 Seal of Northwest Nazarene University | |
Former names | Northwest Nazarene College (1917–1999) Northwest Holiness College (1916–1917) Idaho Holiness School (1913–1916) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1913; 112 years ago (1913) 1937; four-year |
Religious affiliation | Nazarene |
Academic affiliations | CCCU Space-grant |
| Endowment | US$40 million |
| President | Joel Pearsall |
| Students | 1,774 (fall 2023)[1] |
| Undergraduates | 1,068 (fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 618 (fall 2023) |
Other students | 88 (fall 2023) |
| Location | , U.S. 43°33′43″N116°33′54″W / 43.562°N 116.565°W /43.562; -116.565 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Red and black |
| Nickname | Nighthawks |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II (GNAC) |
| Mascot | Nighthawks |
| Website | nnu.edu |
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Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) is aprivateNazarene university inNampa, Idaho.
| Fred J. Shields | 1917–1919 | |
| 1. | H. Orton Wiley | 1919–1926 |
| 2. | Joseph G. Morrison | 1926–1927 |
| 3. | Russell V. DeLong | 1927–1932 |
| 4. | R. Eugene Gilmore | 1932–1935 |
| 5. | Russell V. DeLong | 1935–1942 |
| 6. | L.T. Corlett | 1942–1952 |
| 7. | John E. Riley | 1952–1973 |
| 8. | Kenneth H. Pearsall | 1973–1983 |
| 9. | A. Gordon Wetmore | 1983–1992 |
| 10. | Leon Doane | 1992–1993 |
| 11. | Richard A. Hagood | 1993–2008 |
| 12. | David Alexander | 2008–2015 |
| 13. | Joel Pearsall | 2016–present |
Eugene Emerson organized a combinationgrade school andBible school in 1913 as Idaho Holiness School.[2][3] It was renamed twice in 1916, first to Northwest Holiness College and then to Northwest Nazarene College,[4] and then became aliberal arts college in 1917 with degree-granting authority from the Idaho state Board of Education. While the college's first president, elected in 1916, wasH. Orton Wiley ofPasadena University,Fred J. Shields filled in as acting president before leaving for theEastern Nazarene College in 1919, while Wiley finished hisgraduate work.[5]
UnderRussell V. DeLong, Northwest Nazarene College (NNC) receivededucational accreditation[6] as a two-year school in 1931[7] and as a four-year school in 1937,[7] making it the first accredited college affiliated with theChurch of the Nazarene.[8]Master's degree programs were added in the 1960s and 1970s.[9][10] It was renamed Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) in 1999.
Northwest Nazarene University was granted an exception toTitle IX in 2014 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.[11]
As one of eight U.S.liberal arts colleges[12] affiliated with theChurch of the Nazarene,[13] the college receives financial backing from the Nazarene churches in its region. Each college is also bound by agentlemen's agreement not to actively recruit outside its respective educational region.[14]
NNU is a member of theCouncil for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).[15] NNU has been accredited by theNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1930.[6]
Northwest Nazarene University has two colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. NNU offers over 60 baccalaureate degree programs, 11 master's degree programs, a Ph.D. degree program, and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology.[16] In addition to its 90-acre (36 ha) campus in Nampa, the university offers extensive online degree programs and has branch campuses inBoise,Twin Falls, andIdaho Falls.
NNU is aco-educational college.[17][11]
In 2019, NNU was ranked among the "Absolute Worst Campuses forLGBTQ Youth" in the US byCampus Pride.[11] The Church of the Nazarene Manual 2017–2021[a] states that "we believe the practice of same-sex sexual intimacy is contrary to God’s will for human sexuality".[18] The university's Notice of Non-discrimination states that "The University maintains the right, with regard to its lifestyle covenant, employment, and other matters, to uphold and apply its religious beliefs related to, among other issues, marriage, sex (gender), gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexual activity."[19]
The Northwest Nazarene (NNU) athletic teams are called the Nighthawks (Crusaders until 2017). The university is a member of theDivision II level of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in theGreat Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) since the 2001–02 academic year. The Nighthawks previously competed in the D-IIPacific West Conference (PacWest) during the 2000–01 school year; and in theCascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) of theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1993–94 to 1999–2000.
NNU competes in 13 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball.[20]
Notable graduates includeLori Otter, First Lady of the State of Idaho.Kent R. Hill, the former administrator forUSAID's Bureau for Global Health and former president of theEastern Nazarene College (1992-2001),Richard Hieb, NASA astronaut, authorDonna Fletcher Crow, and theologianThomas Jay Oord. A notable non-graduate alumna is theologianMildred Bangs Wynkoop.[21] Notable former faculty members includeFred J. Shields,H. Orton Wiley,Ben Fischer andOlive Winchester.[22] Religious speaker and authorAnn Kiemel Anderson attended the university.[citation needed]
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