University of Northwestern – St. Paul

{{Short description|Private Christian college in  Roseville, Minnesota, U.S.}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2008}}
{{Infobox university|
| name                  = University of Northwestern 
| former_names          = Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School (1902–1944)<br />Northwestern Theological Seminary (1935–1944)<br />Northwestern Theological Seminary and the Bible School (1944–1956)<br />Northwestern College (1956–2013)
| image                 = University of Northwestern-St-Paul Wordmark.svg
| caption               = 
| city                  = [[Roseville, Minnesota|Roseville]]
| state                 = [[Minnesota]]
| country               = United States
| coordinates           = {{coord|45|2|16|N|93|10|9|W|display=inline,title}}
| established           = {{start date and age|1902|10|2}}
| type                  = [[Private university]]
| religious_affiliation = [[Nondenominational]] [[Christianity|Christian]]
| endowment             = 
| president             = Corbin Hoornbeek
| students              = 3,427
| undergrad             = 1,800
| postgrad              = 205
| faculty               = 15:1
| campus                = {{convert|107|acre|ha|adj=on}} campus on [[Lake Johanna (Ramsey County, Minnesota)|Lake Johanna]]; 15 buildings
| colors                = {{color box|#331e54}}{{color box|#ecac00}}<br>Purple & gold
| nickname              = Eagles
| mascot                = Screech
| website               = [http://www.unwsp.edu/ unwsp.edu]
| logo                  = 
}}

'''University of Northwestern''' ('''UNW''') is a [[Private university|private]] [[Christianity|Christian]] university in [[Roseville, Minnesota]].

== History ==
The predecessor to the current university was first established in 1902 as the '''Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School''' by [[William Bell Riley]], a pastor at [[First Baptist Church of Minneapolis]].<ref> Randall Herbert Balmer, ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition'', Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 500-501</ref> The school separately opened a seminar, the '''Northwestern Theological Seminary''', in 1933 before merging into one singular unit, the '''Northwestern Theological Seminary and the Bible School''' in 1944. 

In 1951, the school began offering baccalaureate programs and, five years later in 1956, changed its name to just '''Northwestern College'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=1948-1966 |url=https://unwsp.edu/about-us/history-heritage/1948-1966/ |website=www.unwsp.edu |publisher=Northwestern University St. Paul |access-date=23 October 2023}}</ref> The school briefly closed from 1966 to 1972 after failing to earn accreditation from the [[North Central Association]], although it was able eventually reopen after the purchase of the former [[Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary]] from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis|Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis]] and the sale of its former campus in [[Loring Park]]. Accreditation was finally received in 1978.<ref>{{cite web |title=1967-1999 |url=https://unwsp.edu/about-us/history-heritage/1967-1999/ |website=www.unwsp.edu |publisher=Northwestern University St. Paul |access-date=23 October 2023}}</ref>

UNW also owns a chain of radio stations across the Midwest and Eastern United States, broadcasting listener-supported [[Christian radio|Christian music and teaching]] programs. Noted [[evangelism|evangelist]] [[Billy Graham (evangelist)|Billy Graham]] served as the school's second president from 1948 to 1952.<ref>[https://unwsp.edu/about-us/history-heritage/northwestern-history UNW-SP History]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unwsp.edu/about-us/history-heritage/1948-1966|title=UNW {{!}} 1948-1966|date=2018-10-09|website=unwsp.edu|language=en|others=UNW|access-date=2018-10-10}}</ref>

The college gained university status in 2013, officially becoming the '''University of Northwestern – St. Paul''' on July 1. 

The university was granted an exemption to [[Title IX]] in 2016 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.<ref name="CampusPride">{{cite web |url=https://www.campuspride.org/worstlist/ |title=Worst List: The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Campus Pride |date=17 May 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Birkey |first1=Andy |title=Eight Minnesota colleges discriminate against LGBT students, staff, and faculty |url=http://thecolu.mn/16845/eight-minnesota-colleges-discriminate-against-lgbt-students-staff-and-faculty |website=colu.mn |date=15 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526144309/http://thecolu.mn/16845/eight-minnesota-colleges-discriminate-against-lgbt-students-staff-and-faculty |access-date=August 10, 2023|archive-date=2023-05-26 }}</ref>

==Academics==
The University of Northwestern offers over 65 [[areas of study]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://unwsp.edu/web/undergraduate/majors |title=Majors - Christian College {{!}} University of Northwestern Minnesota |website=unwsp.edu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705051113/http://www.unwsp.edu/web/undergraduate/majors |archive-date=2014-07-05}} </ref> 6 of which are through its FOCUS Adult Undergraduate Program. Northwestern offers five [[master's degrees]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unwsp.edu/web/graduate-studies/degrees |title=Degrees |work=University of Northwestern–St. Paul website |access-date=July 11, 2013}}</ref> 

The Graduate Studies program offers the following graduate degrees:
*Master of Business Administration
*Master of Organizational Leadership
*Master of Divinity
*Master of Theological Studies
*Master of Ministry Leadership

===Associations and accreditations===
The university is a member of the [[Council for Christian Colleges and Universities]] and the [[Minnesota Private College Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Northwestern – St. Paul joins the Minnesota Private College Council |url=https://www.mnprivatecolleges.org/news-events/news/university-northwestern-st-paul-joins-minnesota-private-college-council |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=www.mnprivatecolleges.org |language=en-US}}</ref> The Adult Undergraduate program is a member of the Twin Cities Adult Education Alliance.

The Music Department is accredited by the [[National Association of Schools of Music]]. The School of Nursing is approved by the [[Minnesota Board of Nursing]] and its baccalaureate degree is accredited by the [[Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education]]. The Bachelor of Science in Engineering program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology ([[ABET]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northwestern Engineering Students to Benefit from ABET Accreditation |url=https://unwsp.edu/news/northwestern-engineering-students-to-benefit-from-abet-accreditation/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=University of Northwestern, St. Paul |language=en-us}}</ref>

==Media==
{{main|Northwestern Media}}

In February 1949, the Northwestern Schools opened [[KTIS (AM)|KTIS AM]] and [[KTIS-FM]] in the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul|Twin Cities]] area, the first in a series of radio stations across the Upper Midwest. 

Major markets served by Northwestern stations include the Twin Cities; [[Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo]]; [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]]; [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]]; [[Waterloo, Iowa]]; [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]]; [[Rapid City, South Dakota|Rapid City]]; [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota|Sioux Falls]]; [[Hartford, Connecticut]]; [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]; and [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]]. Northwestern also operates the [[KTIS (AM)|Faith Radio Network]]
The mission statement for the University of Northwestern – St. Paul's media ministry is: "to lead people to Christ and to nurture them in their spiritual growth through Christ Centered media".

University of Northwestern – St. Paul students operate a [[campus radio]] station, theMEL.fm, and a student television station. theMEL.fm is a station that broadcasts on KTIS-[[HD Radio|HD3]] as well as a live Internet stream.

==Music==
Music ensembles at Northwestern include the Northwestern Choir, UNW Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Con Brio Men's Chorus, Amata Women's Chorale, and numerous chamber ensembles. UNW Music degrees are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

==Athletics==
{{see also|List of Northwestern Eagles head football coaches}}
The University of Northwestern – St. Paul's sponsors 18 varsity intercollegiate athletic sports, including football, women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's lacrosse. Northwestern is a member of the [[NCAA Division III]], a Division I member of the [[National Christian College Athletic Association]], and is one of nine full-time members of the [[Upper Midwest Athletic Conference]] (UMAC). Prior to its NCAA Division III membership, which began on a full-time basis prior to the 2008-2009 academic year, the Eagles were a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA).

Since becoming a Division III member in 2008, the schools teams have earned bids to 32 NCAA Tournaments. In 2015 two University of Northwestern – St. Paul teams advanced to NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in men's basketball and women's volleyball.  The Eagles volleyball team has advanced to ten of the last eleven NCAA Tournaments, 2 Sweet 16's (2015 & 2017), a Final Four (2016), and was a recipient of the NCAA's Sportsmanship Award for all divisions in 2009. The men's basketball team has also advanced to nine of the last ten NCAA national tournaments.  The University of Northwestern – St. Paul became the first college football team in modern history to play two games on the same day. On October 8, 2005, under head coach Kirk Talley, the Eagles defeated Trinity Bible College 59–0 in a 12 noon kickoff before defeating Macalester College 6.5 miles down Snelling Avenue at 7 p.m. that night, 47–14.<ref>[https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-onelongday&prov=ap&type=lgns Sports – Yahoo]</ref> The UNW football team has won two NCCAA Victory Bowls in 2000 and 2008.
The University of Northwestern – St. Paul men's basketball team won the 2010 [[NCCAA]] Division I Men's Basketball National Tournament, defeating [[King University|King College]] (Tennessee - NCAA Division II), for its first ever Division I championship by a score of 58–54.<ref>[http://www.nwceagles.com/news/2010/3/20/MBB_0321100010.aspx Northwestern College Athletics – The slipper fits! Eagles win NCCAA National Championship!]</ref>

University of Northwestern – St. Paul athletic and recreation facilities <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://unweagles.com/sports/2014/10/1/gen_1001141054.aspx?tab=facilities|title = Athletic Facilities Rental}}</ref> consist of the Ericksen Center (1996) (volleyball, men's and women's basketball) and the Reynolds Field complex (2014), which houses the Johnson Tennis Complex and 100 percent artificially turfed fields for baseball, softball, football, soccer and lacrosse. The outdoor facility also offers a running and jumping pit for track and field participants, a stadium, and four locker rooms.

==Notable alumni==
* [[Benjamin Fernandes]] (B.A.'14) - award-winning speaker, entrepreneur and former national television presenter.
* [[Jonathan Papik]] (B.A. '04) - current Justice of the [[Nebraska Supreme Court]] and [[law clerk|judicial law clerk]] to [[Neil Gorsuch]].
* [[Roger Youderian]] ('50) - American [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] [[Christianity|Christian]] [[missionary]] to [[Ecuador]] martyred in 1956.
* [[Dallas Jenkins]] - a film and television director, writer and film producer. Creator, director, and co-writer of ''[[The Chosen (TV series)| The Chosen]]''
* [[Sherman Augustus]] - an American actor. Augustus also played professional football with the San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings.
* [[Brian Lohse]] - an attorney and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2018.
* [[Elmer L. Towns]] (B.A. '54) - American Christian academic, pastor and writer who co-founded [[Liberty University]].

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[List of colleges and universities in Minnesota]]
* [[Higher education in Minnesota]]
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==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.unwsp.edu}}

{{Colleges and universities in Minnesota}}
{{Upper Midwest Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{NCCAA Division I North-Central navbox}}
{{CCCU}}
{{Billy Graham}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Northwestern-Saint Paul, University Of}}
[[Category:University of Northwestern – St. Paul| ]]
[[Category:1902 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Council for Christian Colleges and Universities]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1902]]
[[Category:Evangelicalism in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Nondenominational Christian universities and colleges]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Minnesota|Universisty of Northwestern St. Paul]]
[[Category:Liberal arts colleges in Minnesota|University of Northwestern St. Paul]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Ramsey County, Minnesota]]