Anderson University is a private Christian university in Anderson, Indiana, United States. It is affiliated with the Church of God. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in business, music, and theology. The university also offers Bachelor of Science degrees in civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, and mechatronics engineering.
History
Naming history
Anderson Bible Training School
Established
1917
Anderson College
Renamed
1925
Anderson University
Renamed
1988
Anderson University was established in 1917 as the Anderson Bible Training School by the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) movement. The school was a major step in the life of a fellowship of Christians that originated in 1881. The young school moved rapidly to develop a wider general education program, changed its name to Anderson College and Theological Seminary, then Anderson College, and finally, Anderson University.
Anderson University has grown to include an undergraduate liberal arts program, organized into six schools and graduate programs in theology, music, and business.
Anderson University is a private institution, receiving funds from tuition, fees, research grants (including funds from the Lilly Endowment and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management), private scholarship funds, and alumni contributions. The university's endowment was $20.8 million as of FY06.
Anderson University student activities are coordinated by the Student Life staff, the Campus Activities Board, and the Student Government Association.
Chapel services
Required chapel/convocation attendance for students is an Anderson University tradition, maintained throughout the entire history of the university. Students are currently required to attend 11 chapels per semester to fulfill the undergraduate requirement.
Clubs and organizations
Anderson University has over 100 organizations for fine arts, athletics, academics, and special interests/hobbies.
The Anderson Ravens compete in athletics in the NCAADivision III and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Men's sports offered at Anderson University include football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, golf, soccer, cross country, swimming, and track & field. Women's sports offered at Anderson University include basketball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball, soccer, golf, cross country, swimming, and track & field. Anderson University also offers Men's Volleyball, Rugby, and Men's Lacrosse as club sports.
Formerly the Tigers, AU's nickname was changed to the Ravens in 1937. The current mascot is Rodney the Raven.
Hall of Fame
The Anderson University Athletic Hall of Fame was started in 1997 with 10 inductees that year. Ten additional honorees were added in 1998. Members have been inducted each year. The names are nominees are submitted and given consideration by the Hall of Fame committee. The committee has 11 representatives and is headed by university's Athletic Director. The inductees are announced each Spring and formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at a banquet during the university's homecoming activities each Fall.
1234"About AU". Anderson University. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
12"2008 NACUBO Endowment Study"(PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
1234"AU Quick Facts". Anderson University (Indiana). Archived from the original on 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
[a] Resigned voluntarily amid internal institutional reprioritization and changes in international affiliations.
[b] Resigned citing theological drift and concerns that the council was becoming insufficiently conservative.
[c] Withdrew over the CCCU's response and deliberation process regarding member institutions hiring married same-sex faculty.
[d] Withdrew following changes to institutional employment policies regarding same-sex marriage that conflicted with CCCU membership guidelines.
[e] Voluntarily resigned after updating hiring policies to include same-sex married individuals, which prompted conflict with CCCU eligibility criteria.
[f] Lost institutional operations/accreditation status following severe financial difficulties and campus closure in 2023.
[g] Transitioned out following shifts in institutional affiliation, theological alignment, and board hiring policies.
[h] Withdrew due to differences over membership requirements, ideological alignment, and broader denominational ties.
[i] Withdrew in protest of the CCCU's prolonged decision-making process concerning schools that changed hiring policies on same-sex marriage.