Methodist University

Methodist University, known until 2006 as Methodist College, is a private university that is historically related to the North Carolina Annual Conference[4] of the United Methodist Church and located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.[5]

Methodist University
Former names
Methodist College (1956–2006)
MottoVeritas et Virtus (Latin)
Motto in English
Truth and Virtue
TypePrivate
Established1956 (as Methodist College)
Religious affiliation
United Methodist Church
Endowment$19.483 million[1]
PresidentDr. Stanley T. Wearden[2]
Undergraduates2,200
Postgraduates150
Location
Fayetteville
,
North Carolina
,
United States

35.1339155°N 78.8743569°W / 35.1339155; -78.8743569
CampusUrban
ColorsGreen and gold
AthleticsNCAA Division III—USASAC
NicknameMonarchs
AffiliationsIAMSCU
NAICU[3]
Sports20 varsity teams
MascotLion
Websitewww.methodist.edu

Methodist University offers more than 80 majors and concentrations[6] in five undergraduate schools and five graduate programs. The school's first doctoral-level program, the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, began enrolling students in fall 2015. A second doctoral-level program, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program, enrolled its inaugural class in August 2018.[7]

Methodist University enrolls a diverse student body from over 41 states and more than 53 countries. These students are involved in more than a hundred clubs and student organizations[8] and 20 NCAA Division III athletic teams.[9] Monarch teams have won 59 team and individual national championships in just under 50 years of competition as well as capturing 116 conference championships and amassing 286 All-Americans and 51 Academic All-Americans. The university has graduated more than 12,000 since its first graduating class in 1964.[10]

Methodist University is one of the fastest growing institutions in the southeast, having almost doubled enrollment since 1990.[11] In 2013, Methodist University announced a $35 million capital campaign entitled "Building Excellence: The Campaign for Methodist University", which would fund the new Thomas R. McLean Health Sciences Building, several new athletic facilities, and a major renovation to the Reeves Fine Arts Building, to include Huff Concert Hall, the Union-Zukowski Lobby and Gallery, and the Matthews World Ministry Center.[12] Methodist University celebrated the official end of the Campaign for Methodist University—Building Excellence October 20, 2016. The largest fundraising initiative in the university's history, the campaign surpassed its $35 million goal and raised a record $41,266,820.[13]

Expansion

In 2007 the university opened the new science building and the Nimocks Fitness and Wellness Center.[14] The Gene Clayton Tennis Center was dedicated in 2017, and the Sharon and Ron Matthews World Ministry Center was dedicated in 2018.[15] The school's David McCune International Art Gallery is housed in the8,884-square-foot (825.4 m2) William F. Bethune Center for Visual Arts.[16] A new football field house was completed by August 2009.[17]

Athletics

Methodist University teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III. The Monarchs are a member of the USA South Athletic Conference (USA South). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and indoor/outdoor track and field. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor/outdoor track and field, and volleyball.

Golf is one of the most popular sports at Methodist. The women's golf team has won 25 national titles, winning every national title from 1986 to 2012 except 1990 and 1997, when they finished as the national runner-up both years.[18] The men's team also has 12 NCAA Division III national golf championships (1990–1992, 1994–1999, 2010, 2015, 2018) and were runners-up three times (1984, 1989, 2000).[19]

The school also holds multiple conference championships in other sports. The baseball team is coached by coach Tom Austin, currently sixth overall among all-time NCAA Division III head coaches and fourth among active Division III head coaches in victories.[20] Tom Austin has been the coach of Methodist University's baseball team since 1980 and is one of 64 college baseball coaches ever to reach a thousand career wins.[21][22]

The Monarch baseball team has reached the NCAA National Tournament 22 times and the Division III College World Series six times, finishing fifth or better each time, including national runners-up in 1995.[23]

Notable alumni

References
  1. As of June 30, 2012. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2012 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2011 to FY 2012" (PDF). 2012 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 12, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  2. Methodist University: About
  3. NAICU Member Directory Archived 2015-11-09 at the Wayback Machine
  4. NC Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
  5. SACSCOC Membership Directory Archived 2009-09-18 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Methodist Academics Archived 2007-02-26 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Methodist University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Archived 2014-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Methodist Student Life
  9. Methodist Official athletics website
  10. Methodist University Profile Archived 2015-04-06 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-05-17. Retrieved 2009-05-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. Building Excellence—The Campaign for Methodist University
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2009-05-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2009-05-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2009-05-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. Methodist University Women's Golf Program History NOTE: The Women's Golf National Championship was sponsored by the NGCA 1986–1995. From 1996 to 1999 the NCAA Championship combined DII and DIII; since 2000 the Championship has been DIII only.
  19. Methodist University Men's Golf Program History
  20. Methodist University Baseball Coaching Staff
  21. "Methodist University—2013 Baseball Coaching Staff". www.mumonarchs.com.
  22. "Methodist University baseball's Division III records under coach Tom Austin". Fayetteville Observer. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  23. Methodist University Baseball Program History
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