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Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college located in Conway, Arkansas. The student body averages around 1,100 attendees and currently represents thirty-five states and ten foreign countries. In US News and World Report's America's Best Colleges Hendrix is ranked annually in the top tier of liberal arts colleges. In the 2008 edition Hendrix is ranked 71st in the nation. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, however, the curriculum is secular and the student body is composed of people from many different religious backgrounds. Hendrix is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South. Their current president is Dr. "Jay" Timothy Cloyd. Hendrix College is listed in Loren Pope's Colleges That Change Lives.
[edit] College history
Hendrix College was founded as a primary school called Central Institute in 1876 at Altus, Arkansas, by Rev. Isham L. Burrow. In 1881 it was renamed Central Collegiate Institute when secondary and collegiate departments were added. By 1886, three conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South purchased the school. This began the school's relationship with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and later The Methodist Church, and United Methodist Church. The Central Collegiate Institute was renamed Hendrix College in 1889 after Rev. Eugene Russell Hendrix, a presiding bishop over three Arkansas Methodist conferences. This same year, the primary school was discontinued. Afterwards, Hendrix College might have been the only male Methodist college in Arkansas. It was founded as a male only institution[citation needed]. Eventually, females were permitted to enroll, but separation of the sexes was tightly controlled. In 1890 after receiving bids from seven other Arkansas towns, Conway was chosen as the new location for the college by the Hendrix Board of Trustees. A publication by the U.S. Office of Education in 1900 stated that Hendrix College had the highest standards for admission and graduation of any Arkansas institution of higher learning, public or private. By 1925 the secondary department was discontinued. A bid was accepted in 1929 to merge the college with Henderson-Brown College, a private college in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The merger created Hendrix-Henderson College. The newly formed college was planning to move the school to Little Rock, Arkansas, but the city of Conway was able to raise $150,000 to keep the school located at Hendrix's campus. Two years later the name of the college was reverted back to Hendrix College after a short period of being named Trinity College, which met with strong opposition from many students and alumni. The college then merged again with Galloway Women’s College in Searcy, Arkansas in 1933. Hendrix College retained its location and facilities during this merger as well.[1]
[edit] Student Life
The main entrance of Hendrix College
- There are no fraternities or sororities allowed on campus. Instead, social activities are organized by the residence halls. Notable annual campus events, such as Toga and Ghost Roast, are hosted by Martin Hall, one of two all male residence halls.
- There are approximately 65 student organizations that offer a wide range of activities for students. Each student pays a student activity fee which provides funding for these organizations. This fund is allocated by the Hendrix Student Senate. Social Committee, or SoCo, is the largest student organization with a budget for the 2005-2006 academic year of $100,000, used to bring entertainers and events to campus. SoCo members are peer-elected each year and represent each hall and class.
- The Office of Student Activities also plans events on weekends and often on Wednesday nights. Major social events are frequently held in "The Brick Pit" (formerly the "Brick Patio"), an outdoor area in the center of the campus (Most famous among them is "Shirttails," the freshman dance-off of Youtube fame). Additionally, the campus is located approximately 30 miles from Little Rock, which offers additional night life options. This is particularly important because Faulkner County is a dry county.
- Hendrix is often considered to be progressive socially. Students of different backgrounds and lifestyles interact, attend the same social events, and stay in the same dormitories. Additionally, Hendrix has historically had a high level of student activism. Despite the progressive nature of the school, it still lacks much of a minority presence on campus.
- The Student Senate is the governing body of the student association. Along with campus-wide elected officers, students elect representatives from each class and residence hall.
[edit] Campus buildings
Since the mid-1990s, the college has been pursuing a master plan for campus construction, developed in consultation with architectural design firm Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. Currently, there are 36 buildings on campus, three of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRoHP).
[edit] Academic and administrative buildings
- Admin Houses: Career services, counseling services, cottage.
- Art Complex: Art department.
- Charles D. Morgan Center for Physical Sciences/Acxiom Hall: Chemistry department, Physics department.
- Bailey Library
- Buhler Hall: Office of Student Affairs.
- D. W. Reynolds: Biology department, Psychology department.
- Ellis Hall: Office of Admissions, Financial Aid,(NRoHP).
- Fausett Hall: Office of Administration, English department, Foreign Language department.
- Greene Chapel: School's official chapel, venue for annual Candlelight Carol service.
- I.T.: Information technology offices.
- M. C. Reynolds: Mathematics and Computer Science department.
- Mills Center: Cabe Theater, Economics and Business department, Education department, History department, Politics and International Relations department, Sociology and Anthropology department.
- Murphy Building: Hendrix-Murphy Foundation.
- Physical Plant (Originally built as short-term housing and called “East Hall”)
- Public Safety
- Raney Building: Religion and Philosophy department.
- Staples Building: Large auditorium, also houses Greene Chapel.
- Trieschmann Building: Music department, Dance studio, Reves Recital Hall, and Treischmann gallery.
[edit] Residence Halls
- The Eco-House: Co-Ed house with an emphasis on environmental sustainability.
- Apartments on Clifton Street
- Couch Hall: Co-ed residence hall.
- College View Apartments
- Front Street Apartments
- Galloway Hall: Female residence hall (on National Register of Historic Places).
- Hardin Hall: Male residence hall.
- Huntington Apartments: Recently aquired by Hendrix and rented only to Hendrix students.
- Martin Hall: Male residence hall (on National Register of Historic Places).
- The Quad: Six co-ed residence houses.
- Language House: Single-language themed co-ed house. Rotates annually between French, German, and Spanish.
- Raney Hall: Female residence hall.
- Veasey Hall: Female residence hall.
- White House & Brick House Not owned by Hendrix; however, rented almost exclusively to Hendrix students.
[edit] Recreational buildings
- Hulen Hall: The Burrow campus center, cafeteria, post office, bookstore, The Profile student newspaper, KHDX radio station, Student Senate, and other activity offices.
- Greene Chapel/Staples Auditorium: Large auditorium and small chapel.
- Grove Gym: Demolished in September 2007
- Mabee Center: Basketball court, volleyball court, racquetball courts, indoor tennis courts, fitness room.
- Wellness and Athletics Center: The yet to be named Athletics Center opened in Fall 2007. Now houses Physical Education department, basketball court, swimming pool, free weights room. Students often refer to it as the WAC.
[edit] Notable alumni and faculty
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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