Texas Christian University

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Texas Christian University
Motto: Disciplina est Facultas
Knowledge is Power
Established: 1873
Type: Private
Endowment: ~$1.2 billion (USD) [1] (TCU & Brite Divinity School)
Chancellor: Dr. Victor J. Boschini, Jr.
Faculty: 477 (full-time)
Students: 8,865
Undergraduates: 7,267
Postgraduates: 1,598
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Campus: Urban, 325 acres (1.3 km²)
Mascot: Horned Frog
Affiliations: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Website: http://www.tcu.edu

Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Its mascot is the "horned frog" and its school colors are purple and white. The university is currently engaged in a multi-million construction project including four new residence halls, a new University Union, an indoor football practice facility, Amon Carter Stadium renovations, a new campus bookstore, a full renovation and addition to the School of Education, replacement of the existing Student Center with Scharbauer Hall, a new facility for Brite Divinity School, and full renovations of three existing buildings: Clark, Jarvis, and Sherley Halls.

Contents

[edit] History

East Texas brothers Addison & Randolph Clark, together with their father Joseph A. Clark, founded what was then called the AddRan Male & Female College in 1873 after the brothers had returned from service in the American Civil War. AddRan, a contraction of the brothers' names, had been the name of Addison Clark's first child. The name is now preserved in TCU's AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences now bears this name to memorialize the university's connection to these men.

The Clarks were scholar-preacher/teachers who were products of the Campbellite movement, one of the streams of the Restoration movement in the nineteenth-century American church. The Campbellites were the spiritual ancestors of the modern Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, and the non-instrumental Churches of Christ. Campbellites were also major proponents of education, and the Clarks operated a preparatory school, the Male & Female Seminary of Fort Worth, from 1869 to 1874. But they also envisioned an institution of higher learning for both men and women that would be Christian in character, but nonsectarian in spirit.

They planned to establish their college in Fort Worth on five city blocks purchased for that purpose in 1869. However, from 1867-1872, the character of Fort Worth changed substantially due to the commercial influence of the Chisholm Trail, the principal route for moving Texas cattle to the Kansas railheads. A huge influx of cattle, men, and money transformed the sleepy frontier village into a booming, brawling cow-town. The area around the property purchased by the Clarks for their college soon became the town's vice district, which catered to the bawdy tastes of cowboys and quickly acquiring the nickname "Hell's Half Acre."

The Clarks feared this negative environment undermined the fledgling university's mission. They began to look for an alternative site to establish their college, and they found it at Thorp Spring, a frontier stagecoach stop 40 miles (60 km) to the southwest, near the fringe of Comanche and Kiowa territory. It was perhaps a marker of their Campbellite sensibilities that the Clarks feared the Indians less than they feared the corrupting influence of "the Acre."

AddRan College (TCU) was one of the first coeducational institutions of higher education west of the Mississippi River, a progressive step at a time when only 15% of the national college enrollment was female and almost exclusive enrolled at women's colleges. AddRan's inaugural enrollment was 13 students, though this number rose to 123 by the end of the first term. Shortly thereafter, annual enrollment ranged from 200 to 400. The college formed a partnership with what would become the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1889 and was renamed AddRan Christian University. The church does not own or operate TCU; the partnership is based on a common heritage and shared values.

The need for a larger population and transportation base prompted the university to relocate to Waco from 1895 to 1910. A featured speaker at the Waco welcoming ceremony was the president of crosstown rival, Baylor University. The institution was renamed Texas Christian University in 1902, though almost immediately it was dubbed with the unofficial moniker by which it is popularly known today: TCU.

In 1910, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the university's main administration building. A group of enterprising Fort Worth businessmen offered the university $200,000 in rebuilding money and a 50 acre campus as an inducement to relocate to their city. This move brought TCU back to the historic source of its institutional roots. It also completed TCU's nearly 40-year transition from a frontier college to an urban university.

[edit] The Campaign for TCU

On April 3, TCU kicked off the public phase of The Campaign for TCU, the University's first comprehensive fundraising campaign in 14 years. Money raised from The Campaign for TCU will advance the University's vision of providing students a world-class, values-centered university experience. The three primary areas of focus for the Campaign include building world-class academic programs and supporting the faculty; recruiting high-achieving students with the potential for leadership; and enhancing the University's vibrant living/learning community. During the leadership gift phase, more than $155 million was raised for the campaign, a record-breaking amount.

"TCU is a relevant force in American higher education," said Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. "But we cannot rest on our achievements. We must offer not only a distinctive educational experience, but also one that is truly world-class. Our graduates must be prepared to succeed competitively in their respective professions. In addition - to realize our value-centered mission - they must have the skills and the commitment to act as ethical leaders in our global community."

"This campaign will position TCU for greater national and international recognition," said Don Whelan, vice chancellor for University Advancement. "TCU is a school with major momentum, and the fact that we have raised 62 percent of our goal, while less than 40 percent of the campaign time has elapsed, is evidence that our donors are clearly in support of the University's vision and direction."

Support for the campaign has come from alumni and other friends, trustees, parents, corporations and foundations. The Campaign for TCU will wrap up in 2012.

Campaign Video; Campaign Website

[edit] Academics

According to the 2008 rankings published by U.S. News and World Report, TCU is tied for number 108 out of 248 national universities.[2] TCU has over 100 majors and programs of study for undergraduates through eight different institutions. There are 20 graduate programs in 54 areas of study, and 12 doctoral programs.

The student population is 80% white, 5% black, 3% hispanic, and 2% Asian as of 2003. TCU website

[edit] Institutions

[edit] Student life

[edit] Student media

  • The Daily Skiff is Texas Christian University's student newspaper, published Tuesday-Friday during the Fall and Spring semesters.
  • The Horned Frog is the school yearbook.
  • Image Magazine is TCU's magazine.
  • TCU has a radio station as well, which stretches widely across the Dallas/Fort Worth area. It is KTCU, FM 88.7 "The Choice"

[edit] Greek life

Texas Christian University boasts a robust Greek life, including the following organizations:

[edit] Athletics

Horned Frogs logo
Main article: TCU Horned Frogs

TCU competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports as a member of the Division I Mountain West Conference. Over its history, TCU was a long-time member of the former Southwest Conference, competing with Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, Southern Methodist University, Houston, Arkansas, and Rice. After the Southwest Conference's breakup in 1995, a period of transition began for TCU athletics. TCU soon joined the Western Athletic Conference, then shifted to Conference USA in 2001, and in 2005, moved again, joining the Mountain West Conference.

TCU's varsity sports have a long and storied history of excellence, boasting eight men's and nine women's varsity squads. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, swimming & diving, track & field, cross country and tennis. Women's sports include basketball, volleyball, golf, swimming & diving, cross country, track & field, soccer, equestrian, and tennis.

[edit] Football

Main article: TCU Horned Frogs football

The Horned Frogs have won two national championships, one in 1935[3] and the other in 1938[4]. Additionally, the team has captured fourteen conference championships. Many notable football players played for TCU, including Sammy Baugh, Davey O'Brien, Bob Lilly, Aaron Schobel, and LaDainian Tomlinson.

The Horned Frogs play their home games in the on campus 44,008 seat Amon G. Carter Stadium. Gary Patterson has coached the team since 2000, leading the Horned Frogs to a 62-25 record (.713), including four bowl wins in seven appearances.

[edit] Alumni

Image:Splitsection.svg
 It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled List of Texas Christian University alumni. (Discuss)



[edit] Athletes

[edit] Business and Community Leaders

[edit] Alumni in Popular Culture

[edit] References

  • Swaim, Joan. (1992). Walking TCU. Fort Worth: Texas Christian University Press. ISBN 0-399-14218-50875651046
  1. ^ University Fact Book. TCU Office of Institutional Research.
  2. ^ USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2008: National Universities: Top Schools
  3. ^ Complete List of Williamson National Champions from CFB Database
  4. ^ NCAA Division I-A national football championship

[edit] External links

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Mountain West Conference (MWC)
MountainWest Sports Network (mtn.)