Grace College

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Grace College and Theological Seminary
Gracelogo.png
Motto Character, Competence, Service
Established 1948
Type Private
Religious affiliation Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
Endowment $8.38 million[1]
President Dr. Ronald E. Manahan
Provost Dr. Bill Katip
Academic staff 74
Students 1,308
Undergraduates 1,534[2]
Postgraduates 120
Location Winona Lake, Indiana, USA
Campus Rural, 165 Acres (0.667 km²)
Colors Red and White
         
Athletics National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Nickname Lancers
Affiliations Crossroads League
Website www.grace.edu

Grace College is an evangelical Christian liberal arts college located in Winona Lake, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The college is associated with Grace Theological Seminary and the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Contents

Accreditation [edit]

In 1994, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools gave accreditation to Grace College and Seminary thereby joining the previously two individually accredited institutions.[3] It is also a member of several organizations including the Council of Independent Colleges, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Indiana Conference of Higher Education, the Independent Colleges and Universities of Indiana, and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] It is also approved by the Association of Christian Schools International.[13][14]

History [edit]

Grace began as a two-year college in 1948,[15] and is currently categorized as a four-year liberal arts school by The College Board.[16][17] Its mission statement reads, "Grace College is an evangelical Christian community of higher education which applies Biblical values in strengthening character, sharpening competence, and preparing for service."

In June 2010, Grace College announced plans to offer a three-year accelerated degree option, which will begin starting in Fall 2011.[18] In order to help students graduate more quickly, Grace will be instating a completely redesigned academic calendar. Each semester will be divided into two 8-week sessions. Grace predicts students will typically take 2-3 courses per session, allowing them to take up to 20 hours per semester. Grace is one of the first colleges in the nation to offer a three-year option for students in every major.

Grace Theological Seminary [edit]

The seminary enjoys a history that dates back to its 1937 organization by Alva J. McClain, the founder and first president.[15][19][20][21] Its mission statement reads, "Grace Theological Seminary is a learning community dedicated to teaching, training, and transforming the whole person for local church and global ministry.[22][23]

Provost [edit]

The institution welcomed a new provost in 2007, Dr. Bill Katip, a Grace alumnus. Beginning with the start of the 2008-2009 academic year, Dr. Carrie Yocum will serve as the Assistant Provost.

Academics [edit]

The seminary is a candidate for accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.[24]

Prison education [edit]

The institution, for many years, had a ministry to the incarcerated in Indiana at various correctional facilities throughout the state directed most recently by Dr. John Teevan. However, due to recent legal changes in the State of Indiana, all but a GED program have had to be eliminated. Dr. John Teevan and some other staff have been transferred over to work for the Weber School at Grace College with locations at Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.

Campus [edit]

The Westminster Hotel on campus, now a Billy Sunday museum and resident hall

Residence halls [edit]

Campus housing includes:

  • Alpha Hall (females)
  • Beta Hall (males)
  • Kent Hall (upperclassmen males/females)
  • Indiana "Indy" Hall (males/females)
  • Westminster "Westy" Hall (males/females)
  • Gamma C (males)
  • Epsilon (males)
  • Lamppost (females)
  • Gamma Townhouse (males)
  • Orchard Manor (males)
  • Delta House (males)

Each hall has a Resident Director and at least one Resident Assistant who oversee the halls and serve to develop spiritual growth in the residents. Each hall also has at least one Growth Group Leader, who leads weekly small-group meetings on the hall.

Off-campus association [edit]

Westminster Hall includes a lounge specifically for off-campus, commuting students. The off-campus coordinator is Dan McNamara.

Student activities [edit]

Grace students often get involved on campus by participating in campus groups or activities. The Student Activities Board (SAB) regularly plans special events on and off-campus. Some favorites include: Price is Right night, Ritter's Night, Pizza Hut night, and SAB Blowout, and themed semi-formal events. Recent semi-formals have included Swing Dance and '90s Night.

Many students also participate in SERVE teams, which are student-led volunteer groups. Grace has more than 20 SERVE teams, which participate in both on and off-campus volunteer work. Some popular SERVE teams include: Boys and Girls Club, College Mentors for Kids, Our Father's House (serving at a local soup kitchen), and Grace Village (a team that visits the elderly in a local retirement home).

College newspaper [edit]

The college newspaper, "The Sounding Board," is published weekly. Dr. Paulette Sauders, who chairs Grace's journalism department, serves as adviser for the paper.

Chapel [edit]

Most Grace College students attend the mandatory chapel sessions from 10:30 - 11:20 a.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in the Orthopaedic Capital Center on campus. Students who work during scheduled chapel hours and off-campus students with fewer than half-time enrollment status are among the examples of student encouraged, but not required to attend. Chapel exemption requests are processed through the office of Student Affairs and are approved for every student with legitimate schedule-variance needs.

Athletics [edit]

Grace College sponsors 15 intercollegiate sports, known as the Lancers. The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),and competes in the Crossroads League, formerly known as the Mid-Central College Conference (MCCC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

Grace's athletic director is former University of Notre Dame swimming/diving coach Bailey Weathers. The athletic trainer is Christi Church of Kosciusko Community Hospital's Regional Rehabilitation Center. Church's assistant trainer is Cassey Pontius.

Grace's men's basketball squad, coached by Jim Kessler, won the NAIA Division II men's championship in 1992, and in 2013, advanced to the Final Four.

The fastest soccer coach to reach 450 wins, Coach John Bratcher, who coaches women's soccer at Indiana Wesleyan University, is an alumnus of Grace.

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "America's Best Colleges 2010". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2009-10-26. 
  2. ^ "US Department of Education: National Center for Education Statistics, Fall 2010 data.".  Cited on 29 August 2011
  3. ^ "Directory of HLC Affiliated Institutions: Grace College and Seminary". Retrieved 2005-12-16. 
  4. ^ "Accreditation/Affiliations". 
  5. ^ "Council of Independent Colleges website". 
  6. ^ "Current Institutional, International, and Associate Members". Retrieved 2005-12-17. 
  7. ^ "National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities website". 
  8. ^ "Alphabetical List of Members: G". Retrieved 2005-12-17. 
  9. ^ "Independent Colleges and Universities of Indiana website". 
  10. ^ "Campus Profile". Retrieved 2005-12-17. 
  11. ^ "Council for Christian Colleges and Universities website". 
  12. ^ "Members: Grace College & Seminary". Archived from the original on 2005-12-06. Retrieved 2005-12-17. 
  13. ^ "Association of Christian Schools International website". 
  14. ^ "Membership: School". Retrieved 2005-12-17. 
  15. ^ a b "Church of the Brethren Network: Brethren Encyclopedia". 
  16. ^ "The College Board website". 
  17. ^ "Grace College and Seminary: At a Glance". Retrieved 2005-12-16. 
  18. ^ http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100615/BLOGS01/100619790
  19. ^ "Feature: Brethren World Assembly". Retrieved 2005-12-15. 
  20. ^ "Believer's Web website". 
  21. ^ "Alva J McClain, 1888-1968, Grace Theological Semin.". Retrieved 2005-12-15. 
  22. ^ "Grace College and Seminary". 
  23. ^ "Dean of Seminary". Retrieved 2005-12-14. 
  24. ^ "Member schools". 

External links [edit]
Accredited Indiana colleges and universities

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