Johnson University

Johnson University
Motto	Open day and night to the poor young man who desires above every other desire, to preach the Gospel of Christ.
Established	1893
Type	Private
President	Dr. Gary E. Weedman
Academic staff	61
Students	876
Location	Knoxville, TN, USA
Campus	175 acres (0.71 km2)
Colors	Blue & White
Nickname	Preachers (men's athletics), Evangels (women's athletics)
Affiliations	Restoration Movement
Website	http://www.JohnsonU.edu/

Johnson University (formerly known as Johnson Bible College) is a private, co-educational college located six miles (10 km) southeast of Knoxville, Tennessee.

There are about 25 full time faculty members, and over 800 students, with enrollment having nearly doubled in the last decade.

Johnson Bible College first received regional accreditation in 1979 from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It also is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education. The teacher education program is accredited by the Tennessee State Board of Education and the Association of Christian Schools International.

The original name of the school was The School of the Evangelists'. The first name change happened when the school was renamed Johnson Bible College in 1909. This name was used for 102 years until it changed its name to Johnson University on July 1, 2011.

History

The idea for the school was first introduced in a sermon by Ashley S. Johnson at the Bearden Christian Church in 1892 when Johnson proposed the idea of a college level school for the gospels. In May of 1893, guest boarded a steamboat in Knoxville to go up to the college for the laying of the cornerstone of the Main Building. Recently the Knoxville Metro Pulse featured and article. It stated that "The grand Main Building, with its five-story square tower that offered a sweeping view of the French Broad, was completed in 1895."

The original Main Building served the school until Dec 1, 1904. A fire broke out from a chimney and completely destroyed the building. Following the fire a new building was constructed of brick and the dedication was held 1905.

Dr. Johnson severed the school until his death in 1925. Upon his death, his wife Emma Johnson served as the college president until her death in 1927. Alva Ross Brown was chosen as the third president. He had not turned 22 years old at this point. He served the college and his determined leadership helped survive the great depression. He died in 1941 at the age of 35. His successor was Dr. Robert M. Bell. The college facilities were expanded slightly during his tenure. He served the college for 27 years and died in 1968. Dr. David L Eubanks became president in 1969 and served for 38 years. During this time, the college expanded and moved down the hill with new dorms, new classrooms, and new offerings. The college grew in number as well. Dr. Eubanks retired in 2007 and the current president Gary E. Weedman has continued to expand and improve the institution.

Johnson University has the distinction of being the second oldest continuing Bible college in the United States and the oldest Bible college affiliated with the Christian churches and churches of Christ.

Courses of Study

Johnson University is accredited to offer associates, bachelor's, and master's degrees. All undergraduates at Johnson, whether working towards an associates or bachelor's degree, are required to major in Bible. Students may also choose a program that has a double major.

Honors program

There is also an honors program which offers majors in History, English, and Apologetics.

Graduate programs

Johnson University offers master's degrees in education, New Testament and preaching, and marriage and family therapy/counseling. A Ph.D. program in leadership studies is under development.

Campus life

Students, faculty, and staff all are able to take advantage of the campus environment. Modeled along the idea of the family, students, faculty and staff live and work together in a community environment. From dining together, worshiping together, working together, and learning together there is a great sense of this family community.

Campus Facilities

Over the years Johnson University has had many different buildings that have severed the college and some are still serving and others have been reused and adapted or demolished.

Current Facilities

• The White House - 
Built 1890 (Restored home of Dr. and Mrs. Johnson)http://www.knoxheritage.org/node/529
• Old Main Building - 
Built 1905 (Old Chapel, Archeological Museum and Research Project, Prayer Room)
• Clark Hall
 - Built 1905 (Guest Housing, former Men's Dorm attached to Old Main.)
• Gymnasium and Pool - 
Built 1949
• Myrtle Hall
 - Built 1951 (Counseling Center, former women's dormitory)
• Bell Hall
 - Built 1955 (Student/Staff Apartments)
• Alumni Memorial Chapel - 
Built 1961 (Chapel & Music Department)
• Glass Memorial Library
 - Built 1964, enlarged 1989
(Served as Presidents Office on middle level till Eubanks Activity Center's completion in 1989. Original library woodwork and alcoves on upper floor.)
• Phillips−Welshimer Building - 
Built 1975 (Dining Hall, Administrative/Faculty Offices, classrooms, Auditorium/Gym)
• Eubanks Activity Center
 - Built 1989 (Office of President, Student Center, Science Lab, Media Communications Department)
• Johnson Hall
 - Built 2000 (Women's Dorm)
• Brown Hall - 
Built 2000 (Men's Dorm)
• Richardson Hall - Built 2001 (Teacher Education Department, Missions Department, classrooms)
• Gally Commons
 - Built 2007 (Dinning Rooms/Kitchen, Bookstore & Post Office)
• Bob Russell Preaching Center
 - Renovated section of Phillips-Welshimer Building 2007 (Former Dinning Hall)

Former Facilities

• Original Main Building
 - 1893-1904 (Wooden structure destroyed by fire December 1, 1904)
• Industrial Hall "Old Dusty" - 
1898-1960 (Wooden structure on top of hill. The Lower level contained the wood shops with Women's dorm rooms on upper floor.)
• Irwin Library
 - 1912-2000 (Large brick structure. Contained Marble covered Library in basement with classrooms on upper 2 levels)
• Brown Hall - 
1971-2000 (3 story facility)
• Johnson Hall
 - 1972-2000 (3 story facility with rooms arranged in suites)
• Dairy Barn - 1800s to 1970s (
The college's Dairy Barn was located where the P-W Building sits today) The pond in the rear was used by the cows. This was the home to the Dixie Holstein Herd.

Work study program

Students work alongside the staff in the work study program. Since 1893, students have been assigned work on campus. The positions available vary based on seniority as well as desires.^{[citation needed]}

Student activities

Students participate in numerous extracurricular activities on campus. The Eubanks Activity Center provides many opportunities for entertainment. There is Underground Coffee Shop, Cafe, TV lounge, pool tables, and other choices for entertainment. On the lower level are two racket ball courts, an aerobic workout facility, and a well equipped weight room. Behind the Eubanks Activity Center is a walkway to the French Broad River with walking trails for nature hikes and trail running. The campus radio station is on the upper level of the center. Many students participate in intra-varsity athletics with their fellow students and faculty.

The college also has several inter-varsity athletic teams. Johnson University is in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II. They compete with teams from other colleges throughout the United States.

Location

Johnson University is located in the upper Tennessee River valley on the banks of the French Broad River just upstream from where the French Broad and Holston Rivers form the Tennessee.

Pictures

• 

  Old Main & Irwin Library circa 1920.

• 

  Old Main Building & Irwin Library 1998

• 

  Old Main Building 2007

• 

  Aerial View of campus from Chapel to Valley

• 

  Alumni Memorial Chapel

• 

  Phillips−Welshimer Building

• 

  P-W Building & Pond. Only natural pond on campus. Utilized by students in 1904 to save the other buildings from the fire in the Original Main Building.

• 

  Gally Commons under construction.

• 

  Gally Commons.

Presidents

The college has only had six Presidents in its 116-year history. After the death of Ashley Johnson, Emma Johnson became president. Ms. Johnson was one of the first women to be elected and serve as president of any college in the United States. Dr. David L. Eubanks was the first President to retire from office. Prior to that, all other presidents of the College died while in office. They are buried in the College Cemetery across from the Old Main Building.

In 1896, during his tenure as the college's president, Ashley Johnson wrote the Condensed Biblical Encyclopedia.

President	Term
Ashley S. Johnson (Founder)	1893−1925
Emma Johnson (Founder)	1925−1927
Alva Ross Brown	1927−1941
Robert M. Bell, Ph.D.	1941−1968
David L. Eubanks, Ph.D.*	1969−2007
Gary E. Weedman, Ph.D.	2007−present

* Retired from office/President Emeritus

Notable alumni

Graduates of Johnson University includge ministers, missionaries, educators, counselors, business leaders and owners, physicians, lawyers, broadcast and media journalists, developers and entrepreneurs, airline pilots, community leaders, legislators, and church leaders, etc.^{[citation needed]} Individually notable alumni include:

• Grover Cleveland Brewer (1884–1956), minister in the Churches of Christ
• Fred Craddock (1928- ), minister in the Disciples of Christ and Emory University scholar of homiletics
• Oren E. Long (1889–1965), first Democrat to represent Hawaii in the United States Senate

External links

• Official website