Park University

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Park University
Motto: Fides et Labor
Literal translation: “Faith and Work”.
Established: Park College 1875
Park University 2000
Type: Private, 4-year, undergraduate, graduate
President: Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D.
Vice-president: Michael Droge, Ph.D.
Provost: Michael Droge, Ph.D.
Students: 1,250 maximum in Parkville home[1]/12,688 (8% full time) in entire system [2]
Location: Parkville, Missouri
Sports: Soccer, baseball, basketball, cross country, track & field, volleyball, golf, softball
Colors: Canary and Wine (gold and burgundy)
Mascot: Pirates
Affiliations: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Website: http://www.park.edu
McKay Hall
McKay Hall

Park University is an independent, private institution of higher education, established in 1875 as a small church-related Midwestern college that has now expanded into a electronic learning institution and provider of education courses for the U.S. military.

It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Its core values are:

  • Commitment to commonalities and differences
  • Commitment to community among all peoples of the world
  • Commitment to lifelong learnings

Contents

[edit] Locations

The flagship campus of Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri. The Park University Graduate School is located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. There are 43 campuses in 21 U.S. states[1] including three campuses in the Kansas City area (Downtown Kansas City, Independence and Parkville) and a campus center in Austin, Texas. Most of the satellite campuses are on or near United States Air Force bases and share quarters with other businesses/organizations.

The 800 acre home campus has a maximum enrollment of 1,250[3]. The entire extended system had an enrollment of 12,688 (8% of which were full time) in 2006.[4]

[edit] History

The school which was originally called Park College was founded in 1875 by John A. McAfee on land donated by George S. Park with its initial structure being the stone hotel Park owned on the bluff above the Missouri River.

The original concept called for students to get free tuition and board in exchange for working up to half day in the college’s farm, electrical shop or printing plant. According to the terms of the arrangement if the “Parkville Experiment” did not work out within five years, the college grounds were to revert to Park.[5]

There were 17 students in the first school year. McAfee led until his death in 1890. His son Lowell M. McAfee became the second president of Park until stepping down in 1913. The first international student at Park University arrived in 1880 from Japan.

The defining landmark of the campus is Mackay Hall, named after Carroll County, Illinois banker Duncan Mackay who donated $25,000 in materials for the structure shortly before his death.[6] The building was constructed using limestone mined on the campus grounds and built with the labor of students. Construction began in 1883 and was finished by 1893. Today the building is the main focal point of the campus and dominates the hillside, overlooking the town of Parkville. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

For several years the school was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church but it no longer has that affiliation.

The college has had a relationship with the military since 1889. However, the relationship was greatly expanded in 1972 with the Military Resident Center System.[7]

Park’s total enrollment has exploded from its small base since 1996 when it first began offering online courses.[8]

In 2000 it was renamed Park University.

[edit] Civic engagement

Civic engagement has been a University priority since its inception. More recently, Park students have raised funds for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Park established an International Center for Civic Engagement in 2005.

[edit] Athletics: Parkville campus

Park University is a member institution of the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Women's Soccer Team has made national championship tournament appearances in four years (1994, 1996, 2002, and 2003) and finished as national runner-up in 1994. The Men's Soccer Team has made national championship tournament appearances in four years (1962, 1984, 2002, and 2003). Park University actively supports the NAIA Champions of Character program, which was established to instill an understanding of character values in sport and provide practical tools for student-athletes, coaches and parents to use in modeling exemplary character traits.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.parkvideo.net/news/publish/mp/report050106.pdf - Park University 2006 Master Plan
  2. ^ Park University Facts, Stats and Admissions Information
  3. ^ - Park University 2006 Master Plan
  4. ^ Park University Facts, Stats and Admissions Information, Yahoo.com
  5. ^ Centennial History of Missouri: (the Center State) One Hundred Years in the Union, 1820-1921 By Walter Barlow Stevens –1921 – S.J. Clarke Publishing – Page 41 (available on print.google.com)
  6. ^ Decatur Daily Despatch - Among Our Neighbors - 1890-09-11
  7. ^ Park University: Downtown Kansas City Campus
  8. ^ [ http://books.google.com/books?id=3J50QZDutT8C&pg=PA215&dq=%22Park+University%22+Parkville+1996&sig=B8NhrIHFsoiLoO1Tmu42TmqhD5s Distance Learning Programs 2004 By Peterson's Guides Staff, Peterson's]

[edit] External links

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Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference

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