albert Arnold Gore Jr. ... Thomas Jefferson Murray (August 1, 1894 – November 28, 1971), usually known as Tom J. Murray, was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1943 to 1966. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... Herron Carney Pearson (July 31, 1890 - April 24, 1953) was a U.S. Representative from Tennessee. ... John May Taylor (May 18, 1838 - February 17, 1911) was a U.S. Representative from Tennessee. ... The United States Department of Health and Human Services, often abbreviated HHS, is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. ... Clive Staples Lewis (November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an author and scholar. ... The Claremont Institute is a conservative think tank based in Claremont, California. ...

Musical

• Chris Rice - Christian recording artist

For the author see Christopher Rice Chris Rice is an American songwriter who works in the Contemporary Christian Music contemporary folk, adult contemporary genres similar to David Wilcox and James Taylor. ...

Professional

• John Dancy - Former NBC News Correspondent.
• J. Thomas McAfee - president of Hallmark Systems, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Dr. Timothy Tucker - President-Elect of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). Former president of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA), president of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy, and Speaker of the House for TPA for more than 10 years. Winner of the Lambda Chi Alpha Order or Merit.

J. Thomas McAfee is chairman and president of Hallmark Systems, Inc. ... Atlanta redirects here. ... Dr. Timothy Tucker is a pharmacist in Huntingdon, Tennessee, and president elect of the American Pharmacists Association. ... The American Pharmaceutical Association (previously known as the American Pharmaceutical Association) is a professional society of pharmacists within the United States. ... Lambda Chi Alpha (ΛΧΑ), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is one of the largest mens general fraternities in North America with more than 250,000 initiated members and chapters at more than 300 universities. ...

Sports

• Gaylon Moore - American professional basketball player.

Gaylon Moore (born June 15, 1978 in Union City, Tennessee, United States) is an American professional basketball player, and currently plays for the Plymouth Raiders in the British Basketball League. ...

Notable faculty - past and present

• Steve Beverly - professor of broadcasting and expert on British and American gameshows.
• Ed Bryant (R) - politician.
• David Gushee - ethicist, author of Kingdom Ethics
• George H. Guthrie - expert on the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Ed Bryant (born September 7, 1948), American politician, is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee (1995 - 2003). ... Dr. David P. Gushee is the Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy and the Senior Fellow of the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Christian Leadership at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. ... Dr. George H. Guthrie is the Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible and chair of the School of Christian Studies at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. ... The Epistle to the Hebrews (abbr. ...

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ [2]
3. ^ [3]
4. ^ [4]
5. ^ [5]
6. ^ [6]
7. ^ [7]

External links

• Union University
• See What's Inside