Denison University#Athletics

On December 13, 1831, John Pratt, the college's first president and a graduate of Brown University, inaugurated classes at the Granville Literary and Theological Institution.{{Cite book|title=Heritage and Promise: Denison 1831-1981 |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1981 |page=9 }} Situated on a {{cvt|200|acre|adj=on}} farm south of the village of Granville; it was the second Baptist college west of the Allegheny mountains after Georgetown College, which was founded in 1829. While rooted in theological education, the institution offered students the same literary and scientific instruction common to other colleges of the day. The first term included 37 students, 27 of whom hailed from Granville; nearly half of these students were under fifteen years of age.{{Cite book|title=Heritage and Promise: Denison 1831-1981 |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1981 |page=14 }} The school's first Commencement, which graduated three classics majors, was held in 1840.

In 1845, the institution, which at this point was male-only, officially changed its name to Granville College. In 1853, William S. Denison, a Muskingum County farmer, pledged $10,000 toward the college's endowment. Honoring an earlier commitment, the trustees accordingly changed the name of the institution to Denison University. They also voted to move the college to land then available for purchase in the village of Granville.{{Cite book|title=Heritage and Promise: Denison 1831-1981 |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1981 |pages=21–22 }}

Image:Swasey Chapel (1924), Denison University.jpg

In the years leading up to the Civil War, many students and faculty members at Denison University became deeply involved in the anti-slavery movement. Asa Drury, the chair of Greek and Latin studies, became the leader of a local anti-slavery society. Bancroft House, now a residential hall, served as a stop on the Underground Railroad for refugee slaves.{{Cite book|last=Chessman |first=G. Wallace |title=Denison: The Story of an Ohio College |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1957 |pages=84–85 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.denison.edu/library/collections/bancroft_house.html |title=Bancroft House |work=Denison University |access-date=October 8, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927045421/http://www.denison.edu/library/collections/bancroft_house.html |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |df=mdy }}

Granville Female Seminary was founded in 1832, a year before Oberlin College launched the first coeducational college in the United States.{{Cite book|last=Shepardson |first=Francis W. |title=Denison University, 1831-1931: A Centennial History |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1931 |page=32 }}{{Cite book|title=Heritage and Promise: Denison 1831-1981 |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1981 |page=12 }} The seminary was superseded by the Young Ladies' Institute, founded in 1859.{{Cite book|last=Shepardson |first=Francis W. |title=Denison University, 1831-1931: A Centennial History |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1931 |pages=180–181 }} The Young Ladies' Institute was renamed Shepardson College for Women in 1886.{{Cite book|last=Shepardson |first=Francis W. |title=Denison University, 1831-1931: A Centennial History |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1931 |pages=186, 193 }} Shepardson College was fully incorporated into Denison University after a transitional phase in 1927.{{Cite book|last=Chessman |first=G. Wallace |title=Denison: The Story of an Ohio College |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1957 |page=227 }}{{Cite book|title=Heritage and Promise: Denison 1831-1981 |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1981 |page=114 }}

In 1887, Denison inaugurated a master's program, with resident graduates pursuing advanced studies in the sciences.{{Cite book|title=Heritage and Promise: Denison 1831-1981 |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1981 |page=49 }} In 1926, the board of trustees formalized a new curriculum that made Denison University an exclusively undergraduate institution.{{Cite book|last=Shepardson |first=Francis W. |title=Denison University, 1831-1931: A Centennial History |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1931 |pages=348–351 }}

In the wake of Shepardson College's incorporation, Denison University enlarged its campus. In 1916, the college hired the Frederick Law Olmsted & Sons architectural firm. The resulting "Olmsted Plan" laid a foundation for expansion that has remained the guiding aesthetic for subsequent growth. Expansion during this period included the acquisition of land to the north and east, the relocation of Shepardson College to the east ridge of College Hill, and the development of a new men's quadrangle beyond the library.{{Cite book|title=Heritage and Promise: Denison 1831-1981 |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1981 |page=62 }}

While the college's origins were rooted in theological education, Denison University has been a non-sectarian institution since the 1960s.{{Cite book|title=Heritage and Promise: Denison 1831-1981 |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1981 |pages=176–177 }} By 2005, the college reached its present size of approximately 2,250 students.{{cite web |url= http://www.denison.edu/about/history.html |title= Bancroft House |work= History & Traditions |access-date= October 8, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100814204200/http://www.denison.edu/about/history.html |archive-date= August 14, 2010 |df= mdy-all }}

See List of Denison University people

File:Slayter Hall Student Union (1962), Denison University, Granville, Ohio.jpg

The campus size is about {{cvt|1,100|acre}}. This includes a {{cvt|400|acre|adj=on}} biological reserve just east of campus, where professors of sciences, such as geology and biology, can hold class. The Denison Golf Club at Granville, an 18-hole course designed by Donald Ross, is just {{cvt|0.4|mile}} from the academic campus and was donated to the university in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://columbushospitality.com/news/2017/new-denison-golf-club/|title=New Beginnings for Denison Golf Club|date=2017-01-24|website=Columbus Hospitality Management|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223184431/https://columbushospitality.com/news/2017/new-denison-golf-club/|url-status=dead}} In 2013, the university purchased and renovated the historic Granville Inn.{{Cite web|url=https://granvilleinn.com/newspost/denison-renovates-the-granville-inn/|title=Denison Renovates the Granville Inn {{!}} Granville Inn - Granville, Ohio|website=granvilleinn.com|access-date=2019-09-11|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223152449/https://granvilleinn.com/newspost/denison-renovates-the-granville-inn/|url-status=dead}}

The first building in the "Greater Denison" plan, Swasey Chapel, was built at the center of the campus. The chapel seats 990 and plays host to notable campus events such as baccalaureate services, lectures, concerts, and academic award convocations.{{cite web |url= http://www.denison.edu/campus/swasey_chapel.html |title= Denison University: Swasey Chapel |work= Denison University |access-date= December 29, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110401231115/http://www.denison.edu/campus/swasey_chapel.html |archive-date= April 1, 2011 |df= mdy-all }}

There are 18 academic buildings on campus. Doane Administration Building, one of the oldest buildings on campus, and Burton Morgan are also on academic quad (spill-over academic building), but they serve administrative purposes. The Bryant Arts Center opened in August 2009. Also on the fine arts quad is Doane Dance Building, Burton Music, Cinema MIX Lab, Burke Performance and Recital Hall, and the Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts, completed in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/events/event/130823|title=Community Open House at The Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts|website=Denison University|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}}

Doane Library today houses more than 500,000 books and bound periodicals.{{cite web |url= http://www.denison.edu/campus/william_howard_doane_library.html |title= Denison University: William Howard Doane Library |work= Denison University |access-date= December 29, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110401231007/http://www.denison.edu/campus/william_howard_doane_library.html |archive-date= April 1, 2011 |df= mdy-all }}

File:Doane Administration.jpg|Doane Administration (1895)

File:William Howard Doane Library (1937), Denison University, Granville, Ohio.jpg|William Howard Doane Library (1937)

File:Beth Eden and Swasey Chapel.jpg|Beth Eden (1901) and Swasey Chapel (1924)

File:Swasey Chapel (1924, inside).jpg|Swasey Chapel (1924, inside)

File:Barney Davis Hall (1894).jpg|Barney Davis Hall (1894)

File:131 W Broadway.jpg|alt=131 W Broadway, President's Residence|131 W Broadway is home to the Denison University President and family.{{Cite web |title=Message from John Faraci, Chair of the Board of Trustees on Monomoy Place and 131 West Broadway |url=https://denison.edu/announcement/127249 |access-date=2018-08-03 |website=Denison University |language=en}}

Swasey Observatory, which opened in June 1910, houses a 9-inch refracting telescope as well as two 8-inch reflecting telescopes.{{cite web |url= http://www.denison.edu/campus/swasey_observatory.html |title= Denison University: Swasey Observatory |work= Denison University |access-date= December 29, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101118010350/http://www.denison.edu/campus/swasey_observatory.html |archive-date= November 18, 2010 |df= mdy-all }}File:Denison University Academic Quad Renovation.jpg

The campus landscape was designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm.{{cite web|last=Andreadis|first=Debby|title=Swasey Chapel- Denison University|url=http://www.denison.edu/library/collections/swasey_chapel.html|publisher=Denison University|access-date=February 7, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122114154/http://www.denison.edu/library/collections/swasey_chapel.html|archive-date=January 22, 2012|df=mdy-all}} "Greater Denison" was designed based on a layout of quadrangles throughout upper campus, designed to mirror the building functions. This was envisioned to help foster a sense of community among campus groups.{{cite web|title=Campus Master Plan|url=http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p528|publisher=Council of Independent Colleges|access-date=February 7, 2013}}

As of the 2023–24 school year, 2,300 students are enrolled at Denison, with a gender distribution of 49 percent male students and 51 percent female students. They come from all 50 states, Washington, DC; and 79 countries, with 78% from out-of-state. A full-time faculty of 292 professors makes the student-to-faculty ratio 9:1.

Thirteen percent of students are first-generation college students, and 37% are multicultural students. Denison was cited by The New York Times in 2014 as one of America's "Most Economically Diverse Top Colleges."{{cite news|last1=Leonhardt|first1=David|title=Top Colleges That Enroll Rich, Middle Class, and Poor| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/upshot/top-colleges-that-enroll-rich-middle-class-and-poor.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1|access-date=January 23, 2015|newspaper=New York Times|date=September 8, 2014}} In that list, Denison is ranked at No. 11 in the list of the nation's top colleges and universities.

The endowment was stated at over $1 billion in 2023, with an endowment per student of slightly over $400,000. While the university will "meet 100% of all demonstrated need," the annual cost of attending is $83,400 for the 2024–2025 academic year.{{cite web | url=https://denison.edu/campus/admission/tuition-fees-overview | title=Tuition & Fees Overview | Admission & Financial Aid | date=February 12, 2024 }} Denison awards nearly $70 million in financial aid each year.

Denison's most popular majors, by 2021 graduates, were:{{cite web |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Denison&s=all&id=202523#programs |website=nces.ed.gov |publisher=U.S. Dept of Education |title=Denison University |access-date=February 4, 2023}}

• Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (66)
• Biology/Biological Sciences (55)
• Mass Communication/Media Studies (38)
• International Business/Trade/Commerce (29)
• Management Science (27)
• Research & Experimental Psychology (27)

On its website, Denison University says it is one of the few universities that guarantees it will meet the financial needs of all admitted students (including international students).{{Cite web|title=Admission & Financial Aid|url=https://denison.edu/campus/admission|access-date=2021-08-08|work=Denison University|language=en}} The university is need-blind for domestic applicants.{{cite web|url=https://denison.edu/campus/admission/apply-for-financial-aid|title=Applying for Financial Aid|publisher=Denison University|access-date=2019-05-15|archive-date=2019-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504225629/https://denison.edu/campus/admission/apply-for-financial-aid|url-status=live}}

In the admission season for fall 2023 entry, there were more than 14,500 applicants, with an admission rate of 17%.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-07 |title=Denison University Fast Facts |url=https://denisonian.com/2023/04/news/denison-admission-rate-drops-to-17-for-incoming-class-of-2027/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |work=Denison University |language=en}} Recent trends show an expanding interest from international student populations, with application submissions increasing from 2,447 in 2019 to 3,255 in 2021. Enrollment among international students has also increased during this period, from 97 newly enrolled international students to 131 over the three-year span.{{Cite web|title=INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO GROW|url=https://denisonian.com/2021/11/news/international-student-enrollment-continues-to-grow/|access-date=2022-01-15|work=Denison University|date=November 3, 2021 |language=en}} Among freshman students who committed to enrolling in Fall 2021, composite SAT scores for the middle 50% ranged from 1330 to 1550, while composite ACT scores for the middle 50% ranged from 30 to 35. Denison practices test-optional admissions. Consequently, the SAT and ACT information reported is not based on the entire student body and instead reflects the middle 50% of only those students who opted to provide their test scores. In Fall 2021, 76% of enrolled freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school classes. U.S. News & World Report categorizes Denison as "most selective". Roughly 15 percent of the incoming class are admitted through athlete recruits. Denison University implements the holistic review admissions process. In addition to the standard results, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, character, community contributions, enthusiasm, specialties, etc. are criteria that are factored into the application process.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/campus/admission/school-counselors|title=School Counselors|date=February 12, 2024 }}

In January 2021, Denison University announced it has been selected as a QuestBridge partner college, joining what is currently a group of 55 universities in the country participating

in the program (as of April 2025).{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/news-events/featured/140475|title=Denison Joins Questbridge|website=denison.edu|language=en|access-date=2021-08-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.questbridge.org/news-and-media/press-release-1-26-2021|title= Barnard College, Boston University, and Denison University Join QuestBridge|website=questbridge.org|language=en|access-date=2021-08-04}}

{{Infobox US university ranking

| USNWR_LA = 36

| Wamo_LA = 53

| THE_WSJ = 114

}}

Denison was ranked tied for 36th in U.S. liberal arts colleges and 4th for “Most Innovative Schools” by the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking.{{Cite web |title=Denison University Rankings |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/denison-university-3042/overall-rankings |website=US News and World Report}} The college also received an “A” overall grade from Niche, who also placed them as the 2nd best liberal arts college in Ohio.{{Cite web |title=2023 Denison University Rankings |url=https://www.niche.com/colleges/denison-university/rankings/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Niche |language=en}} Denison's websites states they were ranked 43rd in “Smartest Liberal Arts Colleges in America” by Business Insider.{{Cite web |title=Rankings & Reviews {{!}} About Denison |url=https://denison.edu/campus/about/rankings-reviews |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=denison.edu |language=en}} In 2024, Washington Monthly ranked Denison 53rd among 194 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. based on its contribution to the public good, as measured by social mobility, research, and promoting public service.{{Cite web |title=2024 Liberal Arts Colleges Ranking |url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024-college-guide/liberal-arts/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Washington Monthly |language=en-US}}

File:SwaseyObservatoryChapelDenisonUniversity.jpg

Denison is a strictly residential campus that features a mixture of historic and contemporary buildings. The Homestead at Denison University is a non-traditional housing option.

File:ChapelWalkDenisonUniversityGranvilleOhio.jpg

Denison University is home to over 160 campus organizations{{Cite web|title=List of Groups|url=https://whattodu.campusgroups.com/club_signup|access-date=2021-12-04|website=whattodu.campusgroups.com}} with more than 600 students in leadership positions.

The Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA) is the Denison student governing body, in which all students are members.{{Cite web|title=Student Government|url=https://denison.edu/campus/get-involved/student-government|access-date=2021-12-04|website=Denison University|language=en}} The DCGA Student Senate is the primary representative body of students on Denison's campus, and it has been involved in various student initiatives: from postponing quiet hours in the fall of 2007 to drafting the Code of Academic Integrity adopted in the fall of 2009{{cite web |url= http://www.denison.edu/about/integrity.html |title= Integrity at Denison |date= August 15, 2009 |work= Denison University |access-date= June 22, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528165537/https://www.denison.edu/about/integrity.html |archive-date= May 28, 2010 |df= mdy-all }} to encouraging the University President to sign onto the Presidents' Climate Commitment.{{cite web |url= http://www.denison.edu/offices/publicaffairs/featuredstories/earth_day_2010.html |title= President Knobel signs Presidents' Climate Commitment |date= April 23, 2010 |work= Denison University |access-date= June 22, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100602084841/https://www.denison.edu/offices/publicaffairs/featuredstories/earth_day_2010.html |archive-date= June 2, 2010 |df= mdy-all }}

Denison Community Association (DCA) is student-led and operated umbrella organization for student service committees.{{Cite web|title=Service Opportunities|url=https://denison.edu/campus/get-involved/service-opportunities|access-date=2021-12-04|website=Denison University|language=en}} In 2015, 86% of students participated in community service.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/campus/get-involved/wh/41555|title=Denison honored for community service {{!}} Get Involved|last=University|first=Denison|website=denison.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110221328/https://denison.edu/campus/get-involved/wh/41555|archive-date=November 10, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Founded in 1857, The Denisonian is the student-run newspaper and oldest student organization on campus and prints ten issues per semester as well as online at denisonian.com.{{cite web|url=http://www.denisonian.com/ |title=The Denisonian |publisher=The Denisonian |access-date=August 26, 2014}}

The Bullsheet is a student-run publication for news, humor and community dialog that is printed daily and delivered to campus buildings. It was founded in 1979{{cite web|url=http://www.denisonbullsheet.com/about-the-sheet/|title=About The Sheet|date=September 3, 2014}} to combat student apathy, and it remains central to campus culture by providing an open forum for free speech.{{cite web |author=Denison University |url=http://www.denison.edu/academics/departments/communication/resources.html |title=Academics | Denison University |publisher=Denison.edu |access-date=August 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807004546/http://www.denison.edu/academics/departments/communication/resources.html |archive-date=August 7, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}

The Homestead is a student-run intentional community with a focus on ecological sustainability, founded in 1977.{{cite web |title=Homestead |url=https://denison.edu/campus/homestead |website=Denison University}}

There are 19 nationally recognized fraternal organization on campus, governed by four councils. As of 2023, 35% of students join a fraternity or sorority.{{cite web | url=https://denison.edu/campus/get-involved/fraternity-sorority-life | title=Fraternity & Sorority Life | Get Involved | date=February 12, 2024 }}

D-Day, the successor to the college's old Scrap Day, is a celebration of the entire college, put on once a year by the University Programming Council (UPC).{{Cite book|title=Heritage and Promise: Denison 1831-1981 |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=1981 |page=129 }}

Kirtley Mather, Class of 1909, named the tallest peak in Alaska's Aleutian Peninsula "Mt. Denison." In 1978 and 1998, groups of students, professors, and alumni scaled the mountain.{{Cite book|title=Denison Magazine (Spring 2010) |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=2010 |page=31 }}

Denison has one of the few remaining college cemeteries.{{Cite news |last=Lyttle |first=Eric |title=Child's gravestone from 1829 found in Denison dormitory |work=The Columbus Dispatch |url=https://eu.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2015/05/14/child-s-gravestone-from-1829/24158445007/ |access-date=December 22, 2023}}

Students can major or minor in theatre, music, visual art, studio art, art history, dance, or cinema. Denison also hosts a variety of annual festivals and series including The Vail Series, The Beck Series, The Tutti Festival, The Bluegrass Festival, and Doobie Palooza.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/series|title=Campus Series|website=Denison University|access-date=2016-09-09}}{{cite web |title=Doobie Palooza |url=https://www.doobieradio.com/about |website=Doobie Radio}}

The Vail Series began in 1979 as the result of a financial gift from Mary and Foster McGaw in honor of Jeanne Vail, class of 1946.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/series/vail|title=Vail Series|website=Denison University|access-date=2016-09-09}} Michael Morris, who previously worked as the executive director of the Midland Theatre, Newark, Ohio, was appointed to be the director of the program in 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/granville/2014/08/27/denison-taps-morris-vail-series-director/14639903/|title=Denison taps Morris as Vail Series director|access-date=2016-09-09}} According to an article by the Newark Advocate, The Vail Series is an "acclaimed visiting artist program" where artists are encouraged to both perform and interact with students. Tickets to the Vail Series are free to students.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/events/event/67820|title=Gabriel Alegría and the Afro-Peruvian Sextet {{!}} Oct 6, 2016 7:00pm|last=University|first=Denison|website=denison.edu|access-date=2016-09-09}} Former performers include Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming, Wynton Marsalis, Jessye Norman, and Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer among others. In 2014, the university announced that ETHEL will become their first ensemble-in-residence.{{cite press release|title=Denison Announces Ensemble In Residence Partnership With Quartet ETHEL|date=August 18, 2014|publisher=Denison University|url=http://denison.edu/news-events/press-releases/denison-announces-ensemble-in-residence-partnership-with-quartet-ethel|website=Denison.edu|access-date=September 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914135036/http://denison.edu/news-events/press-releases/denison-announces-ensemble-in-residence-partnership-with-quartet-ethel|archive-date=September 14, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} They performed their multimedia concert "Documerica" on campus during the spring of 2016{{Cite web|url=http://artsinohio.com/event/denison-university-vail-series-documerica-by-ethel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917142137/http://artsinohio.com/event/denison-university-vail-series-documerica-by-ethel|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 17, 2016|title=Denison University Vail Series "Documerica" by ETHEL|date=April 4, 2016|website=Arts in Ohio|publisher=ArtsinOhio|access-date=September 9, 2016}} and received honorary degrees from the college at the commencement ceremony in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/news-events/press/67929|title=Adventurous string quartet, ETHEL, to receive honorary degree {{!}} Press Releases {{!}} Denison University|last=University|first=Denison|website=Denison University|access-date=2016-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910192220/http://denison.edu/news-events/press/67929|archive-date=September 10, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/news-events/featured/67929|title=ETHEL, Scott Schurz '57, honored at Denison Commencement {{!}} Featured News|website=Denison University|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}}

File:Michael D. Eisner Center.jpg

The Beck Series is associated with the creative writing program at Denison, and it brings a variety of authors to campus to read their work and interact with students.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/series/beck|title=Beck Series|website=Denison University|access-date=2016-09-09}} Former visitors include Pulitzer Prize winner Eudora Welty, National Book Award winner Alice Walker, Playwright and Oscar-winning screenwriter Tom Stoppard, Orange is the New Black author, Piper Kerman, and W. S. Merwin among others.

The Tutti Festival is a semi-annual festival that features original works of music, art, dance, poetry, fine arts, and theater by professors, students, and visiting artists.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/granville/2015/02/24/du-offers-weeklong-fine-arts-festival/23948215/|title=DU offers weeklong fine arts festival|last=Peterson|first=Charles|date=February 25, 2015|work=newspaper|access-date=September 9, 2016|via=Newark Advocate}}

The college hosts an annual free Bluegrass Festival.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/2016/02/17/denison-bluegrass-festival-celebrates-12th-year/80413680/|title=Denison Bluegrass Festival celebrates 12th year|access-date=2016-09-09}} This weekend-long celebration includes multiple concerts, instrument workshops, and jam sessions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/02/04/bluegrass-festival-kicks-th-year-saturday/22866735/|title=Bluegrass festival kicks off 11th year Saturday|access-date=2016-09-09}}

The campus radio station, WDUB a.k.a. The Doobie, features 24-hour programming and broadcasts both online at www.doobieradio.com. The station was featured in American Eagle stores across the country through the summer of 2009. The Doobie was also ranked by The Princeton Review as one of the best college radio stations in the nation.{{cite press release|title=Denison University Featured In Princeton Review's 2015 'Best 379 Colleges'|date=August 12, 2014|publisher=Denison University|url=http://denison.edu/news-events/press-releases/denison-university-featured-in-princeton-review’s-2015-“best-379-colleges|website=Denison.edu|access-date=September 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914135048/http://denison.edu/news-events/press-releases/denison-university-featured-in-princeton-review%E2%80%99s-2015-%E2%80%9Cbest-379-colleges|archive-date=September 14, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

In 2016, Denison renovated and opened the Denison Art Space in Newark as part of the Thirty-One West development in Downtown Newark.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/map/places/art-space-in-newark|title=Art Space in Newark|website=Denison University|language=en|access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=November 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110221611/https://denison.edu/map/places/art-space-in-newark|url-status=dead}}

Construction began in 2017 on the Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts, named for former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Michael Eisner, who graduated from Denison in 1964. The building houses the departments of music, dance, and theatre, as well as multi-disciplinary performance and rehearsal spaces.{{cite web|url=https://denison.edu/news-events/featured/87685|title=Denison announces new performing arts center|work=Denison University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611125408/https://denison.edu/news-events/featured/87685|archive-date=June 11, 2018|access-date=June 29, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

File:Deeds Field & Piper Stadium, Denison University, Granville, Ohio.jpg

Denison is a member of the NCAA Division III and the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) since the conference's formation in 1984. As a part of the 10-member conference Denison boasts a league-record 11 Dennis M. Collins Awards which is given to the NCAC school that performs best across the conference's 23 sponsored sports: 11 for men and 12 for women. Denison additionally has 45 club and intramural sports. Denison won nine consecutive All-Sports Awards between 1997–1998 and 2005–2006.{{cite web| url= http://www2.northcoast.org/awards/allsport| title= Denison Moves Into NCAC'S 2010-11 All-Sports Lead After Winter Season| publisher= North Coast Athletic Conference| website= northcoast.org| access-date= March 8, 2011| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101028050258/http://www2.northcoast.org/awards/allsport| archive-date= October 28, 2010| df= mdy-all}} Denison's remaining two awards were earned in 1985–86{{cite web| url= http://www.northcoast.org/all-sports/final86.pdf| title= Denison Wins 1985-86 NCAC All-Sports Champion Honor| date= 1986| publisher= North Coast Athletic Conference| website= northcoast.org| access-date= March 8, 2011| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110607185703/http://www.northcoast.org/all-sports/final86.pdf| archive-date= June 7, 2011| df= mdy-all}} and 2008–2009.{{cite web|url= http://www.northcoast.org/all-sports/All-SportsFinal09.pdf|title= Denison, Ohio Wesleyan Share All-Sports Title; May 13, 2009 First Tie in 25-Year North Coast History|date= 2009|publisher= North Coast Athletic Conference|website= northcoast.org|access-date= March 8, 2011|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110607184802/http://www.northcoast.org/all-sports/All-SportsFinal09.pdf|archive-date= June 7, 2011|df= mdy-all}}

In 2001, the Denison Women's Swimming and Diving team captured the school's first NCAA Division III national championship by breaking Kenyon College’s streak of 17-consecutive national championships.{{cite web| url= https://www.ncaa.com/history/swimming-women/d3 |title= Swimming: Women: Championship History| website= NCAA.com| access-date= March 8, 2011}} Following this, the Denison Men's Swimming and Diving team defeated Kenyon to capture the 2011 NCAA National Title by 1 point{{cite press release| url= http://denisonbigred.com/sports/mswimdive/2010-11/releases/20110328q8y3m7|title= Big Red Stuns Kenyon to Capture National Championship |website=DenisonBigRed.com|publisher= Denison University| date= March 26, 2011| access-date= October 11, 2011}} ending the Lords' 31-year streak of championships. Denison men won the national title in 2015–2016 and in 2017–2018.{{Cite news|url=http://abc6onyourside.com/sports/content/denison-mens-swimming-and-diving-takes-fourth-national-title-schools-100th-championship|title=Denison mens swimming and diving takes fourth national title, school's 100th championship|last=WSYX/WTTE|work=WSYX|access-date=2018-03-27|language=en-US}}

In both men's and women's swimming and diving, Denison has posted 47 consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Division III championships. During that span, Denison has placed either second or third, nationally, 26 times.{{Cite book|title=2010-11 Swimming & Diving Media Guide |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=2010}}

Denison alumnus Woody Hayes (Class of ’35) spent three seasons as the head football coach at Denison (1946–48). In 1947 and 1948 he guided the Big Red to undefeated seasons.{{Cite book|title=The Historical Times |volume= XVII |number=2 |date=Summer 2003 |publisher=Granville, Ohio, Historical Society }}

In 1954, Keith Piper took over as the head football coach, a position he would remain in for 39 seasons. Piper won a school record, 200 games and in 1985 he guided the program to their first 10–0 season with his antique single-wing offense. Denison qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs that season before falling to Mt. Union in the opening round.{{cite news | first=Todd | last=Jones | title=Piper gave single-wing new life | date=November 6, 2010 | newspaper=Columbus Dispatch }}

Women's basketball at Denison has emerged as a national contender under head coach Sara Lee. Denison's 2010–11 squad completed the first 28–0 regular season in women's basketball in the NCAC and have advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the seventh time in school history and their sixth time out of the last seven seasons.{{cite news | first=Tom | last=Wilson | title=Denison reward for perfect season: Having to go through former champs | date=March 1, 2011 | newspaper=Newark Advocate }}

The Denison men's and women's lacrosse programs have had their share of conference and national success. The two programs have combined for 28 NCAA Division III tournament berths.{{Cite book|title=2010-11 Women's Lacrosse Media Guide |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=2010}}{{Cite book|title=2010-11 Men's Lacrosse Media Guide |publisher=Denison University |location=Granville |year=2010}} In 1999 and 2001 the Denison men's lacrosse team advances to the semifinal (Final 4) of the NCAA Division III Tournament [10] and most recently, in 2009, the Big Red advanced to the national quarterfinals of the NCAC Tournament before falling to Gettysburg.{{cite news | first=Josh | last=Hachat | title=No coach? For Denison lacrosse captains, no worry | date=May 13, 2008 | newspaper=Newark Advocate }}

In 2008, the Denison women's tennis team advanced to the NCAA semifinals, eventually winning the consolation match to place third overall, marking the program's best national finish.{{cite news | first=Josh | last=Hachat | title=DU women take giant step to win in D-III quarterfinals | date=May 18, 2008 | newspaper=Newark Advocate }} That same year the doubles team of sophomore Marta Drane and freshman Kristen Cobb advanced to the championship match of the Division III Doubles championship before falling to Brittany Berckes and Alicia Menezes of Amherst in the finals.{{cite news | title=Denison duo make history by placing second at national tennis tourney | date=May 20, 2008 | newspaper=Granville Sentinel }}

The Denison women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the second time in school history in 2010.{{cite news | title=Denison headed to Sweet 16 | date=November 18, 2010 | newspaper=Granville Sentinel }} The previous appearance occurred in 2005.{{cite news | title=Sports Wire: Denison tops Otterbein in shootout to advance in soccer tournament | date=November 20, 2005 | newspaper=Columbus Dispatch }} Overall the program has qualified for the NCAA Tournament 14 times.{{cite news | title=DU hosts first two rounds of NCAA Tournament | date=November 11, 2010 | newspaper=Granville Sentinel }}

In 2019, Denison was one of the first NCAA universities to participate in the organization's LGBTQ OneTeam Program, which launched in fall 2019.{{cite news |last=Smola |first=Jennifer |date=2019-11-19 |title=Denison, Kenyon training other colleges to better support LGBTQ athletes as part of NCAA program

|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2019/11/11/denison-kenyon-training-other-colleges/2314422007/ |work=The Columbus Dispatch |location= |access-date=2023-07-13}}

Denison boasts 49 NCAA postgraduate scholars{{cite web|url=http://www.denisonbigred.com/information/ncaa_post_graduate_scholars|title=NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Winners from Denison|publisher=Denison University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317035132/http://www.denison.edu/athletics/ncaapostgraduatescholars.html|archive-date=March 17, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=March 8, 2011|df=mdy-all}} and 87 Academic All-Americans.{{cite web|url=http://www.denisonbigred.com/information/academic_all-america|title=Academic All-America Selections from Denison|publisher=Denison University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317034929/http://www.denison.edu/athletics/academicallamericalist.html|archive-date=March 17, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=March 8, 2011|df=mdy-all}}

In the spring of 2016, Denison University announced that the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation pledged $9.3 million towards the Center for Career Exploration, now known as The Austin E. Knowlton Center for Career Exploration. In 2017, the Knowlton Center was honored by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) when President Adam Weinberg was given the Career Services Champion Award.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/news-events/featured/91601|title=Denison's new approach to careers recognized by industry leader {{!}} Featured News|website=Denison University|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}}

The Knowlton Center provides programs beginning in a student's first year to prepare them for life after college including job and graduate school search assistance, career exploration, alumni mentoring, "first look" trips, and internship assistance.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/campus/career/state-of-the-art-programs|title=State-of-the-art Programs|website=Denison University|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}} The center also provides internship funding to students on an application basis, ranging from $100-$4,000 to offset costs incurred during an internship.{{Cite web|url=https://denison.edu/forms/denison-internship-program-handbook|title=Denison Internship Program Handbook|website=Denison University|language=en|access-date=2019-09-11}}

Denison University is one of the eight members of the CLIMB internship program, an internship program in Denver that partners with Denison, Harvard, Middlebury, M.I.T., Northwestern, Stanford, Wesleyan, and Yale.{{Cite web|url=http://www.climbinternships.org/schools|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822145351/http://www.climbinternships.org/schools/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 22, 2017|title=partners|website=CLIMB internships|language=en|access-date=2021-07-28}}

Denison alumni include scholars (such as the former president of Princeton University William G. Bowen), Hollywood actors and actresses, entrepreneurs, presidents and executives of Fortune 500 companies.

Among the faculty, its current economics professor Sohrab Behdad founded the Economics Department of the University of Tehran, and the former professor William Rainey Harper served as the first president of The University of Chicago.

• David Baker (1984–)
• Paul Alfred Biefeld (1911–1943)
• Theodore Burczak (1995–)
• Andy Carlson (1999–2018)
• Asa Drury (1834–1836)
• Peter Grandbois (2010–)
• William Rainey Harper (1876–1878)
• Anthony J. Lisska (1969–2022)
• Kirtley Fletcher Mather (1918–1924)
• Margot Singer (2005–)

{{Main list|List of Denison University alumni}}

File:Steve Carell November 2014.jpg|Steve Carell, comedian, actor

File:James Clear in 2010.jpg|James Clear, best-selling author

File:MichaelEisnerOct10.jpg|Michael Eisner, chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company

File:Jennifer Garner 2013.jpg|Jennifer Garner, actress

File:TonyPHall.jpg|Tony P. Hall, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and U.S. Representative

File:Jud Harmon.jpg|Judson Harmon, 41st United States Attorney General and 45th Governor of Ohio

File:President Gerald R. Ford and Ohio State University Football Coach Woody Hayes at the Port Columbus Airport in Columbus, Ohio - NARA - 30805881 (cropped).jpg|Woody Hayes, Hall of Fame football coach

File:Hal Holbrook Our Town 1977 (cropped).jpg|Hal Holbrook, actor

File:Dick Lugar official photo 2010.JPG|Richard Lugar, United States Senator from Indiana

File:Alex Moffat.jpg|alt=Alex Moffat|Alex Moffat, actor, comedian, and former cast member on Saturday Night Live.

Notable alumni include actors Steve Carell, Hal Holbrook, and Jennifer Garner; SNL comedian Alex Moffat; entertainer John Davidson; Hall of Fame college football coach Woody Hayes; ESPN president George Bodenheimer; Turner Broadcasting System Senior Vice President James Anderson;{{Cite news|url=https://www.prsa.org/Intelligence/Tactics/Articles/view/11549/1128/Dialed_In_James_L_Anderson_of_Turner_Broadcasting#.WHkLm7YrJmA|title=Dialed In: James L. Anderson of Turner Broadcasting on Arts and Entertainment|newspaper=PRSA|access-date=2017-01-13}} drag queen and LGBT activist Nina West, former member of Turkish Parliament and current consultant to The Coca-Cola Company Mehmet Cem Kozluformer;{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/markets/stocks|title=People|website=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2017-01-13}} United States Senator Richard Lugar; Indy car racer Bobby Rahal; playwright Jeffrey Hatcher; artist Ned Bittinger; author Pam Houston, James Frey; former Disney Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner; American criminologist and father of "evidence-based policing" Lawrence Sherman; former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro; former Princeton University President William Bowen; folklorist, oral historian, author, and podcast host Douglas A. Boyd; professor of religion at Goucher College and theologian at the Washington National Cathedral{{cite news |url=https://cathedral.org/staff/kelly-brown-douglas/|title=The Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas - Washington National Cathedral|newspaper=Washington National Cathedral|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-13}} Kelly Brown Douglas;{{cite news|url=https://denisonmagazine.com/feature/the-deep-roots-of-american-racism/|title=The Deep Roots of American Racism|newspaper=Denison Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-13}} Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of the Washington National Cathedral.{{Cite web|url=https://cathedral.org/staff/the-very-rev-randolph-marshall-hollerith/|title=The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith|website=Washington National Cathedral|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-11}}

• "Think of Laura" - Christopher Cross song about the death of Denison University college student Laura Carter
• The Homestead at Denison University

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