Southern Nazarene University

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Southern Nazarene University


Motto	Character, Culture, Christ
Established	1899
Type	Private
President	Dr. Loren P. Gresham
Staff	170+
Undergraduates	1,793
Postgraduates	327
Location	Bethany, Oklahoma, USA
Campus	Suburban, 200+ acres (0.8 km²)
Colors	Crimson, Black, and White
Mascot	Crimson Storm
Website	www.snu.edu

Southern Nazarene University (SNU) is a liberal arts university located in suburban Bethany, Oklahoma, near Oklahoma City. The university was founded in 1899, making SNU the oldest among its sister Nazarene schools. SNU's motto is "Character, Culture, Christ". In 2006 U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Colleges ranked SNU 57th out of 61 for Master's degree programs in the West region.[1]

[edit] History

Prior names for SNU include Oklahoma Holiness College, Peniel Holiness College, Bethany Peniel College, and Bethany Nazarene College. In 1923, 14 schools from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas merged and established a campus in Bethany, Oklahoma.^{[citation needed]} In 1940, Bresee College of Hutchinson, Kansas merged with the Bethany Peniel Campus. In 1988, the name was changed from Bethany Nazarene College to Southern Nazarene University. SNU represents the South Central Region of the Church of the Nazarene. Which includes all districts in the states of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisanna. Prior the building of MidAmerica Nazarene, the region went as far north as Iowa. The school hymn is "Faith of Our Fathers".

[edit] Presidents

(This is an incomplete list, you can help Evan Mosshart by expanding it.)

Dr. Chapman (Bethany Peniel College) (ca. 1901-105)
Archie K. Bracken (1920-27)
unknown
Archie K. Bracken (1930-42)
unknown
Dr. Ponder Gililand Sr. (?-1988)
Dr. Loren Gresham (1989-present)

[edit] Mission statement

The SNU education is built on a series of eye-opening encounters designed to prepare students to become a responsible Christian in a world in need of men and women of character. Students encounter chapel, service projects, cultural opportunities, athletic challenges, and academic disciplines as a part of the SNU community; to transform the mind, equip for the future, and challenge spiritually, socially, economically, and academically. SNU graduates are then prepared to succeed in the marketplace while living out their faith through irresistible influences.2

[edit] Alum Mater

SNU's Alum Mater uses the same tune as the University of Kansas'. There are four verses in the song. The song is a morning tradition in the NSI activities.

Sample lyrics: Of all the schools in this fair land, There's one whose name we praise. We'll work for her, We'll fight for her. In everything we do.

Alum Mater, Alum Mater. Hail, all hail to you. Red and white stand for the light of dear old SNU.

[edit] Degrees

SNU offers 72 different degree programs that cover basic science, social science, English, and mathematics course work to assist students with entry into professional schools of engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and other professions requiring these skills.

Underaduate Programs	Underaduate Programs	Underaduate Programs	Underaduate Programs
Accounting	English Education	Math Education	Pre-Law*
American Studies	Environmental Studies	Missions	Pre-Medicine*
Athletic Training	Exercise Science	Music Business	Pre-Occupational Therapy*
Aviation - Business	Finance	Music Education	Pre-Pharmacy*
Biology	French	Music - Instrumental Performance	Pre-Physical Therapy*
Biology-Chemistry	Graphic Design	Music - Keyboard Performance	Psychology
Biological Physics	History	Music - Vocal Performance	Science Education
Business Administration	Human Relations	Network Engineering	Social Studies Education
Chemistry	International Studies	Nursing	Sociology
Children's Ministry	Journalism - Broadcast	Philosophy	Spanish
Christian Education	Journalism - Print	Physical Education	Spanish Education
Church Music	Kinesiology	Physics	Speech Communication
Computer Science	Management	Politics & Law	Speech Comm Education
Early Childhood Education	Management Information Systems	Pre-Allied Health*	Sport Enterprise
Education - Liberal Studies	Marketing	Pre-Dental*	Sport Information
Elementary Education	Mass Comm / Journalism	Pre-Dietetics*	Sport Management
English	Mathematics	Pre-Engineering*	Sport Marketing
Theology & Ministry	Urban Ministry/Urban Studies	Youth Ministry

Graduate programs	Graduate programs	Graduate programs	Graduate programs
M.A. in Educational Leadership	M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy	M.A. in Theology	Master of Bus Admin
M.S. in Counseling Psychology	M.S., Management	M.S., Nursing

Adult Studies	Adult Studies	Adult Studies	Adult Studies
Family Studies & Gerontology	Nursing (RN/BS)	Organizational Leadership	Network Management

Associate of Arts	Associate of Arts	Associate of Arts	Associate of Arts
Aviation	Business	Communication Arts	General Studies

[edit] Educational and administrative facilities

Bethany First Church of the Nazarene (1970)
Bresee Administrative Hall (1909)
Broadhurst Gymnasium and Recreation Center
Cantrell Alumni Hall
Cantrell Fine Arts Hall
Cenntenial Gates (2006)
Herrick Auditorium (1925)
Herrick Hall (1946)
Jernigan School for Children
Marchant Alumni and Welcome Center (2005)
Memorial Fine Arts Hall (1954)
Physical Plant
R. T. Williams Learning Resource Center
Royce Brown School of Business and Family Studies
S. T. Ludwig Religion Hall
Short Prayer Chapel
W. Don Beaver Science Hall
Webster Commons (1988)

[edit] Housing

SNU offers seven residential options, most of which require the purchase of a meal plan from the campus food service Sodexho. Dormitories do not have Lobby bathrooms nor change machines for laundry.

[edit] Hatley Hall

This dormitory is open to freshmen and upperclassmen women. It was named after Mr. Earl Hatley, an Oklahoma City developer and Nazarene layman at Oklahoma City First Church. It was first occupied in 1970. With 120 rooms, this dorm also offers a laundry room, meeting/social areas at the end of the hallways, and a welcoming lobby. [2]

[edit] Garey Hall

Garey Hall is the twin dorm to Hatley. This dormitory is open to upperclassmen women only. [3]

[edit] Snowbarger Hall

This dormitory is open to both freshmen and upperclassmen men. [4]

[edit] Bracken Hall

Named for long-time President Archie K. Bracken (1920-27 and 1930-42), this residence hall was occupied by women from its construction in 1961 until 1971. This dormitory now is open to upperclassmen men. [5]

[edit] Asbury Apartments

Open to upperclassmen of Junior status and in good standing. [6]

[edit] Chapman Apartments

Open to upperclassmen of Junior status and in good standing as well as international students and married couples. [7]

[edit] Imel Townhouses

Open to upperclassmen of Junior status and in good standing. [8]

[edit] The A Transforming Vision Campaign

SNU is now in the beginning of a campus renaissance. This is the first major change to the campus since 1988. There are four major aspects to the campaign: Marchant Center, Centennial Gates, Parker Center, and Science Hall renewal. In addition to the major four, SNU will go through a thorogh remodel and update of most of educational buildings. SNU also installed wireless network access in every campus building in the summer of 2006. Coinsiding with the unique feature of all incoming freshman at SNU receiving a new Apple or Dell laptop computer. (The computer cost is built into the new student's tutition cost.) New campus art is supposed to appear throughout the campus as well.

An announcement of when the next phase of the campaign will begin has yet to be announced. Many smaller remodeling projects are currently underway.

[edit] The Marchant Family Alumni & Welcome Center

Construction of the new Marchant Welcome and Alumni Center started in May 2004 and was deticated in November, 2005. The Marchant Center is also the home to the Office of Admissions since 2006. The Marchant center sits next to Bresee Hall, and faces 39th Expressway and Bethany's central commercial district. The 8,000 square foot center is the new "front door" for SNU. It also contains offices for Alumni Relations and artifacts from the Fred Floyd Archives. The cost for the Marchant Center was nearly $2 million. Made possible by over 1,000 donors. The Marchant Center was designed through an architectural partnership with Anthony McDermid of TAP architecture (building design) and Jerry Lester of Nicek & Lester (construction design). This building marked the beginning of "A Transforming Vision – The Campaign for Southern Nazarene University."

[edit] Centennial Gates

The newest addition to the campus is a pair of arches called the Centennial Gates. These gates are recognized by the Oklahoma Centennial Foundation and are one of the first to be dedicated in celebration of Oklahoma's 100th birthday. The gates were dedicated 11 November 2006 during the university's 2006 Homecoming, and cost $250,000.

[edit] Parker Center for the Performing Arts

Also part of the campaign is the Parker Center for the Performing Arts, which will be a 1,500 seat auditorium space for art, music, and performing arts classes, as well as a studio. The location for the Parker Center will be adjacent to the Sawyer Center, the official practice site of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. There will be additional parking created between the buildings with a two level parking garage. The cost of this project is approximately $14 million. A completion date has yet to be determined.

[edit] Don W. Beaver Science Hall renaissance

The renewal of the Don W. Beaver Science Hall has begun, starting with the interior of the building. However, the real changes begin with the expansion of the building in the lab annex and atrium. Ten academic departments are housed in the building and all will be enhanced by its renewal. The cost for this project is estimated at $6 million. There is no time table set for the completion of this project, but in late 2004 space was cleared for the annex.

[edit] Royce Brown Business Building

The Royce Brown Business Building underwent an extensive facelift in preparation for Homecoming 2006. Not officially a part of SNU's A Transforming Vision campaign, the improvements included new paint, new carpet, and new tiles, as well as comtemporary furniture and paintings. At Homecoming 2006, the School of Business revealed its new slogan, "Taking the mind of Christ into the world of business." The Memorial Fine Arts Hall, and the Don W. Beaver Science Building underwent a similar facelift during the 2006-07 year.

[edit] Latest

According to the latest campaign update in November 2006, the school has raised more than the initial estimated cost of $34 million for all projects. No construction has begun on any the remaining or unfinished projects.

[edit] Criticism

Many people have criticized the campaign's progress and lack of practicality for the current student body. Criticism has also been laid on the leadership of the campaign and alumni who give the money, mainly because alumni give gifts only to specific things instead of giving toward projects that would increase SNU's growth. It is not necessary for SNU to put up gates or an Almuni Center when the Science Department is aging in technology and space and scholarship money is draining. The Parker Center and Science Building Renaissance should have come first instead of the gates and Alumni Center. However, a look at SNU's financial statement will show money was given specifically for the Alumni Center and for the Centennial gates. If anyone is at fault for bad priorities, it is the alumni who have not given money towards the Parker Center.

Also, the timeline has been stretched out. The Alumni Center was originally scheduled to open in Fall of 2004, but opened instead in the Fall of 2005. Additionally, the color of brick for the Marchant Center doesn't match any of the other buildings. The Parker Center was to open in 2010; now it is estimated that construction will start then. No word on when the Science Building will get updated. Also there are no improvements for the S.T. Ludwig Religion Building, or anything for the School of Kinesiology and Sports Management, the two largest majors SNU has to offer. New desks are not mentioned anywhere. The current deskes in use date back to before 1956, and are in major disrepair.

There have also been concerns about the lack-luster effort to remodel Snowbarger Hall. Three out of five floors have been completely remodeled, with only 6-8 rooms remodeled on the remaining two floors. This project has been pushed to the back burners for several years. Renovations stopped in the summer of 2004. Although in 2006, the dorm lobby and laundry faclities have been improved. The two female dormitories' rooms have not been renovated. (Aesthetic features in Hatley Hall have been improved, such as new carpet in the halls and lobby, as well as new lobby features. Garey Hall, the twin dorm for Hatley, and Bracken Hall, for upperclassmen, still remain in disrepair.)

When SNU can acquire funds for a quarter million dollar Centennial Gate, and not acquire funds for the more practical dorm remodels, it raises questions on the leadership of SNU, such as whether or not the administration is in touch with the needs of its students. Deteriorating campus housing, rising costs, and a lack of practical improvements in the Transforming Vision Campaign may have led to the temporary decrease in class sizes since 2004. The class sizes are not expected to rise again until all the improvements have been made.

[edit] Athletics

SNU is a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) and in Region VI of the NAIA Division I schools.

SNU offers 17 different sports for men and women. Men's:

Women's:

SNU also competes in the following:

Esquestrian events
Cheerleading
Drumline

The SNUPY Awards are held annually every spring to honor the achievements of student athletes both on the field and in the classroom. The third annual SNUPY Awards will be held April 15, 2007 in the Sawyer Center.

[edit] Mascot

SNU's mascot is the Crimson Storm, and Lady Storm. From 1899 to 1999 the mascot had been the Redskins, but with the centennial of the school appoarching and proper respect for the Native Americans, SNU officals adopted the Crisom Storm as the mascot for the next 100 years. In 2003 SNU unvieled a new loveable beast called "Thunder Cat" whose is present at SNU's home games and other events.

[edit] Facilities

Sawyer Center
- Hosts: Men's & Women's Basketball, Indoor Track, Women's Volleyball, Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets Official Practice Site
- Seating Capacity: 5,000
- Opened: February 18, 1998

SNU Memorial Stadium
- Hosts: Football
- Seating Capacity: 3,500
- Opened: 2001

Claud & Betty Cypert Athletic Complex
- Hosts: Baseball, Softball
- Seating Capacity: 1,500 - Baseball, 500 - Softball
- Opened: February 12, 2000

Wanda Rhodes Soccer Complex
- Hosts: Men's & Women's Soccer
- Seating Capacity: 1,500
- Opened: 1978

SNU Tennis Courts
- Hosts: Women's Tennis
- Seating Capacity: 17
- Opened: 1985

[edit] Spiritual development

A unique dimension of community life is the emphasis on the holistic integration of faith, learning and living. Spiritual formation, therefore, pervades the work of the entire university community. Deep devotion to the principles of the Christian faith, high standards of excellence in learning, and great commitment to integrity in living are dynamically brought together on the SNU campus. These commitments translate into a supportive, caring environment where close friendships develop and where students and faculty can grow together within a transforming community.

Chapel services, which meet each Tuesday and Wednesday, form the cornerstone of spiritual development efforts at SNU. Students are exposed to a variety of speakers, encouraged to expand their worldview, challenged by the implications of their faith, and encouraged to attend and participate in weekly services at a local church in the Christian faith.

The Vice-President of Spiritual Development is Brad Strawn. Brad is following former VP of Spiritual Development Dee Kelley (1994-2006).

[edit] Student government

The Student Government Association of SNU is committed to providing quality events and services to the students of SNU at minial cost. SGA is broken up into five councils, Campus Ministries, Community Relations, Publicity, Social Life, and Student Services.

[edit] The Arrow

The Arrow is the annual publication of the yearbook. Edition of the the Arrow yearbook from 1927-2006 can be found in the R. T. Williams Learning Resource Center. The first publications ('23-26) can be viewed upon special request from the librarian.

[edit] The Echo

The Echo is the weekly edition of the newspaper. The former title name for the newspaper was "The Reveille Echo".

[edit] Campus pictures

So-Naz from space!	Inside Herrick Auditorium	Centenial Plaza	Memorial Stadium
Marchant Alumni and Welcome Center	School of Music presents: Oklahoma! in 2006