Nebraska Wesleyan University

{{Short description|Methodist university in Lincoln, Nebraska, US}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Nebraska Wesleyan University

| native_name =

| latin_name =

| image = Nwu nebraska seal.png

| image_size = 150

| motto = Pro Christo et Ecclesia{{cite book |last1=Wyckoff |first1=Richard Tyson |title=Latin Mottoes of Universities, Colleges, Technical Schools, Academies, Theological Schools, Normal Schools, Individual Schools, Individuals, Companies, Societies, Countries, States, Towns, Etc |date=1924 |publisher=Recorder |page=13 |url=https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=AAjsoycjYQoC&rdid=book-AAjsoycjYQoC&rdot=1 |access-date=11 January 2024 |language=en}}

| established = 1887

| type = Private university

| religious_affiliation = United Methodist

| endowment = $56.35 millionAs of June 30, 2017. {{Cite web| title =All U.S. and Canadian NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2017 Endowment Market Value, and Percentage Change in Market Value from FY2016 to FY2017| work = 2017 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments| publisher = National Association of College and University Business Officers| url =https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2021/Public-NTSE-Tables| access-date = December 30, 2021 }}

| staff =

| faculty = 107 Full-time and 73 Part-time{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Nebraska+Wesleyan+University&s=all&id=181446|title=College Navigator - Nebraska Wesleyan University|website=nces.ed.gov}}

| president = Darrin Good {{Cite web|url=https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/campus-directory/darrin-good|title=Darrin S. Good | Nebraska Wesleyan University|website=www.nebrwesleyan.edu}}

| principal =

| rector =

| vice_chancellor =

| dean =

| head_label =

| head =

| students = 1,688

| undergrad = 1,545

| postgrad = 143

| doctoral =

| city = Lincoln

| state = Nebraska

| country = United States

| campus =

| campus_size = {{Convert|50|acre}}

| free_label =

| free =

| colors = {{color box|#222222}} {{color box|#cdb95d}}
Black & Gold

| colours =

| athletics_affiliations = NCAA – Division III –ARC

| sports_nickname = Prairie Wolves

| mascot = [http://www.nwusports.com/ Prairie Wolf]

| affiliation = {{unbulleted list

|IAMSCU

|NAICU{{Cite web|url=http://www.naicu.edu/member_center/members.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109231238/http://www.naicu.edu/member_center/members.asp|url-status=dead|title=NAICU - Membership|archivedate=November 9, 2015}}

|Annapolis Group

}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/|nebrwesleyan.edu}}

| logo = Nwu textlogo.png

| logo_size = 150

}}

Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU) is a private Methodist-affiliated university in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists. As of 2017, it had approximately 2,100 students, including 1,500 full-time students{{cite news |last1=Reist |first1=Margaret |title=Nebraska Wesleyan to offer $15,000 scholarship to SCC transfer students |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/education/nebraska-wesleyan-to-offer-scholarship-to-scc-transfer-students/article_dfc914b9-a45c-5703-91c9-ab5111a193ee.html |access-date=4 June 2018 |publisher=Lincoln Journal Star |date=4 October 2017}} and 300 faculty and staff. The university has 119 undergraduate majors, minors, and pre-professional programs in addition to three graduate programs.

History

file:Nw old main.jpg

Chartered on January 20, 1887, Nebraska Wesleyan University had an initial enrollment of 96. The initial teaching and administrative staff at this time totaled eight, including the chancellor.

In September 1887, the cornerstone was laid for Old Main, which became the central building of the campus. Still with no stairways, windows, or flooring on some floors, classes began in September 1888. The first graduating class was four women in 1890. The second graduating class, in 1891, was made up of four men. Nebraska Wesleyan received accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1914.

The school is located in the former town of University Place, Nebraska. Today, it is part of northeast Lincoln, Nebraska;{{Cite web |last=Dunker |first=Chris |title=State Department grant to boost Nebraska Wesleyan's study-abroad programs |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/state-department-grant-to-boost-nebraska-wesleyans-study-abroad-programs/article_657b7234-b964-50eb-a9b0-791a474f55f5.html |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=JournalStar.com |date=July 31, 2022 |language=en}} the surrounding neighborhood is a historic residential and shopping area of Lincoln.

Early on, Nebraska Wesleyan also included a high school, elementary school, and kindergarten. The high school was discontinued in 1931, and the primary schools in 1941 (grade school) and 1942 (kindergarten).

Duane W. Acklie Hall of Science opened in 2019. It was the first new academic building on campus in three decades.{{cite news |last1=Dunker |first1=Chris |title=Wesleyan science building to be named for Duane Acklie |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/education/wesleyan-science-building-to-be-named-for-duane-acklie/article_a81734f5-4560-5545-9879-5be4dcf4c9ed.html |access-date=4 June 2018 |publisher=Lincoln Journal Star |date=4 April 2017}}

Athletics

File:Nwu nebraska logo.png

The Nebraska Wesleyan athletic teams are called the Prairie Wolves.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Jerry |date=2016-09-26 |title=The Other Wesleyans |url=http://wesleyanargus.com/2016/09/26/the-other-wesleyans/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=The Wesleyan Argus |language=en}} The university is a member of the NCAA Division III ranks, primarily competing in the American Rivers Conference (ARC; formerly known as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC), since the 2016–17 academic year.{{cite web|url=http://nwusports.com/news/2015/7/20/GEN_0720151523.aspx|title=Nebraska Wesleyan to Join Iowa Conference in 2016-17|website=Nebraska Wesleyan University|date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=3 March 2018}} The Prairie Wolves previously competed in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1969–70 to 2015–16; as well as an NCAA D-III Independent while holding dual affiliation membership with the NAIA and the NCAA from 1982 to 2016. It was during their time in the GPAC Wesleyan played their traditional rival Doane University in nearby Crete, Nebraska.{{cite web |url=https://nwusports.com/news/2020/10/5/on-this-date-nwu-football-takes-down-rival-doane-under-the-lights.aspx |title=This Date in History: NWU Football Upsets Rival Doane Under the Lights |date=December 19, 2023 }}

Nebraska Wesleyan competes in 21 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, golf, soccer, swimming, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball. Former sports included women's bowling.

=Mascot=

Nebraska Wesleyan has been associated with four mascots in its history, the Sunflower (1894–1907), the Coyote (1907–1933), the Plainsman (1933–2000), and the Prairie Wolf (2000–present).{{Cite web |title=History of Nebraska Wesleyan University {{!}} Nebraska Wesleyan University |url=https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/about-nwu/col-3/nwu-history |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=www.nebrwesleyan.edu |language=en}} The school colors are black and gold.

=Athletic facilities=

Nebraska Wesleyan's athletic facilities include Abel Stadium,{{Cite web |title=Abel Stadium |url=https://nwusports.com/sports/2013/9/4/FB_0904134423.aspx |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=Nebraska Wesleyan University Athletics |language=en}} which seats approximately 2,500 people and is used for college football, soccer and other events, and Snyder Arena, which seats 2,350 and is used for basketball and volleyball.{{cite web| url=https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/student-life/athletics/athletic-facilities |title=Athletic Facilities |publisher=Nebraska Wesleyan University |access-date=December 21, 2021}}

=Accomplishments=

The men's golf team won the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championship,{{Cite web|title=DIII Men's Golf Championship History {{!}} NCAA.com|url=https://www.ncaa.com/history/golf-men/d3|access-date=2021-12-31|website=www.ncaa.com|language=en}} its first in men's golf. The Prairie Wolves won by 10 strokes over the University of Redlands. The men's golf team has also won 35 conference championships; with back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019.{{cite web|url=https://nwusports.com/sports/2013/10/18/MGOLF_1018132304.aspx?path=mgolf|title=Men's Golf History|website=nwusports.com|access-date=February 14, 2020}}

The men's basketball team won the 2018 NCAA Division III National Championship, its first in men's basketball.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2018-03-17/nebraska-wesleyan-wins-78-72-thriller-over-uw-oshkosh|title=Nebraska Wesleyan wins 78-72 thriller over UW-Oshkosh for program's first DIII basketball title|website=NCAA.com|access-date=March 21, 2018}}

Greek life

There are several fraternities and sororities on campus.

Notable alumni

Kate Bolz, former Nebraska State Senator{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=Former Nebraska lawmaker will serve as Rural Development director|url=https://www.wowt.com/2021/12/19/former-nebraska-lawmaker-will-serve-rural-development-director/|access-date=2021-12-28|website=www.wowt.com|date=December 19, 2021 |language=en}}
Shawn Bouwens, football player{{cite web|url= https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BouwSh20.htm|title= Shawn Bouwens|publisher= Pro-Football-Reference.Com|access-date= October 6, 2012}}
Ralph G. Brooks, 29th Governor of Nebraska{{cite web|url= http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_nebraska/col2-content/main-content-list/title_brooks_ralph.html|title= Nebraska Governor Ralph Gilmour Brooks|publisher= National Governors Association

|access-date= October 6, 2012}}

Carl T. Curtis, former United States Senator{{cite web|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=c001006|title= CURTIS, Carl Thomas, (1905–2000)|publisher= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= October 6, 2012}}
Sandy Dennis, Oscar-winning actress
John R. Dunning, physicist in the Manhattan Project
Mignon Eberhart, mystery novelist
Rick Evans, singer and guitarist, writer of hit "In the Year 2525" as part of group Zager and Evans
Ted Genoways, poet and former Virginia Quarterly Review editor
John M. Gerrard, current Judge for the Federal District of Nebraska{{Cite web|title=Gerrard, John M. {{!}} District of Nebraska {{!}} United States District Court|url=https://www.ned.uscourts.gov/public/judicial-archive/gerrard-j-m|access-date=2021-12-28|website=www.ned.uscourts.gov}}
Gene V Glass, Regents' Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University, social scientist
Dwight Griswold, former United States Senator and Governor of Nebraska{{cite web|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000481|title= GRISWOLD, Dwight Palmer, (1893–1954)|publisher= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= October 6, 2012}}
Mary Lou Harkness, university library director
Kent Haruf, novelist
Minnie Throop England, economist
Robert Hilkemann, Nebraska State Senator
Harry Huge, international lawyer
Lew Hunter, screenwriter and Chair Emeritus of UCLA Film Department
Emily Kinney, television and theater actress (The Walking Dead){{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Korbelik|title=NWU graduate enjoying TV, stage and music success|url=http://journalstar.com/entertainment/small-screen/television-and-radio/nwu-graduate-enjoying-tv-stage-and-music-success/article_8baa6e01-0cec-5d79-a8c5-49634bd9495f.html |work=Lincoln Journal Star |date=2011-02-08 |access-date=2012-02-13}}

Lowen Kruse, minister and former Nebraska State Senator

Jason Licht, general manager of NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
James Moeller, former Vice Chief Justice, Arizona State Supreme Court
Bess Gearhart Morrison, Chautauqua speaker
James Munkres, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at MIT
Orville Nave, author of Nave's Topical Bible
John N. Norton, former United States Representative{{cite web|title=John N. Norton|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000152|publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=17 October 2012}}
Marian Heiss Price, former Nebraska State Senator
Robert Reed, science-fiction writer
Ed Schrock, former Nebraska State Senator
Coleen Seng, former Mayor of Lincoln, 2003–2007
Warren K. Urbom, former Chief Judge for the Federal District of Nebraska{{Cite web|title=Urbom, Warren Keith {{!}} District of Nebraska {{!}} United States District Court|url=https://www.ned.uscourts.gov/public/judicial-archive/urbom-w-k|access-date=2021-12-30|website=www.ned.uscourts.gov}}
Antwan Wilson, school administrator{{cite news|last=Klivans|first=Laura|title=Six months in, new schools head Antwan Wilson pushing his 'roadmap' for a challenged district|work=Oakland North|date=December 15, 2014|access-date=December 9, 2016|url=https://oaklandnorth.net/2014/12/15/six-months-in-new-schools-head-antwan-wilson-pushing-his-roadmap-for-a-challenged-district/}}{{Cite web|title=D.C. Schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson Resigns After School-Transfer Scandal|url=https://wamu.org/story/18/02/20/d-c-schools-chancellor-antwan-wilson-school-transfer-scandal/|access-date=2021-12-30|website=WAMU|language=en}}