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Finlandia University

Coordinates: 47°07′39″N 88°35′22″W / 47.1276°N 88.5894°W / 47.1276; -88.5894
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Finlandia University
Seal of Finlandia University, depicting the Old Main building and the Latin motto 'Dominus Illuminatio Mea'
Former name
The Suomi College and Theological Seminary
Motto
Dominus Illuminatio Mea
Motto in English
The Lord is my Light
TypePrivate
EstablishedSeptember 8, 1896; 128 years ago (1896-09-08)
AccreditationHigher Learning Commission
Religious affiliation
Lutheran
EndowmentUS$5,786,875 (2020)[1]
BudgetUS$13,106,234 (2020)[1]
PresidentTimothy Pinnow[2]
Students430 (fall 2021)[3]
Address
601 Quincy St.
,
Hancock, Michigan
,
49930
,
U.S.

47°07′39″N 88°35′22″W / 47.1276°N 88.5894°W / 47.1276; -88.5894
CampusRural, 24 acres (9.7 ha)
Avg. class size11[4]
Colors    Blue, gray and white[5]
NicknameLions
Sporting affiliations
C2C Conference (NCAA D-III)
MascotRiku F. Lion
Websitewww.finlandia.edu
Finlandia University is located in Michigan
Finlandia University
Location in Michigan
Finlandia University is located in the United States
Finlandia University
Finlandia University (the United States)

Finlandia University is a private Lutheran university in Hancock, Michigan. It is the only private university in the Upper Peninsula. Founded in 1896 as The Suomi College and Theological Seminary, it is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.[6][7]

History

Suomi College was founded on September 8, 1896, by J. K. Nikander (b. 1855, Hämeenlinna, Finland, d. 1919).[7][8] During the 1880s, large numbers of Finns immigrated to Hancock, Michigan to labor in the copper and lumber industries. As a mission pastor of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America headquartered in Hancock, Nikander observed that Swedish and Finnish immigrants along the Delaware River did not train new ministers, and he feared a loss of Finnish identity. The college's role was to preserve Finnish culture, train Lutheran ministers and teach English. During the 1920s, Suomi College became a liberal arts college and in 1958, the seminary separated from the college. On July 1, 2000, Suomi College changed its name to Finlandia University.[8][9]

The cornerstone of Old Main, the first building erected at Suomi College, was laid on May 30, 1898. Jacobsville sandstone, quarried at the Portage Entry of the Keweenaw waterway, was brought by barge, cut, and used to construct the Old Main. Dedicated on January 21, 1900, it contained a dormitory, kitchen, laundry, classrooms, offices, library, chapel, and lounge. The burgeoning college quickly outgrew this building. In 1901 a frame structure, housing a gym, meeting hall, and music center, was erected on an adjacent lot. The frame building was demolished when Nikander Hall, named for Suomi's founder, was constructed in 1939. The hall was designed by the architectural firm of Eliel Saarinen and J. Robert F. Swanson. In addition to Old Main, the present day main campus consists of Nikander Hall, Mannerheim Hall, Wargelin Hall, Finlandia Hall, the Paavo Nurmi Center for Physical Education, the Kivi House, Hoover Center, the Finnish American Heritage Center, the Chapel of St. Matthew, and the Jutila Center.

Finlandia University has been a university of the Lutheran church since its inception. In 1988, the university became affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The curriculum, campus events, and the community explore the value of faith, vocation, and service. Finlandia University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association for Colleges and Schools (NCA-HLC). In 1996, the university transitioned from a two-year college to a four-year university.[9] Since the 2020–21 academic year, Finlandia's admissions policy contains no requirements for academic credentials other than secondary school transcripts, such as SAT or ACT scores.[10]

A marker designating the college and its Old Main building as Michigan Historic Sites was erected by the Michigan Historical Commission in 1991.[11] The inscriptions read:

Old Main

Suomi College was founded in 1896 by the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The cornerstone of Old Main, the first building erected at Suomi College, was laid on May 30, 1898. Jacobsville sandstone, quarried at the Portage Entry of the Keweenaw waterway, was brought here by barge, cut, and used to construct Old Main. Dedicated on January 21, 1900, it contained a dormitory, kitchen, laundry, classrooms, offices, library, chapel, and lounge. The burgeoning college quickly outgrew this building, and in 1901 a frame structure, housing a gym, meeting hall, and music center was erected on an adjacent lot. The frame building was demolished when Nikander Hall, named for Suomi’s founder, J. K. Nikander, was constructed in 1939. The hall was designed by the architectural firm of Saarinen and Swanson.

Suomi College

In the 1880s large numbers of Finns immigrated to Hancock to labor in the copper and lumber industries. One immigrant, mission pastor J. K. Nikander of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, headquartered in Hancock, wanted to ensure seminary training in America. He had observed that Swedish and Finnish immigrants along the Delaware River did not train new ministers, and he feared a loss of Finnish identity. In 1896 Nikander founded Suomi College. The college’s role was to preserve Finnish culture, train Lutheran ministers and teach English. During the 1920s Suomi became a liberal arts college. In 1958 the seminary separated from the college. Four years later the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America merged with other mainstream Lutheran churches.

On October 6, 2021, the university's Board of Trustees formally accepted a letter from its 16th and current president, Rev. Dr. Philip R. Johnson, informing them of his intention to retire at the end of the 2021–22 academic term.[12] On May 4, 2022, Finlandia announced Timothy Pinnow would become the next President effective July 1, 2022.[13]

Campus

Finlandia University is located in Hancock, Michigan. The town is located on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Keweenaw Peninsula stretches north into Lake Superior.

  • Old Main, between 1900 and 1906
    Old Main, between 1900 and 1906
  • Old Main in 2008
    Old Main in 2008
  • Finlandia Hall
    Finlandia Hall

Finnish-American Heritage Center

Also part of Finlandia University, and serving both the campus and the community, is the Finnish American Heritage Center which hosts numerous university and community events and houses a museum, art gallery, and theater. The Finnish American Historical Archives are located here.

North Wind Books

The Lions Den of North Wind Books offers an extensive collection of quality adult and children's fiction and nonfiction publications, and textbooks. It also sells Finnish functional design items for the home, and university logo merchandise.

Athletics

There are 10 NCAA Division III athletic sports at Finlandia, whose teams are known as Lions, competing primarily as a member of the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) since 2020.[14] Women's athletics include: basketball, ice hockey, soccer, softball and volleyball. Men's athletics include baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey and soccer. Co-ed Esports were added as varsity-level sports in the 2020–2021 season.[15]

Conference affiliation

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of Finlandia University include:

References

  1. ^ a b "Finlandia University Reported Data: Finance 2019-2020". National Center for Education Statistics - Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Finlandia University names Tim Pinnow as next president". 2022-08-18.
  3. ^ "Finlandia University reports enrollment growth". WLUC-TV 6. September 14, 2021. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "Small class sizes lead to huge advantage for students at Finlandia University". Finlandia University. August 24, 2017. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Style Guide - Finlandia". Finlandia University. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  6. ^ "Our Finnish Heritage". Finlandia University. Archived from the original on January 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Biographical Record: Houghton, Baraga and Marquette Counties. Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company. 1903. p. 16. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Holmio, Armas Kustaa Ensio (2001). History of the Finns in Michigan. Wayne State University Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-8143-2974-0. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "About Maki Library". Finlandia University. Archived from the original on July 18, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  10. ^ "Finlandia University makes SAT/ACT scores optional on admission applications". WJMN-TV - UPMatters.com. November 20, 2019. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  11. ^ "Michigan Historical Markers - Old Main/Suomi College". www.hmdb.org. Historical Marker Data Base. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "Finlandia University's President Philip Johnson to Step Down at End of Year". Keweenaw Report. October 11, 2021. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "Finlandia University names Tim Pinnow as next president". 2022-08-18.
  14. ^ "New CAC absorbs schools nationwide". D3sports. May 26, 2020. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Parker, Jason (January 24, 2020). "Finlandia University Varsity Esports Team Launches in Fall 2020". EsportsTalk. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  16. ^ "A History of Men's Hockey and the NCHA". Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  17. ^ "A History of Women's Hockey and the NCHA". Northern Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  18. ^ "UMAC adds Finlandia for 2021". D3sports. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
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