Harding University

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Harding University

Harding University Logo (Trademark of Harding University)
Motto "Developing Christian Servants"
Established 1924
Type Private
Endowment US$94 million
President David B. Burks
Faculty 218
Undergraduates 5,000
Location Searcy, AR, USA
Campus Rural, 200 acres (800,000 m²)
Colors Black and Gold
Nickname Bisons
Affiliations Church of Christ
Website www.harding.edu

Harding University is located in Searcy, Arkansas, in the United States, about 50 miles north-east of Little Rock. It is a private liberal arts Christian university associated with the Church of Christ. The university takes its name from James A. Harding.

The school was founded in 1924 as Harding College in Morrilton, Arkansas and moved a decade later to the campus of the defunct Galloway Women's College in Searcy. Today, the University contains forty-four buildings, a graduate school of religion in Memphis, and satellite campuses in North Little Rock, Bentonville, and West Helena. The student body of 6,100 students (including graduate students and all satellite campuses) represents forty-nine states and fifty-three foreign countries [1].

Harding University also operates Camp Tahkodah in Floral, Arkansas, and Harding Academy in Searcy. (Harding Academy in Memphis is not associated with the university, although it does have ties to the Church of Christ.)

Contents

[edit] University Presidents

  • J.N. Armstrong 1924-1936
  • George S. Benson 1936-1965
  • Clifton L. Ganus Jr. 1965-1987
  • David B. Burks 1987-present

[edit] Academics

[edit] Undergraduate Degrees

  • Bachelor of Arts
    The Administration Building of Harding University
    The Administration Building of Harding University
  • Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Bachelor of Ministry
  • Bachelor of Music Education
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Social Work
  • Bachelor of Theology

[edit] Graduate Degrees

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Education
  • Master of Arts majors include the following:
    • Christian Counseling
    • Teaching
  • Master of Science majors include the following:
    • Counseling
    • Education
    • Marriage and Family Therapy
    • Physician Assistant Studies
  • Educational Specialist majors include the following:
    • Counseling
    • Educational Leadership

[edit] Professional Degrees

  • Doctorate of Education major includes the following:
    • Educational Leadership P-20
  • Doctor of Pharmacy

[edit] American Studies Institute

The Harding American Studies Institute is designed to supplement students' academic training and promote "a complete understanding of the institutions, values, and ideas of liberty and democracy."[2] In doing so, the ASI exhibits a generally conservative political stance, focused on going "back to the fundamental values that made this country great." The roots of this program date back to 1953, when Harding formed the School of American Studies. This program eventually became an integral part of the University's social and political development program for students.

Currently, the ASI sponsors a number of programs aimed at promoting these values. These include entrepreneurial and leadership programs, a distinguished student honors program, the Belden Center for Private Enterprise Education, and participation in the Walton Scholars Program, which brings in qualified students from Hispanic countries to Arkansas colleges and universities.

[edit] Lecture Series

One of the most visible aspects of the American Studies Institute is the distinguished lecturer program. In keeping with Harding University's conservative political and religious leanings, the American Studies Institute invites distinguished lecturers to speak on campus on a regular basis. Typically, there are four lectures in an academic year. Speakers in the Lecture Series have included the following:

Heritage Center on Harding University campus
Heritage Center on Harding University campus

Speakers for the 2006/2007 academic year [3]:

[edit] International programs

Harding offers several study abroad opportunities. International campuses are located in Italy, Greece, England, Australia, Chile, France/Switzerland and Zambia. Almost 30% of students from graduating classes have participated in one of these programs.

[edit] Campus

The campus is comprised of 44 buildings located on 200 acres near the center of Searcy. A hallmark of Harding's campus are its white swings, which look like porch swings without the porch and are very popular places to sit in the afternoons.

[edit] Notable Buildings

  • Administration Auditorium
  • American Heritage Center (hotel and offices)
  • American Studies Building
  • Benson Auditorium
  • Brackett Library
  • Charles White Cafeteria
  • Ezell Building
  • Ganus Athletic Center
  • Ganus Building (formerly the student center)
  • Mabee Business Center
  • McInteer Bible Building
  • Olen Hendrix Building (Nursing)
  • Pattie Cobb Hall
  • Pryor Science and Engineering Center
  • Reynolds Center (Music and Communication)
  • Rhodes Field House
  • Stevens Art Center
  • Student Center (includes post office, bookstore, and assorted fast food-style restaurants)
  • Thornton Education Center

[edit] Student life

The Original Harding College Arch
The Original Harding College Arch

Most students participate in local Churches of Christ, social clubs, spiritual devotionals, and intramural sports. Each weekday morning students attend chapel, a 30 to 45 minute devotional session. Chapel presentations are usually led by students or faculty, but special events and guest speakers take place on a regular basis.

[edit] Social clubs

Currently there are 15 women's clubs and 16 men's social clubs at Harding. Social clubs are open to all academically eligible students and serve as some of the university's most visible student-led organizations. While less than half of students are social club members, the clubs are a prominent part of student life.

The social club induction process begins when clubs host "mixers" in the fall to recruit new members. Prospective members then complete a "visitation," which requires that they meet and interview every current member of the club. The membership process culminates in Club Week, when each prospective member must complete the tasks given them by the vice president of the club.

At the end of the week, potential members are scored, and if their efforts are sufficient, they are accepted into the club. Once a student is accepted into the club, they attend biweekly meetings and can participate in club-sponsored sports, service projects, and Spring Sing.

[edit] Spring Sing

Spring Sing is an annual musical production held in April, featuring performances by the social clubs. It is widely attended by current and prospective students, alumni, and Searcy residents. Typically, over 10,000 people attend the show. Each year, an overall theme is selected, and each club develops music and dance routines for the show. Rehearsals begin as early as January.

Spring Sing also features two hosts, two hostesses, and a general song and dance ensemble, with these roles chosen by audition. The ensemble performs to music played by the University Jazz Band.

Each club act is judged, and according to their performance, each club is awarded a certain amount of money. The clubs then donate this money to charities of their choice.

[edit] University Policies and Code of Conduct

According to Harding’s Student Handbook, "Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of morality, integrity, orderliness and personal honor." In keeping with this expectation, Harding has a number of rules that are designed to foster these standards on campus.

Chapel and Bible class attendance are mandatory for students who are taking at least 8 hours for credit in a given semester. Additionally, students must complete at least 8 hours of Bible courses in order to complete the Liberal Arts curriculum. "First Time In College" (FTIC) students must take a survey course in New Testament during the fall of their first year, followed by a survey of the Old Testament in the spring.

Students who live on campus (a majority of students) are required to be in their dorms by midnight during the week and 1 a.m. on weekends. Except in certain circumstances, men and women are not allowed to visit one another's dorm rooms.

Harding has a no-smoking policy on campus. Disciplinary action may be taken against students who smoke off campus, and illegal drugs are prohibited both on and off campus. The consumption of alcohol is also prohibited for students and faculty both on and off campus. Exceptions to this rule have been made for missionaries participating in communion services in countries where "partaking of the cup" includes wine. (Searcy is in White County, which is a dry county.)

Harding requires students and faculty to dress professionally when attending class, chapel, lyceum, and American Studies programs; shorts may not be worn to these events.

Students and faculty may not participate in any sexual activity outside of traditional marriage, including homosexual behavior. The use or display of pornography is prohibited.

[edit] Athletics

Harding competes in intercollegiate athletics at the NCAA Division-II level in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) and offers numerous intramural athletic opportunities.

[edit] Men's Sports

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field

[edit] Women's Sports

  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball

[edit] Facilities

  • First Security Stadium (football, capacity 6,500)
  • Ganus Athletic Center (training)
  • Jerry Moore Field (baseball)
  • Rhodes Field House (basketball/volleyball, capacity 3,000)

[edit] Recent Accomplishments

Harding has competed in the GSC since 2000 and in the NCAA since 1997. The track and field and cross country teams have enjoyed consistent success in recent years under head coach Steve Guymon, earning multiple GSC and Division-II South Region championships during his tenure. The volleyball program has also been strong, winning five consecutive GSC West championships.

The men's basketball program has been successful since moving to the NCAA, reaching the NCAA D-II Tournament in 2002-03. Backed by the "Rhodes Rowdies," HU has averaged 2,120 in home attendance since joining the NCAA (2,095 in 2005-06, more than one-third of Division-I teams [4]). Entering 2006, Harding owned seven of the top ten single-game attendance records in GSC basketball history and had led the conference in average home attendance in each season since joining the GSC.

[edit] Notable alumni

  • LaMar Baker: businessman, Congressman, noted figure in Tennessee politics
  • Randall M. Gardner, Artist/American realist

[edit] External links


Gulf South Conference
Western Division: Arkansas Monticello • Arkansas Tech • Christian Brothers • Delta State • Harding • Henderson State • Ouachita Baptist • Southern Arkansas
Eastern Division: Alabama Huntsville • Montevallo • North Alabama • Valdosta State • West Alabama • West Florida • West Georgia
Universities and colleges affiliated with the Church of Christ
Abilene Christian University • Amberton University • Austin Graduate School of Theology • Cascade College • Crowley's Ridge College • Faulkner University • Florida College • Freed-Hardeman University • Harding University • Harding University Graduate School of Religion • Heritage Christian University • Lipscomb University • Lubbock Christian University • Magnolia Bible College • Ohio Valley University • Oklahoma Christian University • Pepperdine University • Regions University • Rochester College • Southwestern Christian College • Tennessee Bible College • Western Christian College • York College
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