McKendree University (McK) is a private university in Lebanon, Illinois. Founded in 1828 as the Lebanon Seminary, it is the oldest college or university in Illinois. McKendree enrolls approximately 1,960 students representing 25 countries and 29 states. In the undergraduate program, on average there are 51% females and 49% males. The institution remains affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school was renamed McKendree University beginning in the 2007–08 academic year. McKendree University comprises a College of Arts and Science, a School of Business, a School of Health Professions, and a School of Education.
History
Established by pioneer Methodists, McKendree is the oldest university in the state of Illinois and continues to have ties to the United Methodist Church. First called Lebanon Seminary, the school opened in two rented sheds for 72 students in 1828 under Edward Raymond Ames. In 1830, Bishop William McKendree, the first American-born bishop of the Methodist church, permitted the board of trustees to change the institution's name to McKendree College. Later Bishop McKendree deeded of land in Shiloh, Illinois to endow the college. Reverend Peter Akers, in 1833, was the first president of the newly named college. He was president of McKendree College three times and received its first degree, an honorary Doctorate of Divinity. In 1835, the college received one of the first charters granted to independent church colleges by the Illinois legislature. The institution still operates under the provisions of a second, more liberal charter obtained in 1839.
Since 1994 and the installation of its former President Dr. James M. Dennis, the institution has significantly increased its enrollment. In recent years, a new enrollment management strategy has yielded larger numbers of high quality students, built substantial graduate enrollments and strongly diversified the student body. In 2001, the college embarked on a capital campaign which raised more than $20 million for the campus including the creation of a performing arts center.
Academics
McKendree University confers degrees from four colleges and schools and offers over 50 undergraduate majors, 45 minors, and master's degrees in four areas: business administration, criminal justice, education, nursing, and clinical mental health counseling. McKendree also offers a doctoral program in education, with the opportunity for teachers and administrators to earn a specialist degree. The university is classified as Master's Colleges and Universities (Master's/L) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
In 2015, U.S. News & World Report's 2015 "Best Colleges" edition ranks McKendree University in the top tier of Midwest regional universities. In addition, McKendree has full accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. McKendree has been fully accredited by the North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission since 1915 and received its ten-year renewal in 2003–2004. McKendree's School of Education is fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). McKendree's School of Nursing and Health Professionals is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The university offers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and a doctoral degree through its four schools:
College of Arts and Sciences
School of Business
School of Education
School of Nursing and Health Professions
More than 50% of the classes have fewer than 14 students. McKendree's student-to-faculty ratio is 14 to 1. More than 90% of the faculty have earned a Ph.D. or higher.
McKendree University is host to chapters representing a number of honor societies and academic fraternities including:
Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Psi Omega
Alpha Kappa Delta
Iota Tau Alpha
Kappa Delta Pi
Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Sigma Tau
Lambda Pi Eta
Sigma Theta Tau
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Beta Lambda
Phi Eta Sigma
Phi Kappa Phi
Pi Gamma Mu
Pi Kappa Delta
Pi Sigma Alpha
Psi Chi
Sigma Beta Delta
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Zeta
Upsilon Pi Epsilon
Lebanon campus
McKendree University's main campus is located on a wooded in Lebanon, Illinois, about 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis, Missouri.