:Cedarville University

Cedarville College was chartered in 1887 by the New Light Reformed Presbyterian Church; at the time, the surrounding township was largely Presbyterian. The first classes were held in 1892, though the college did not officially open until 1894. David McKinney was the college's first president.{{cite web|url=https://www.cedarville.edu/accreditation/selfstudy/document/introduction/index.cfm/1_Origins_of_Cedarville_University|title=Origins of Cedarville University - Introduction-2007 - NCA Self-Study Document|access-date=2 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202618/https://www.cedarville.edu/accreditation/selfstudy/document/introduction/index.cfm/1_Origins_of_Cedarville_University|archive-date=2016-03-03}}

After McKinney, Wilbert McChesney served as president from 1915 to 1940. McChesney guided the college during World War I and the Depression, and also served as professor of New Testament when the Reformed Presbyterian Seminary was located at Cedarville. In addition to his duties at Cedarville, McChesney served seven terms in the Ohio Legislature.

Walter Smith Kilpatrick replaced McChesney in 1940 and served until 1943. He is the only alumnus of the college (1934) to serve as president, having graduated with honors. Kilpatrick's brief tenure faced financial challenges and the impact of World War II.{{cite web | url=https://www.cedarville.edu/Offices/President/Past-Presidents-and-History.aspx | title=Past Presidents}}

Ira Vayhinger became the college's fourth president in 1943 and served until 1950. He had served as general secretary of the local YMCA from 1911 to 1922. He joined Cedarville College in 1941 as finance director and business manager. As president, he guided the college through enrollment challenges and the difficult years of World War II.

E. H. Miller was appointed president in 1950. During his tenure, in 1953, the college merged with the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland. Following the unanimous vote of both boards of trustees, the transfer of property occurred April 4, 1953. Miller's tenure as president ended in 1953.

Leonard Webster, the dean of the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland, became president of Cedarville College in 1953. In 1953, the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland, Ohio, relocated to Cedarville's campus and transitioned into management of Cedarville College through a merger arrangement with the college's Presbyterian board of trustees, who each resigned in turn.{{cite web|url=http://www.cedarville.edu/courses/catalog/2003-2004/fullcatalog.pdf|title=Cedarville University Catalog 2003-2004|access-date=2 December 2014}} The Baptists were affiliated with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. Webster led the move from Cleveland to Cedarville and hired new faculty to complement the existing Baptist Bible Institute professors. Webster represented Cedarville at national and state conferences of the Regular Baptist Churches to promote the college.

James T. Jeremiah, Cedarville College's seventh president, began his tenure in 1954 and served until 1978. Under Jeremiah's leadership, Cedarville College transformed to an accredited institution of higher learning. College enrollment increased to over 1,200 during Jeremiah's tenure by the mid-1970s. The Jeremiah Chapel in the Dixon Ministry Center is named in honor of Jeremiah. David Jeremiah, his son, is a noted alumnus and a former Cedarville trustee.{{cite web | url=https://www.cedarville.edu/Offices/President/Board-of-Trustees.aspx | title=Board of Trustees}}

Paul H. Dixon became the eighth president of Cedarville College in 1978. During the 25 years that Dixon served as president, Cedarville constructed $100 million in facilities and expanded from 180 to 400 acres.

In 2002, it became a university.{{cite web|url=https://www.cedarville.edu/why-cedarville/cedarville-history|title=History of Cedarville University|website=Cedarville University|access-date=Dec 4, 2020}} In 2003, it became affiliated with the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.Pauline C., [https://www.christianpost.com/news/ohio-baptist-partners-with-cedarville-university--6797/ Ohio Baptist Partners with Cedarville University], christianpost.com, USA, January 06, 2003 Enrollment increased from 1,185 students in 1978 to more than 3,000 by the end of Dixon's service in 2003.

Cedarville's ninth president, William E. Brown, took office in 2003. Under his leadership, the university developed new online programs and launched the Pharm.D., M.S.N., M.B.A., and now-defunct M.Ed. programs. The campus expanded to include the Center for Biblical and Theological Studies and Health Sciences Center and renovated 14 residence halls. Yet, mid-way through his tenure, President Brown experienced controversies regarding the lack of collegiality among Bible professors and the allegiance to the school's doctrinal statement, leading to the terminations of some professors, most notably, David Hoffeditz{{cite web |last1=Bailey Pulliam |first1=Sarah |title=Cedarville's Tenure Tremor |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2008/april/114-43.0.html |website=CT |date=3 April 2008 |publisher=Christianity Today |access-date=June 6, 2018}} and Michael Pahl.{{cite web |last1=Pant |first1=Meagan |title=Book Release Causes Problems for Cedarville Professor |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/book-release-causes-problems-for-cedarville-professor/HqUMc6Nls4J4tJGoUwGyZO/ |website=Dayton Daily News |access-date=June 6, 2018}} As a result of ongoing problems, President Brown announced his resignation in October 2012. In January 2013, Inside Higher Ed characterized the university as being in the midst of an "ongoing, tangled doctrinal controversy."{{cite web |url=http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/01/22/several-controversies-converge-ohio-baptist-college |title=A Campus In Turmoil |author=Libby A. Nelson |publisher=Inside Higher Ed |date=January 22, 2013 |access-date=February 5, 2013}} Vice President for Student Life Carl Ruby resigned for undisclosed reasons in January 2013. Due to lack of interest, the board of trustees eliminated Cedarville's philosophy major at the end of the academic year.

In 2006, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches terminated its relationship with the school due to the partnership with the Southern Baptist Convention and perceived liberalism in this convention.David Roach, [https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/garbc-severs-ties-with-cedarville-because-of-sbc-ties/ GARBC severs ties with Cedarville because of SBC ties], baptistpress.com, USA, September 25, 2006

Brown left his position as president in July 2013, instead becoming the university's chancellor, an office he held until July 2014.{{cite journal |title=William E. Brown |url=https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/presidents/9/ |journal=Presidents of Cedarville |date=January 2003 |access-date=9 May 2022}} Thomas White became the 10th president of Cedarville in July 2013. Under White's leadership, the university completed an extensive renovation of the Jeremiah Chapel, built new science laboratories, established two additional graduate programs, and founded the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity.

In December 2013, following policy changes made by President White, twenty-year associate professor of Christian education Joy Fagan resigned, saying she felt that she was no longer a good fit for the university.{{cite web |title="Joy Fagan Leaving Cedarville After This Semester"| last1=Dembowski |first1=Anna |url=https://cedars.cedarville.edu/2013/11/joy-fagan-leaving-cedarville-after-this-semester/ |website=Cedars | date=21 November 2013 |access-date=5 May 2022}} White claimed that his policies were in line with Cedarville's past values and Scripture, and were "not a new shift."{{cite book |last1=Eds., Beattie and Youngman |first1=Sara and Myron |title=Miracle Yearbook |date=1985 |publisher=Josten's |location=Cedarville University |isbn=|edition=1985}}{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/march/christian-college-solidifies-complementarian-cedarville.html|title=Christian College Solidifies Complementarian Stance|work=Gleanings - ChristianityToday.com|date=21 March 2014 |access-date=2 December 2014}} In early 2014, White said that university was preparing to codify their complementarian stance concerning gender roles and re-wrote the school's doctrinal statement to reflect the change. According to 100: Cedarville College, A Century of Commitment by J. Murray Murdoch, the first doctrinal statement adopted by then-Cedarville College made no mention of gender roles or complementarian theology.{{cite book |last1=Murdoch |first1=J. Murray |title=100: Cedarville College, A Century of Commitment |date=1987 |publisher=Cedarville College/Josten's |location=Cedarville, Ohio |page=91}}

From 2010 to 2014, an independent student newspaper titled The Ventriloquist was written by students and publicly distributed on campus without authorization. The publication often reported alternative perspectives about the institutional changes and had published LGBT-sympathetic content.{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/01/cedarville-college-newspaper-ventriloquist_n_5247279.html |title=These Two Students Had Their College Newspaper Confiscated After Publishing An LGTBQ Article |author=Emily Tess Katz |newspaper=Huffington Post |date=May 1, 2014 |access-date=June 9, 2015}} In April 2014, President White and Vice President of Student Life Jon Wood confiscated copies of the newspaper as students waited outside the chapel to distribute it.{{cite web | url=https://theventriloquist.us/the-new-ventriloquist/ | title=The New Ventriloquist| date=2015-09-21}} According to The Ventriloquist, White stated that permission was required to distribute the newspaper.{{cite web |title=Ventriloquist Distribution Shut Down |url=https://theventriloquist.us/ventriloquist-distribution-shut-down/ |website=The Ventriloquist |access-date=9 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215062257/https://theventriloquist.us/ventriloquist-distribution-shut-down/ |archive-date=15 February 2016 }} After this incident, The Ventriloquist was moved online, where new articles continued to be published for about a year.

In the spring of 2017, White and then-Academic Vice President Loren Reno instituted what they called the "Philippians 4:8 Policy", which they claimed provided biblically consistent guidelines for faculty to follow but which some professors claimed amounted to censorship and the loss of academic freedom.{{cite web |last1=Shellnut |first1=Kate |title=Whatever Is Pure: Cedarville Requires Professors to Apply Philippians 4:8 |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2017/april/cedarville-university-apply-philippians-4-8-curriculum.html |website=CT |date=26 April 2017 |publisher=Christianity Today |access-date=June 6, 2018}} They later changed the policy title to the "Biblically Consistent Curriculum (BCC) Policy," after two veteran Bible professors objected to this interpretation and application of Philippians 4:8. The policy is still in place today, serving to regulate the literature, art, films, and other media that faculty are permitted to use in the classroom.

The university's seal has remained essentially unchanged from the Presbyterians' original design and still contains the Latin phrase "Pro Corona et Foedere Christi", which is translated, "For the crown and covenant of Christ". The original seal is surrounded with a slogan adopted by the former Baptist Bible Institute, "For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ".

Thomas White took office as president in July 2013, becoming the 10th president of Cedarville University. Under White's leadership, the university has completed an extensive renovation of the Jeremiah Chapel, built new science laboratories, established two additional graduate programs, and founded the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity. President White has also been embroiled in controversies. In December 2013, twenty-year Cedarville professor Joy Fagan resigned, saying she did not fit the changing policies, including the new restriction of only female students allowed in the Bible classes taught by female professors. White claimed that his policies were in line with past values and Scripture, and were "not a new shift", although many alumni remember Jean Fisher, associate professor of Christian education, who taught male and female students in the department under President Dixon. In early 2014, White said that university was preparing to codify their complementarian stance concerning gender roles and re-wrote the school's doctrinal statement to reflect that change. Although egalitarian faculty existed, some felt they were no longer welcome. According to 100: Cedarville College, A Century of Commitment by J. Murray Murdoch, Ph.D., the first doctrinal statement adopted by then-Cedarville College made no mention of gender roles or complementarian theology. White also said he was eliminating layers of leadership so that the presidential cabinet would have direct authority over the university.

In April 2014, President White and Vice President of Student Life Jon Wood took copies of The Ventriloquist, an independent student newspaper, during its unauthorized public distribution; the publication had previously reported alternative perspectives about the institutional changes and published LGBT-sympathetic content. Per the Ventriloquist website, the paper recognized that they were outside the university life and chose to publish online. Similarly, in the spring of 2017, immediately after the university earned reaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, White and then-Academic Vice President Loren Reno instituted what they called the "Philippians 4:8 Policy", which they claimed provided biblically consistent guidelines for faculty to follow but which some professors claimed amounted to censorship and the loss of academic freedom. They later changed the policy title to the "Biblically Consistent Curriculum (BCC) Policy," after two veteran Bible professors objected to this interpretation and application of Philippians 4:8. The policy still exists today and tightly regulates the literature, art, films, media, etc. faculty are permitted to use in the classroom.

Cedarville has also made national news for its handling of alleged sexual assaults. In 2013, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into how allegations of sexual assaults are handled on campus.{{cite web|title=Campus Sexual Assault Under Investigation at Cedarville University|url=http://projects.chronicle.com/titleix/campus/Cedarville-University/ |access-date=2020-07-04|website=The Chronicle of Higher Education|language=en}} In 2018, the chair of the university's board of trustees and White's mentor, Paige Patterson, was fired from his position at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) for covering up a sexual assault;{{cite web|last=Shellnutt|first=Kate|title=Paige Patterson Fired by Southwestern, Stripped of Retirement Benefits|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/may/paige-patterson-fired-southwestern-baptist-seminary-sbc.html|access-date=2020-07-04|website=News & Reporting|date=30 May 2018 |language=en}} he subsequently resigned from the board.{{Cite news|last=Laissle|first=April|title=Paige Patterson Steps Down From Cedarville University Board of Trustees, Following New Allegations|url=https://www.wyso.org/post/paige-patterson-steps-down-cedarville-university-board-trustees-following-new-allegations|access-date=2020-07-04|newspaper=Wyso|date=31 May 2018|language=en}} In July 2020, The Roys Report alleged that Thomas White and his wife, Joy White, aided in this cover-up during their time at the SWBTS.{{Cite news|date=2020-05-21|title=Rape Victim Whose Story Ousted Paige Patterson Says Cedarville Pres Thomas White Was Part of Cover-Up|url=https://julieroys.com/rape-victim-whose-story-ousted-paige-patterson-says-cedarville-pres-thomas-white-was-part-of-cover-up/|access-date=2020-07-04|newspaper=The Roys Report|language=en-US}}

In recent years, students have also alleged that faculty and staff have failed to provide a safe environment for students,{{cite web|title=Rape Victim at Cedarville Asks: "Where was my protection?"|url=https://julieroys.com/podcast/rape-victim-at-cedarville-asks-where-was-my-protection/|access-date=2020-07-04|website=Julie Roys|date=19 May 2020 |language=en-US}} discouraged them from seeking help while experiencing suicidal ideation,{{cite web|date=2020-06-02|title=Former Cedarville Student: I was told, "It was a stupid decision to go to the ER for being suicidal"|url=https://julieroys.com/former-cedarville-student-i-was-told-it-was-a-stupid-decision-to-go-to-the-er-for-being-suicidal/|access-date=2020-07-04|website=Julie Roys|language=en-US}} and threatened retaliatory lawsuits against students for submitting Title IX complaints.{{Cite news|title="You Are Made to Feel Like an Enemy": Even More Stories from the Toxic Academic Community that is Cedarville {{!}} Righting America|url=https://rightingamerica.net/you-are-made-to-feel-like-an-enemy-even-more-stories-from-the-toxic-academic-community-that-is-cedarville/|access-date=2020-07-04|newspaper=Righting America|date=12 June 2020}}

On May 1, 2020, Cedarville's board of trustees placed President White on administrative leave. The board stated that it had learned additional details regarding White's hiring and subsequent firing of an admitted sexual abuser. Lieutenant General (Ret.) Loren Reno was appointed acting president.{{cite web|last=Roys |first=Julie| title=Cedarville U Places President Thomas White on Administrative Leave; Appoints General Reno Acting President|url=https://julieroys.com/cedarville-u-places-president-thomas-white-on-administrative-leave-appoints-general-reno-acting-president/|date=2020-05-01|website=The Roys Report|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-10}} While White claimed he did not know the extent of Anthony Moore's predation, the Village Church of Fort Worth claims to have provided him with a complete testimony at the time of Moore's hiring.{{cite web|date=2020-05-01|title=The Village Church Disputes Account by Cedarville President Regarding Anthony Moore; Names Others It Told About Moore's Past|url=https://julieroys.com/the-village-church-disputes-account-by-cedarville-president-regarding-anthony-moore-names-others-it-told-about-moores-past/|access-date=2020-07-04|website=Julie Roys|language=en-US}} In June, the board reinstated White, leading to the resignation of Mark Vreogop and Danny Akin.{{cite web|last=Shellnutt|first=Kate|title=Cedarville President Reinstated Despite 'Clouding' Former Employee's Past Abuse|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/june/cedarville-president-white-anthony-moore-abuse-report.html|access-date=2020-07-04|website=News & Reporting|date=26 June 2020 |language=en}}

Citing these controversies and high staff turnover, the Higher Learning Commission is conducting an assurance review into Cedarville University's accreditation status in 2020.{{cite web | url=https://www.hlcommission.org/component/directory/?Itemid=&Action=ShowBasic&instid=1535 | title=Higher Learning Commission }}

The Wall Street Journal recognized Cedarville as one of the top three evangelical Christian universities in the United States.[https://www.cedarville.edu/news/2025/cedarville-university-among-top-three-evangelical-universities-in-wsj-national-college-rankings Cedarville University Among Top Three Evangelical Universities in WSJ National College Rankings. January 21, 2025][https://www.wsj.com/news/collection/college-rankings-2024-4007c39b 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. Wall Street Journal. Journal Reports.]

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Cedarville University offers more than 150 programs of study, which cover most areas of the liberal arts, the sciences, professional programs, and theological studies.{{cite web |title=About Academics |url=https://www.cedarville.edu/about-academics |website=Cedarville University |access-date=9 May 2022}} It also offers over 50 minors, including a five-class Bible minor, which all students are required to take.{{cite web |title=Academic Programs |url=https://www.cedarville.edu/academic-programs |website=Cedarville University |access-date=9 May 2022}} The university awards graduate degrees in the areas of nursing (M.S.N.), business (M.B.A.), ministry (M.Min. and M.Div.) and pharmacy (Pharm.D.).{{cite web |title=The Graduate School |url=https://www.cedarville.edu/offices/graduate-school |website=Cedarville University |access-date=9 May 2022}} Cedarville is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.{{cite web | url=https://www.hlcommission.org/component/directory/?Action=ShowBasic&Itemid=192&instid=1535&lang=en | title=Higher Learning Commission}}

The university launched a School of Pharmacy in 2009 with 52 students beginning a three-year pre-pharmacy curriculum, and the four-year professional graduate program (Doctor of Pharmacy) launched in 2012. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.{{cite web | url=https://www.acpe-accredit.org/faq-item/Cedarville-University-School-of-Pharmacy/ | title=Cedarville University School of Pharmacy}} The Doctor of Pharmacy degree is the university's only doctoral degree and provides patient care services and student education through Cedar Care Pharmacy and the Center for Pharmacy Innovation.{{cite web|url=https://www.cedarcarerx.com/|title=Cedar Care Village Pharmacy - Your Local Cedarville Pharmacy|website=www.cedarcarerx.com|access-date=Dec 4, 2020}}

In 2022, Cedarville changed the name of the School of Business Administration, to the Robert W. Plaster School of Business (PSB). As a consequence of a donation from the Robert Plaster Foundation and other donations from individuals, the newly branded PSB is housed in the business building next to the Stevens Student Center.[https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/8657694/new-name-same-vision-cedarville-announces-naming-of-robert-w-plaster-school-of-business New same vision Cedarville announces naming of Robert W Plaster School of Business] Morning Star {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116032615/https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/8657694/new-name-same-vision-cedarville-announces-naming-of-robert-w-plaster-school-of-business |date=November 16, 2022}}

In 2024, the first cohort of physician assistant students commenced their clinical rotations, marking a significant step in the university's commitment to healthcare education.

The university website reported record-breaking enrollment in 2024 of 6,384 students, including 1,176 freshmen, 590 graduate students, and 1,770 dual-enrolled students.[https://www.cedarville.edu/news/2025/2024--a-year-of-highlights-for-cedarville-university 2024: A Year of Highlights for Cedarville University. Cedarville University website. Accessed 2/23/2025.]

The university employs more than 200 faculty in several academic departments and the schools of engineering, education, business, pharmacy, nursing, and biblical and theological studies. Academic faculty are required to commit to "biblical integration in and out of the classroom" and must be born-again Christians.{{cite web | url=https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=177431795&Title=Asst%2E%2FAssoc%2E%20Professor%20of%20Communication%20%2D%20Speech|title=Higher Ed Jobs Recruitment listing}}

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According to its mission statement, the university is "a Christ-centered learning community equipping students for lifelong leadership and service through an education marked by excellence and grounded in biblical truth."{{cite web| url=http://www.cedarville.edu/about/cumission.cfm| title=Mission Statement| work=Cedarville University| access-date=2009-01-05| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228064514/http://www.cedarville.edu/about/cumission.cfm#| archive-date=2008-12-28}} All students are required to earn a 15 credit hour Bible minor and attend weekday chapel services on-campus in the Dixon Ministry Center.{{cite web |title=Chapel and Bible Minor |url=https://www.cedarville.edu/admissions/how-to-videos/chapel-and-bible-minor |website=Cedarville University |access-date=9 May 2022}} Students are also encouraged to participate in various community service and ministry programs off campus.

Discipleship groups (D-groups) also feature a prominent role on campus. The purpose of d-groups is to facilitate a more accountable form of small-group ministry. A discipleship group of the same gender meets once a week to go through a book of the Bible or Christian book. After a year of being in a d-group, individuals can apply to be a d-group leader.{{cite web | url=https://www.cedarville.edu/parent-resources/parentprep/post/abcs-of-spiritual-growth-at-cedarville | title=ABCs of Spiritual Growth at Cedarville }}

File:Founders Hall, Cedarville University.jpg

The university's original campus and facilities are located in the village of Cedarville. Since about 1970, the school has purchased and consolidated surrounding farmlands which now total approximately 400 acres to the north and west of the village. Among the few turn-of-the-century structures is Founders Hall (Old Main), which houses the president's office and administrative functions.{{cite web|url=http://www.cedarville.edu/cf/tour/index.cfm?buildingid=FH&tourtype=orderselfguided|title=Campus Map|work=Cedarville University|access-date=2 December 2014}}

Students are strongly encouraged to live on-campus, and about 80% do so.{{cite web |title=On Campus Housing |url=https://www.cedarville.edu/student-life/residence-life/on-campus |website=Cedarville University |access-date=5 May 2022}} Those who choose to reside on campus live in single-sex residence halls. The university has eleven residence buildings for men and eleven for women, all with co-ed lounges.{{cite web |title=Residence Halls |url=https://www.cedarville.edu/student-life/residence-life/residence-halls |website=Cedarville University |access-date=5 May 2022}} Some halls group rooms in a suite-like setting, with three to four bedrooms sharing a small lounge in each unit, while others have a single-room, hall-style format with communal lounges on each floor. Townhouses are available for upper class and graduate students.

Newer athletic facilities cover the farthest northwestern reaches of campus, including a soccer stadium and baseball/softball fields. The university created the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course in 2006, located on the north end of campus and designed to host NCAA-sanctioned, as well as All-Ohio and National Christian College Athletic Association meets.{{cite web | url=https://yellowjackets.cedarville.edu/facilities/?id=3 | title=Elvin R. King Cross Country Course - Facilities - Cedarville University}}

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The water tower of Cedarville University is a landmark on the university campus in Cedarville, Ohio. First erected in 1983,{{cite web|url=https://www.cedarville.edu/~/media/Files/PDF/Library/Archives/cubuildingshistory.pdf|title=University Buildings/Facilities (August 2011)

|website=cedarville.edu|access-date=15 July 2023}} the water tower underwent a $55,000 renovation in 2015.{{cite web | url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/water-tower-gets-makeover/2dKCH77BirGxQWvOoemScN/ | title=Water tower gets a makeover}} The water tower is located behind Cedarville's athletic center and bears the school's mascot, a yellow jacket named Stinger, along with the university's stylized text logo. The aesthetic elements were added in the 2015 renovation by H₂O Towers of Saline, Michigan. The job was completed in four days using high-gloss paint manufactured by Tnemec.{{cite web

|url=http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1164&context=news_releases |title=Yellow Jacket Now Flies Over Cedarville University Campus|website=cedarville.edu|date=20 July 2015|access-date=15 July 2023}} The water tower can be seen over Cedarville University by southbound drivers on Ohio 72.{{cite web | url=https://cedars.cedarville.edu/2015/09/cedarville-makes-changes-to-campus-names-faculty-to-new-positions/ | title=Cedarville Makes Changes to Campus, Names Faculty to New Positions| date=2015-09-28}} The tower serves as a landmark for one of the university's emergency telephones.{{cite web|url=https://www.cedarville.edu/-/media/Files/PDF/Campus-Safety/Security-Report.pdf?la=en&hash=D76E298C2749E1E140EC5B694F4556910D3383A1|title=Security report 2022|website=cedarville.edu|access-date=15 July 2023}}

Cedarville has been criticized at a national level for its handling of alleged sexual assaults. In 2013, a student filed an anonymous federal complaint against the university for allegedly violating Title IX and mishandling her report of attempted rape.{{cite web |last1=Kingkade |first1=Tyler |title=Cedarville University Under Federal Investigation For Possible Title IX Violations |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cedarville-university-investigation_n_3665361 |website=Huffpost |date=29 July 2013 |access-date=9 May 2022}} Following this complaint, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into how Cedarville handled allegations of sexual assaults. In 2018, the chair of the university's board of trustees and White's mentor, Paige Patterson, was fired from his position at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) for covering up a sexual assault there; he subsequently resigned from the board. The Roys Report alleged that Thomas White and his wife, Joy, aided in this cover-up during their time at the SWBTS, although White responded that he had never met the victim, and neither he nor his wife had heard of the rape.

Students have also alleged through The Roys Report that faculty and staff have failed to provide a safe environment for students, discouraged them from seeking help while experiencing suicidal ideation,{{cite news|date=2020-06-02|title=Former Cedarville Student: I was told, "It was a stupid decision to go to the ER for being suicidal"|url=https://julieroys.com/former-cedarville-student-i-was-told-it-was-a-stupid-decision-to-go-to-the-er-for-being-suicidal/|access-date=2020-07-04|newspaper=The Roys Report|language=en-US}} and threatened retaliatory lawsuits against students for submitting Title IX complaints.

On May 1, 2020, Cedarville's board of trustees placed President White on administrative leave, stating that it had learned additional details regarding White's hiring and subsequent firing of Anthony Moore, an admitted sexual abuser. Lieutenant General (Ret.) Loren Reno was appointed acting president. While White claimed he did not know the extent of Moore's abuse, the Village Church of Fort Worth claimed to have provided him with a complete testimony at the time of Moore's hiring. In June 2020, the board reinstated White, leading to the resignation of two board members, Mark Vroegop and Danny Akin.

Before Baptist Bible Institute merged with Cedarville College and relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, they published Marturion (a student yearbook), and B. B. Eye, the only known archives of which are in the Cedarville University library and in the Louisiana Serials list.{{cite web|url=http://www.nutrias.org/info/louinfo/serials.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010222014231/http://nutrias.org/info/louinfo/serials.htm|archive-date=22 February 2001|title=Louisiana Serials List|access-date=2 December 2014}}

• Cedars: news magazine and online news site by students for students (subject to the BBC policy){{cite web | url=https://cedars.cedarville.edu/ | title=Cedars}}
• Cedarville Magazine: a publication for alumni and supporters of the university. Stories focus on the university's academics, campus life, ministries, and alumni.{{cite web | url=https://www.cedarville.edu/Magazine.aspx | title=Cedarville Magazine}}
• The Cedarville Review: The undergraduate literary journal (subject to the BBC policy){{cite web |last1=Graff |first1=Andrew |title=The Cedarville Review |url=http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/cedarvillereview/ |website=The Cedarville Review |publisher=Department of English, Literature, & Modern Languages}}

{{main|Cedarville Yellow Jackets}}

file:Cedarville univ athletics wmark.png

Cedarville competes in 16 sports.{{cite web | url=https://yellowjackets.cedarville.edu/index.aspx | title=Men's Basketball vs Campbellsville-Somerset - Friday, November 16 - Gameday}} The official school colors are blue and gold. Cedarville is a dual member of two national athletics associations; the university is an NCAA Division II member as well as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The university became a full member of NCAA Division II on July 12, 2012.{{cite web|publisher=NCAA|url=https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Latest+News/2012/July/New+members+for+2012+13+could+include+Associations+first+Canadian+school|title=New members for 2012-13 could include Association's first Canadian school|date=July 13, 2012|access-date=August 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801012021/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Latest+News/2012/July/New+members+for+2012+13+could+include+Associations+first+Canadian+school|archive-date=2012-08-01}} In 2013 the university joined five other regional institutions to form the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.{{cite web|last=Jablonski|first=David|work=Springfield News-Sun|url=http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/springfield-oh-sports/urbana-cedarville-join-great-midwest-athletic-conference-1270633.html|title=Urbana, Cedarville join Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC)|date=October 17, 2011|access-date=October 23, 2011}}

Cedarville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).{{cite web|title=Statement of Accreditation Status|url=http://www.hlcommission.org/component/directory/?Action=ShowBasic&Itemid=&instid=1535&lang=en|website=Higher Learning Commission|access-date=21 September 2016}} Its professional degrees are accredited by the appropriate specialized accreditor. Cedarville University is also approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

In addition, Cedarville is a member of the following organizations:{{cite web|url=http://www.cedarville.edu/About/Memberships.aspx|title=Memberships|work=Cedarville University|access-date=2 December 2014}}

• Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio
• Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences
• Council of Independent Colleges
• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• Ohio College Association
• Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges
• Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education
• National Association of Schools of Music
• NSA National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations

Cedarville University offers nearly 120 different student organizations, from academic and professional, to social and service, to cross-cultural and special interest groups.{{cite web | url=https://www.cedarville.edu/Student-Life/Student-Organizations.aspx | title=Student Organizations}} The university is also home to Resound Radio, an internet radio station run through the school's communication department.{{Cite web |title=Resound Radio – Your Music. Your Faith. |url=https://www.resoundradio.com/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |language=en-US}}

• Abbie Cobb, actress and author
• Jenna Ellis, lawyer and co-conspirator with former president Donald Trump in 2020 election fraud case; indicted in 2023.
• Paula Faris, American television correspondent for ABC News
• Valde Garcia, member of the Michigan State Senate
• David Jeremiah, author, speaker and senior pastor of the California evangelical megachurch Shadow Mountain Community Church, and founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries.
• Mark Keough, Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives; pastor in The Woodlands
• Peter A. Lillback, president of Westminster Theological Seminary and author of "George Washington's Sacred Fire"
• Jennifer Matthews, CIA officer killed in Camp Chapman attack
• Grace Norman, U.S. Paralympic triathlon{{Cite news|url=https://www.paralympic.org/rio-2016/schedule-results/info-live-results/rio-2016/eng/zb/engzb_triathlon-athlete-profile-n1235542-norman-grace.htm|title=Rio 2016 Schedule & Results|website=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=Dec 4, 2020}} gold medalist, and bronze medalist in 400m {{Cite news|url=https://www.paralympic.org/rio-2016/schedule-results/info-live-results/rio-2016/eng/zb/engzb_athletics-athlete-profile-n1235542-norman-grace.htm|title=Rio 2016 Schedule & Results|website=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=Dec 4, 2020}} in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio
• Jared Osborn, American-Canadian Anglican bishop
• Georgia Purdom, Molecular geneticist and speaker for Answers in Genesis
• Sergio Reyes, elite marathon runner
• DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the National Football League Players Association
• Joseph M. Stowell III, president of Cornerstone University and the author of over 20 Christian books

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• {{oweb}}
• [https://yellowjackets.cedarville.edu/ Athletics website]

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