Houghton University

{{Short description|Christian liberal arts University in Houghton, New York, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2010}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Houghton University
 | image                  = Houghton College Seal.gif
 | motto                  = Founded on the Rock
 | established            = {{start date and age|1883}}
 | type                   = [[Private college]]
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Wesleyan Church]]
 | endowment              = $60.0 million (2020)<ref>As of June 30, 2020. {{cite report |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Documents/Research/2020-NTSE-Public-Tables--Endowment-Market-Values--FINAL-FEBRUARY-19-2021.ashx |title=U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers and [[TIAA]] |date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref>
 | president              = Wayne D. Lewis, Jr.
 | students               = 904<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.houghton.edu/about/|title=About - Houghton College|access-date=December 11, 2021}}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 871
 | postgrad               = 33
 | city                   = [[Houghton, New York|Houghton]]
 | state                  = [[New York (state)|New York]]
 | country                = United States
 | coor                   = {{Coord|42.426111|-78.155278|type:edu_region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
 | campus                 = [[Rural]]
 | campus_size            = {{Convert|1,300|acre}}
 | former_names           = Houghton Seminary (1883-1923)<br>Houghton College (1923-2022)
 | colors                 = [[Purple (color)|Purple]] and [[Gold (color)|Gold]] {{color box|#1f145d}}{{color box|#b4a76c}}
 | nickname               = Highlanders
 | logo                   = Houghton College Logo.png
 | website                = {{URL|http://www.houghton.edu}}
}}

'''Houghton University''' is a [[Private university|private]] [[Christianity|Christian]] [[liberal arts college]] in [[Houghton, New York]]. Houghton was founded in 1883 by [[Willard J. Houghton]] and is affiliated with the [[Wesleyan Church]].<ref name="history">[http://www.houghton.edu/about-us/history/ History of Houghton]. Houghton.edu. Retrieved on June 11, 2013.</ref> Houghton serves roughly 1000 students and has 54 degree majors for primarily undergraduate students.

==History==
Houghton University began in 1883 as Houghton Seminary, a [[coeducation]]al [[high school]] founded by [[Willard J. Houghton]], a [[Wesleyan]] [[Methodist]] minister. In 1899, the first few college classes were offered. James S. Luckey was appointed president in 1908 and Houghton College received its provisional charter from New York in 1923.<ref name="history" /> A permanent charter was granted in 1927, and accreditation by the [[Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools]] came in 1935. [[Stephen W. Paine|Stephen Paine]] was appointed president in 1937. When the former Buffalo Bible Institute merged with Houghton College in 1969, the West Seneca campus was created.<ref>{{cite news |title=More than Just a Building<!--first article in the issue.--> |url=http://campus.houghton.edu/orgs/star/issues/Oct%207%202005.pdf |newspaper=Houghton Star |date=October 7, 2005 |volume=101 |issue=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904014808/http://campus.houghton.edu/orgs/star/issues/Oct%207%202005.pdf |archive-date=September 4, 2006}}</ref>{{Failed verification|reason=No mention of merger, year, or campus in this issue.|date=May 2023}} Wilber Dayton was appointed president in 1972 and he was succeeded by [[Daniel R. Chamberlain]] in 1976. The university initiated its first [[master's degree]] program in 2004 and currently offers nine such degrees. [[Shirley Mullen]] was appointed president in 2006, and was succeeded by Wayne Lewis in 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.houghton.edu/hc-president/dr-wayne-d-lewis-jr-to-become-sixth-president-of-houghton-college/ | title=Dr. Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. To Become Sixth President of Houghton University | date=April 28, 2021 }}</ref> From 2012 to 2013, the university set new records of giving to the institution for two years in a row.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.houghton.edu/news-media/recent-news/houghton-college-sets-record-giving-second-year-running/284/|title=Houghton College Sets Record Giving, Second Year Running|publisher=Houghton College|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803050658/http://www.houghton.edu/news-media/recent-news/houghton-college-sets-record-giving-second-year-running/284/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite this, Houghton University faced financial and enrollment challenges which led to academic budget cuts for the 2014–2015 academic year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houghtonstar.com/2013/11/09/college-announces-significant-academic-budget-cuts-for-2014-2015/|title=College Announces Significant Academic Budget Cuts for 2014–2015 |first=Sarah|last=Hutchinson |work=Houghton Star |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/12/09/private-colleges-remain-under-weather|title=Private colleges remain under the weather|date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> This led to a "strategic reallocation of resources"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houghton.edu/news-media/recent-news/houghton-announces-strategic-realignment-of-academic-programs/335/|title=Houghton Announces Strategic Realignment of Academic Programs|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085316/http://www.houghton.edu/news-media/recent-news/houghton-announces-strategic-realignment-of-academic-programs/335/|url-status=dead}}</ref> which led to the development of several new majors including Music Industry,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houghtonstar.com/2014/12/08/new-music-industry-major/|title=New Music Industry Major |first=Laura |last=Johnson |work=Houghton Star |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> Sports Management,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houghton.edu/news-media/recent-news/houghton-gets-approval-to-offer-bs-in-sport-recreation-and-wellness-management/586/|title=Houghton Gets Approval to Offer B.S. in Sport, Recreation and Wellness Management|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085321/http://www.houghton.edu/news-media/recent-news/houghton-gets-approval-to-offer-bs-in-sport-recreation-and-wellness-management/586/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Data Science.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houghtonstar.com/2015/01/30/houghton-first-in-nation/|title=Houghton First in Nation to Offer Liberal Arts Data Science Class |first=Luke |last=Lauer |work=Houghton Star |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> Houghton was approved to become a university in July 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wesleyan Church's Oldest Established College Becomes Houghton University |url=https://www.houghton.edu/community/the-wesleyan-churchs-oldest-established-college-becomes-houghton-university/#:~:text=The%20Wesleyan%20Church%27s%20Oldest%20Established%20College%20Becomes%20Houghton%20University&text=Following%20the%20approval%20of%20the,College%20has%20become%20Houghton%20University. |website=houghton.edu | date=July 11, 2022 |access-date=January 21, 2023}}</ref>

==Campus==
Houghton University's main [[campus]] is in the [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] of Houghton, in [[Allegany County, New York]], about {{convert|65|mi|km}} southeast of [[Buffalo, New York]] and {{convert|70|mi|km}} southwest of [[Rochester, New York]]. The {{convert|1300|acre|km2}} of campus sit on the [[Allegheny Plateau]] at roughly {{convert|1300|ft|m}}, on the site of the former [[Caneadea]] Indian Reservation. 

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Fancher Hall.jpg|Fancher Hall, oldest building on campus. Home to the Office of Admissions.
File:Luckey Memorial.jpg|Luckey Memorial Building. Home of the Office of the President, as well as other administrative offices.
File:Greatbatch School of Music.jpg|The Greatbatch School of Music
File:Willard J. Houghton Library.jpg|Willard J. Houghton Library
File:Wesley Chapel.jpg|Wesley Chapel
</gallery>

==Academics==
Houghton University grants [[Associate degree|associate]] and [[Bachelor's degree|bachelor's]] degrees in 46 majors. The university also offers six graduate degrees, including through the Greatbatch School of Music.

===Rankings===
Houghton University is ranked tied for #124 in National Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2020 Best Colleges rankings by ''[[U S News & World Report]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Houghton College |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/houghton-college-2734 |website=usnews.com |publisher=U.S. News & World Report L.P. |access-date=July 19, 2020}}</ref>

===First Year Honors===
A distinctive First Year Honors Program is for qualified first-year students. There are two options: London Honors, and Science Honors. Previously the university offered a Contemporary Contexts program, but was replaced by London Honors in 2014. During London Honors, students spend their spring semester in London studying the development of the western world. East Meets West involves taking integrated classes during normal semester then traveling abroad during "May Term", exploring the roots of Western culture. Science Honors takes place during both first-year semesters at Houghton, involving research in recent real-world issues such as fuel-efficiency, climate change, and energy sources. The theme for 2012-13 was [[Global warming|Global Warming]] and ways in which to improve Houghton's efforts in [[environmentalism]].<ref>[http://www.houghton.edu/academics/Honors-at-Houghton/ Houghton College: Prospective Students Website – Academics – Honors Program]. Explore.houghton.edu. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.</ref> As part of this commitment, the school has built one of the largest solar arrays in the state of New York, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 17, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houghton.edu/calendar-events/solar-array-ribbon-cutting-tour/2426/|title=Solar Array Ribbon Cutting & Tour|access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref>

==Student life==
There are four traditional residence halls and four townhouses residences. Two of the traditional residence halls, Gillette Hall and Lambein Hall, are female residences. Rothenbuhler Hall and Shenawana Hall are male residences. Sophomore, Junior and senior students have the option to live in the townhouses. Houghton University is a distinctly residential campus but does allow for upper class students the opportunity to apply to live in approved off-campus housing, called Community Living Opportunities (CLOs).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houghton.edu/students/residence-life/college-residences/|title=Residence Life - College Residences|access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> Many organizations and clubs are available for students to join or found their own.<!-- Detailed lists should not be included, can be found at houghton.edu -->

==Athletics==
{{Infobox college athletics
| name            = Houghton Highlanders
| logo            =
| logo_width      = 220
| university      = Houghton University
| association     = NCAA
| conference      = [[Empire 8]]
| division        = [[NCAA Division III|Division III]]
| director        = Matthew Webb
| location            = [[Houghton, New York]]
| teams           = 16
| stadium         =
| baseballfield   =
| basketballarena = Nielsen Center
| arena2          =
| mascot          = Luckey
| nickname        = Highlanders
| fightsong       =
| color1          = Purple
| color2          = Gold
| hex1            = 660066
| hex2            = FCD116
| pageurl         = http://athletics.houghton.edu/
}}

The Houghton athletic teams are called the Highlanders. The university is a member of the [[NCAA Division III|Division III]] level of the [[National Collegiate Athletics Association]] (NCAA), primarily competing in the [[Empire 8|Empire 8 Athletic Conference]] (a.k.a. Empire 8) since the 2012–13 academic year. The Highlanders previously competed in the defunct [[American Mideast Conference]] of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) from 2001–02 to 2011–12.

Houghton competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

===Accomplishments===
Houghton's first national champion was Kaitlin Fadden who won the 2008 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field marathon event in a time of 2:57:10. It was the first NAIA national championship, either for a team or individual, for Houghton College.

May 2012 graduate Danielle Brenon was the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field national champion in the marathon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houghton.edu/news-media/recent-news/brenon-12-is-running-the-distance/141/|title=Brenon '12 is Running the Distance|access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref>

In 2014, the University opened the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex thanks to a $12 million gift from 1991 graduate [[Kim Pegula]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houghton.edu/news/archive.php?p=4710|title=News Archive|access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> The complex is named after Kim's father Ralph Kerr, an instructor in Houghton's Adult Education program, and her husband [[Terrence Pegula]]. Three lighted turf facilities are home to the Houghton Highlander soccer, baseball, softball, field hockey, and outdoor track. The multipurpose field house includes an eight-lane, 200-meter track and six tennis courts, offering a competition venue for the indoor track and tennis programs. It also provides dedicated practice space for outdoor sports over the winter and during inclement weather and serves as a hub of involvement for the campus and the surrounding communities of Northern Allegany County and Western New York.

===Club and intramural sports===
The University also offers club and intramural sports for men and women, including flag football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and indoor soccer. Co-ed club and intramural sports are handball, water polo, and volleyball. Co-ed ultimate frisbee is also a popular sport. Club disc golf was added in 2021, and the University features two on-campus 18-hole disc golf courses.

==Controversies==
In 2020 two Houghton alumni presented an exhibition called "We Are All Houghton" to highlight the voices of LGBTQ+ students at Houghton and their negative experiences on campus.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coon |first1=Amy |last2=Duttweiler |first2=Joshua |title=We Are All Houghton |url=https://weareallhoughton.com/ |website=weareallhoughton.com |access-date=May 22, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> This project had a mixed reception by students and alum as some thought it was a much needed discussion, while others thought it promoted anti-biblical principles.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.houghtonstar.com/2020/10/05/we-are-all-houghton-project-challenges-school-to-listen-to-past-and-present-lgbtq-experiences-at-houghton/ |title=We Are All Houghton Project Challenges School to Listen to Past and Present LGBTQ+ Experiences at Houghton |newspaper=Houghton STAR}}</ref> 

In April 2023, Houghton fired two employees, stating in both their termination letters that one of the reasons was because they included their [[gender pronouns]] in their email signatures, which violated institutional policy forbidding the use of pronouns in signatures.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zahneis |first1=Megan |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/they-put-their-pronouns-in-their-email-signatures-then-the-university-dismissed-them |title=They Put Their Pronouns in Their Email Signatures. Then the University Dismissed Them. |access-date=May 20, 2023 |work=The Chronicle of Higher Education |date=April 27, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bekiempis |first1=Victoria |title=New York Christian university fires two staff for including pronouns in emails – reports |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/20/new-york-christian-university-staff-fired-pronouns |access-date=May 20, 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=May 20, 2023}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
* [[Robert Beckford]], a British academic theologian and a professor of Theology and Culture in the African Diaspora at [[Canterbury Christ Church University]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/arts-and-humanities/school-of-humanities/Staff/Profile.aspx?staff=808b8b72e44374d0 |title=Staff Profile: Professor Robert Beckford |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821230226/http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/arts-and-humanities/school-of-humanities/Staff/Profile.aspx?staff=808b8b72e44374d0 |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |website=[[Canterbury Christ Church University]]}}</ref>
* [[Deborah L. Birx]], [[United States Global AIDS Coordinator]] and [[Ambassador-at-large|Ambassador-at-Large]], as well as White House Coronavirus Response Coordination Director under President Trump
* [[Ira S. Bowen]], astronomer, director of Mt Wilson and Palomar Observatories 1946-1964<ref>The [http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/BruceMedalists/Bowen/index.html Bruce Medalists], Ira S. Bowen, 1957</ref>
* [[Douglas Comer]], Professor of Computer Science at [[Purdue University]]
* [[Ronald Enroth]], evangelical Christian author
* [[Victor P. Hamilton]], Theologian and biblical scholar. Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Asbury University. 
*[[Rachel Boone Keith]], Liberian-born physician in Detroit 
* [[Neil MacBride]], Vice President of Anti-Piracy and General Counsel of the [[Business Software Alliance]], formerly Chief Counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee and Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. [[US Department of Justice|Department of Justice]].
* Dr. [[Richard Mouw|Richard J. Mouw]], president of [[Fuller Theological Seminary]] for twenty years, 1993-2013
* [[Kim Pegula]], co-owner of the [[Buffalo Bills]] and President/CEO of [[Pegula Sports and Entertainment]]
* [[George Beverly Shea]], Dove Award-winning musician with the Billy Graham Crusade
* [[William A. Smalley]], linguist
* [[Nora Lawrence Smith]], newspaper publisher<ref>{{cite news | title=Mrs. Nora Smith Services Tuesday | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53328619/nora-lawrence-smith-obituary/ |newspaper=Atlanta Constitution | date=July 19, 1971 | page=22B | access-date=July 6, 2020 | via=[[newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* [[Bruce Waltke]], professor at [[Reformed Theological Seminary]]
* [[Ralph F. Young]], historian at [[Temple University]]

==See also==
* [[Ronald J. Oakerson]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.houghton.edu/ Official website]
* [http://athletics.houghton.edu/ Official athletics website]

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[[Category:Houghton University| ]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Council for Christian Colleges and Universities]]
[[Category:Education in Buffalo, New York]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1883]]
[[Category:Evangelicalism in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Liberal arts colleges in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Wesleyan Church]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Allegany County, New York]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in New York (state)]]