Central College (Iowa)

Central College
Established 1853 (1853)
Type four year, independent
Religious affiliation Reformed Church in America
Endowment US$63.1 million
President Dr. Mark Putnam
Academic staff 89 full-time faculty members, 91% Ph.D.
Students 1650
Undergraduates 1,650
Postgraduates 0
Location Pella, Iowa, United States
Campus small town, 130 acres (53 ha)
Former names Central University of Iowa (CUI)
Colors

Red & White

           
Sports Men's baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, wrestling
Women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, volleyball, cheerleading, dance team
Nickname The Dutch
Affiliations Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Website www.central.edu
Central College logo
[1][2][3][4]

Central College is a private liberal arts college located in Pella, Iowa. It is a four-year school affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Central has a student body of approximately 1,600 undergraduates and a 130 acres (53 ha) main campus. The college is noted for its study abroad program.[5]

Contents

History

The Baptist Convention of Iowa founded Central University of Iowa in 1853 and it officially opened on October 8, 1854. The first class totaled 37 people. Central was a Baptist institution until 1916, when it was transferred to the control of the Reformed Church in America. Since 1886, Iowa Baptists had shifted their post-secondary education interests to Des Moines College, and hoped to reduce Central to a feeder school.[1][6][7]

The college was called Central University of Iowa (CUI), at least until 1991.[4] It renamed itself "Central College" in the mid 1994.[8]

It is home to local radio station 89.1 KCUI-FM.

Central has a history of interesting architectural features. The first buildings of the new college in 1853 are Dutch Colonial and part of what was recently known as Strawtown Inn. The first dormitory, Cotton Hall, is noted for its ornate Victorian porch and stained glass windows. Building innovation continues with the addition of "green" buildings.[9] The main feature of the campus is a pond in the center of campus. Central is also one of few schools with a public history major, and part of this focuses on architecture history.

Notable alumni

Areas of study

Central offers majors in the following areas of study:

  • Accounting
  • Actuarial Science
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Athletic Training
  • Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Business Management
  • Chemistry
  • Communication Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Economics
  • Elementary Education
  • Secondary Education
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Exercise Science
  • French
  • General Studies
  • German Studies
  • History
  • Information Systems
  • International Management
  • International Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematics
  • Mathematics/Computer Science
  • Music
  • Music Education
  • Natural Science
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Religion
  • Social Science
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre
  • Undecided/Exploring

Fine arts

Central College offers several fine art activities for its students including:

Athletics

Central College's athletic teams include:

The athletics facility is housed within the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex.

Study abroad programs

Central College students can study abroad in nine locations:

Greek life

Central is currently home to eight local fraternities and sororities. All of them participate in Central's "Greek Council" in which at least three representatives from each group meet to discuss issues pertaining to Greek life (such as pledging and housing), and plan campus-wide activities and service projects.

All of Central's Greek organizations are local and have no chapters at other colleges.

Central College has a policy of "deferred recruitment" regarding Greek organizations; first-year students must be enrolled for at least one semester before they are allowed to pledge.

Beta Kappa Epsilon

Beta Kappa Epsilon (ΒΚΕ) is Central's oldest fraternity and was founded in 1947. It was recently brought back to life in the 2010-2011 school year. Both the group and its members are usually referred to as "the Beakes".

Phi Delta Tau

Phi Delta Tau (ΦΔΤ) which stands for Brotherhood Power and Honor became Central's second fraternity in 1961. Their colors are yellow and gold and its members are referred to as "Phi Delts" and they have traditionally hosted the annual gallon challenge (milk) and also the King of Hearts Dance every Valentine's Day. They have a rich tradition with many faculty members once being active Phi Delts in their day.

Theta Kappa Alpha

Theta Kappa Alpha (ΘΚA) was the third fraternity to be founded at Central in 1967. Commonly known as the "Thetas," the fraternity prides itself on its longstanding principles of service, academic excellence, and unity through diversity. The members of Theta Kappa Alpha host Central's annual Lemming Race (see "Traditions") as well as the root-beer kegger on is island.

Sigma Phi Omega

Sigma Phi Omega (ΣΦΩ) became Central's first sorority in 1969. The Sigmas are best known for their work with the blood drives that are brought to campus each semester by the Blood Center of Iowa. They help with advertising, recruiting donors, and assisting at the donation site.

Alpha Delta Epsilon

Alpha Delta Epsilon sorority (AΔЕ) was founded in 1971. The Alpha Delts' colors are maroon, gold, white and violet. The sorority's motto is "Sisterhood, Sincerity, and Service to All" and their flower is the yellow rose. The sister's creed is "Working together, We are Sisters."

Alpha Zeta Chi

Alpha Zeta Chi (AZX) was founded as an all-male fraternity in 1988, on the principles of looking beyond people's differences and respecting each individual's dignity, and with the goal of improving the social climate at Central College. In 1998, AZX began accepting female members, thus becoming Central's first co-ed fraternity. Furthermore, Alpha Zeta Chi does not deny membership on the basis of race, color, creed, nationality, physical ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. They are known for hosting the "Virgin Mixer" every fall at which students can mingle and enjoy non-alcoholic ("virgin") drinks.

Zeta Upsilon

Zeta Upsilon (ZY) is a sorority that was founded in 1995 and established in 1996. They are the second youngest sorority on campus. They have been known for having a fall dinner at their house, and a spring semester tug-o-war on study day.

Psi Sigma Tau

Psi Sigma Tau (ΨΣΤ) is Central's newest group, having been tentatively approved by Greek Council in the spring of 2006. It is the first group to be founded as a co-ed fraternity.

References

  1. ^ a b Mak, Christine; Thostenson, Josephine E.; Patrick Roland (ed.). "Central College celebrates its Sesquicentennial: 1853-2003 (1st page)". Central College. http://www.central.edu/150/history1.html. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
  2. ^ "Fast facts - Admission - Central College". Central College (Iowa). http://www.central.edu/admission/fastFacts.cfm. Retrieved 31 May 2011. 
  3. ^ "Central College School Facilities - Pella, Iowa - Undergraduate Search at Petersons.com". Peterson's. http://www.petersons.com/college-search/central-college-school-facilities-000_10003113_10009.aspx. Retrieved 31 May 2011. "Main Library Name: Geisler Library Other Library: 2 Collection: 249,709 titles; 634 serial subscriptions; 11,577 audiovisual materials Endowment: $63.1 million" 
  4. ^ a b Uhlig, Mark A. (April 7, 1991). "Mexico's Leader to Defend Trade Pact in U.S.". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/07/world/mexico-s-leader-to-defend-trade-pact-in-us.html. Retrieved 1 June 2011. "...Roderic A. Camp, an American expert on Mexican politics who teaches at the Central University of Iowa." 
  5. ^ "Central College". thinkindependently.com. Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. 2011. http://www.thinkindependently.com/take-a-tour/5-central_college.aspx. Retrieved 31 May 2011. "Complete an internship, study abroad, sing in the choir, play on a national championship athletic team...at Central you can do it all. Founded in 1853, Central College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Central is located in Pella Iowa, a town of about 10,000, and only forty miles from Des Moines." 
  6. ^ Mak, Christine; Thostenson, Josephine E.. "Central College celebrates its Sesquicentennial: 1853-2003 (2nd page)". Central College. http://www.central.edu/150/history2.html. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
  7. ^ van der Zee, Jacob (2003) [1912]. "XXXIV CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF IOWA". Hollanders of Iowa. Iowa City, Iowa: State Historical Society of Iowa. http://www.past2present.org/books/iowa/hollanders/hollanders_34.htm. Retrieved 1 June 2010. 
  8. ^ The Chronicle of higher education almanac. 44-46. The Chronicle. 1996. p. 80. http://books.google.com/books?id=SJwOAQAAMAAJ&q=%22central+university+of+iowa%22++1994&dq=%22central+university+of+iowa%22++1994. Retrieved 2 June 2011. "Central University of Iowa officially became Central College in 1994. The institution was chartered as a university in 1853 but came to be known informally as Central College."  Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Aug 17, 2010
  9. ^ "Making the varsity green team" (Fee, via Fairfax County Public Library). New York Times Upfront (Gale Biography In Context): p. 3. 16 March 2009. http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/MagazinesDetailsPage/MagazinesDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Magazines&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=BIC2&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CA195980732&mode=view&userGroupName=fairfax_main&jsid=f777e0f4a4a80f80dd4b50b90d4b9b78. Retrieved 31 May 2011. "Friendly competition is helping to raise energy-awareness on college campuses. Students living in the Eco-Dorm at Central College in Pella, Iowa, can monitor each other's energy use on the school's Web site. To make sure they stay greener than their dorm mates, some even go off campus to charge their cell phones."  Gale Document Number: GALE|A195980732
  10. ^ a b c "#360 Central College - Forbes.com". Forbes.com. 5 August 2009. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/94/colleges-09_Central-College_94075.html. Retrieved 31 May 2011. "Harry Smith '73, co-anchor of CBS's The Early Show and former host of A & E Biography; Tom Koos '86, President and CEO of Jacuzzi Brands Corporation; Nicholas Turner '01, Marine Helicopter Squadron, HMX-1 Nighthawks, responsible for direct helicopter support for the White House, including the president, vice president, cabinet members and other VIPs." 
  11. ^ "Jacuzzi Brands Corp. Company Profile - Yahoo! Finance". Yahoo! Finance. http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/43/43614.html. Retrieved 31 May 2011. "President and CEO: Thomas D. Koos" 

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