Park University
Encyclopedia
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
based in Parkville
Parkville, Missouri
Parkville is a city in Platte County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,059 at the 2000 census. Parkville is known for its antique shops, art galleries, and historic downtown. The city is home to Park University and English Landing Park....
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. Established in 1875 as a small church-related college, it has now expanded into an electronic learning institution and provider of education courses for the U.S. military.
Park is regionally
Regional accreditation
Regional accreditation is a term used in the United States to refer to educational accreditation conducted by any of several accreditation bodies established to serve six defined geographic areas of the country for accreditation of schools, colleges, and universities...
accredited
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
.
Locations
The flagship campus of Park University is located in Parkville, MissouriParkville, Missouri
Parkville is a city in Platte County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,059 at the 2000 census. Parkville is known for its antique shops, art galleries, and historic downtown. The city is home to Park University and English Landing Park....
. The Park University Graduate School is located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. There are 43 campuses in 21 U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s including three campuses in the Kansas City area (Downtown Kansas City, Independence and Parkville) and a campus center in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Most of the satellite campus
Satellite campus
A satellite campus or branch campus is a campus of a college or university that is physically detached from the main university or college area, and is often smaller than the main campus of an institution....
es are on or near United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
bases and share quarters with other businesses/organizations.
The 800 acres (323.7 ha) home campus has a maximum enrollment of 1,250. The entire extended system had an enrollment of 12,688 (8% of which were full time) in 2006.
History
The school which was originally called Park College was founded in 1875 by John A. McAfee on land donated by George S. ParkGeorge S. Park
George Shepherd Park was a Texas War of Independence hero and founder of Parkville, Missouri, Park University and Manhattan, Kansas.-Biography:Park was born in Grafton, Vermont....
with its initial structure being the stone hotel Park owned on the bluff above the Missouri River.
The original concept called for students to get free tuition and board in exchange for working up to half day in the college’s farm, electrical shop or printing plant. According to the terms of the arrangement if the “Parkville Experiment” did not work out within five years, the college grounds were to revert to Park.
There were 17 students in the first school year. McAfee led until his death in 1890. His son Lowell M. McAfee became the second president of Park until stepping down in 1913. The first international student at Park University arrived in 1880 from Japan.
The defining landmark of the campus is Mackay Hall, named after Carroll County, Illinois banker Duncan Mackay who donated $25,000 in materials for the structure shortly before his death. The building was constructed using limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
mined on the campus grounds and built with the labor of students. Construction began in 1883 and was finished by 1893. Today the building is the main focal point of the campus and dominates the hillside, overlooking the town of Parkville. It is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
For several years the school was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church but it no longer has that affiliation. The college has had a relationship with the military since 1889. However, the relationship was greatly expanded in 1972 with the Military Resident Center System. Park’s total enrollment has grown from its small base since 1996 when it first began offering online courses. In 2000 it was renamed Park University.
Athletics
Park University sponsors 15 athletic programs and is a member institution in the American Midwest ConferenceAmerican Midwest Conference
The American Midwest Conference is a NAIA college athletic conference with nine member institutions located in Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri in the United States.-Members:Notes:...
(AMC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
(NAIA).
In 2008-09, the Pirates had 24 student-athletes earn 25 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athlete distinctions, and six Park student-athletes were named to NAIA All-America teams, including Jon Meriweather, who was named to the NAIA All-America team to record his school-record fifth All-America distinction. In 2007-08, Meriweather was an NAIA All-American, Victory Sports Network All-American and a Basketball Times All-American. He was also named preseason All-America by Basketball Times prior to 2008-09.
Park was represented in seven NAIA national championship events, including both the men’s and women’s soccer NAIA national championships, marking the seventh-straight appearance for the Park men’s soccer program, marking the second-longest active streak of tournament appearances.
Park also made its eighth women’s soccer appearance in the NAIA national tournament, while the men’s volleyball program hosted the NAIA National Invitational Tournament the past two seasons, winning the tournament championship in 2008.
Park’s softball program made its first NAIA national tournament appearance in 2009, one year after the women’s golf program made its first-ever national championship in the 2008 season.
The Department of Athletics at Park University is led by Claude English, Director of Athletics, who was also the Pirates’ men’s basketball coach from 1993 to 2005. From 1981 to 1984, English was the head men’s basketball coach at his alma mater, the University of Rhode Island, and he played one season in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
in 1970-71. Park University women’s basketball coach Joe C. Meriweather is also NBA veteran, playing 10 years for the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, New Orleans Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and Kansas City Kings.
Notable people
- Marsia Alexander-ClarkeMarsia Alexander-Clarke-Personal life and education:Marsia Alexander-Clarke was born in Valparaiso, Chile in 1939 and moved to the United States to attend high school in 1952, eventually becoming a United States citizen. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Park College, and studied at the Art Students League of New York...
, artist - James J. Barry, Jr.James J. Barry JrJames J. Barry is a former member of the New Jersey General Assembly and former Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs under Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean....
(1969) - former New Jersey General AssemblyNew Jersey General AssemblyThe New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
man and New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Director of Consumer AffairsConsumer protectionConsumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional... - Ralph von FreseRalph von FreseRalph R. B. von Frese is an American geophysicist at the Ohio State University who identified the Wilkes Land crater with Laramie Potts.In 1969, von Frese obtained a B.A. cum laude from Park College in physics, mathematics and German. He earned M.Sc degrees in physics and geophysics and a Ph.D....
(1969) - American geologistGeologistA geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using... - Don H. CompierDon H. CompierDon H. Compier became the founding Dean of the Community of Christ Seminary, Graceland University in 2002. He has sought to make it a leader in online theological education and global outreach...
(1985) - founding Dean of the Community of Christ SeminaryCommunity of Christ SeminaryThe Community of Christ Seminary at the Independence campus of Graceland University is the official and only seminary of the Community of Christ. It offers two graduate degrees: a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Arts in Christian Ministries... - Steve CoxStephen Cox (writer)Stephen L. Cox is a freelance writer and author of more than twenty books specializing in popular culture, film and television...
- American freelance writer - Melana ScantlinMelana ScantlinMelana Scantlin is an American television co-host, former beauty contestant, and reality TV participant who has competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss USA pageants....
(2002) - former Miss Missouri USAMiss Missouri USAThe Miss Missouri USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Missouri in the Miss USA pageant. In 1993, Missouri joined the Vanbros group of state pageants for the Miss USA and Teen USA system....
, television personality - Chance BrowneChance BrowneRobert "Chance" Browne is an American musician, painter, and cartoonist. He was born in New York City.After his father Dik Browne died in 1989, Browne took over drawing the family comic strip Hi and Lois. The comic is syndicated throughout the United States and stars the characters Hi, Lois, Dot,...
- American musician, painter, and cartoonist - Robert E. HallRobert E. HallRobert E. Hall was sworn in as the eleventh Sergeant Major of the Army on October 21, 1997 and served until June 23, 2000.-Biography:Hall was born in Gaffney, South Carolina, on May 31, 1947. He entered the Army in February 1968 and attended Basic Training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and...
- eleventh Sergeant Major of the ArmySergeant Major of the ArmyThe Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Army. The holder of this rank is the most senior enlisted member of the Army, unless an Army NCO is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, when in that case that NCO will be the most senior... - Charles A. HollandCharles A. HollandCharles Alfred Holland , who went by Charles A. Holland, was a University of Southern California football captain, a businessman and a Los Angeles, California, City Council member between 1929 and 1931.-Biography:...
, Los Angeles, California, City Council member, 1929–31 - James A. RoyJames A. RoyJames A. Roy is the 16th and current Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force beginning on 30 June 2009. He was previously the Senior Enlisted Leader and Advisor for United States Pacific Command. The previous CMSAF Rodney J...
- sixteenth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air ForceChief Master Sergeant of the Air ForceThe Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and post represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests,... - Edwin KaginEdwin KaginEdwin Frederick Kagin, J.D., is an attorney at law in Union, Kentucky, and a founder of Camp Quest, the first secular summer camp in the United States for the children of secularists, atheists, agnostics, brights, skeptics, naturalists and freethinkers...
- attorneyLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, founder Camp QuestCamp QuestCamp Quest, founded in 1996, is the first residential summer camp in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway specifically for the children of nontheistic or freethinking parents .-Purpose and identity:Camp... - George KellyGeorge Kelly (psychologist)George Kelly or George Kelley was an American psychologist, therapist and educator. He was best known for developing Personal Construct Psychology.- Biography :...
- American psychologistPsychologistPsychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, therapistPsychotherapyPsychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
and educatorEducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts... - Texe MarrsTexe MarrsTexe W. Marrs is an American conspiracy theorist, who runs a Christian ministry called Living Truth Ministries, based in Austin, Texas.He was previously an officer in the United States Air Force and a faculty member at the University of Texas....
- American preacherPreacherPreacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined... - Cleland Boyd McAfeeCleland Boyd McAfeeCleland Boyd McAfee was an American theologian, Presbyterian minister and hymn writer, best known for penning the gospel hymn, "Near to the Heart of God," a song written after the concurrent deaths of two of his young nieces, caused by diphtheria.McAfee was born in Ashley, Missouri, in 1866, as...
(1884) - American theologianTheologyTheology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo... - Newell A. GeorgeNewell A. GeorgeNewell Adolphus George was a U.S. Representative from Kansas.Born in Kansas City, Missouri, George attended public schools in Kansas City, Kansas, Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, Park College in Parkville, Missouri, and University of Kansas School of Law.He graduated from the...
- United States Congressman, 1959–1961. - Carl McIntireCarl McIntireCarl McIntire was a founder of, and minister in, the Bible Presbyterian Church, founder and long president of the and the American Council of Christian Churches, and a popular religious radio broadcaster, who proudly identified himself as a fundamentalist.-Youth and education:Born in Ypsilanti,...
- radio broadcasterBroadcastingBroadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof... - Stephen M. VeazeyStephen M. VeazeyStephen Mark Veazey is the current Prophet-President of the Community of Christ, headquartered in Independence, Missouri. Veazey's name was presented to the church in March 2005 by a joint council of church leaders led by the Council of Twelve Apostles, as the next Prophet-President...
- Prophet-President of the Community of ChristCommunity of ChristThe Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"... - Lewis Millet, U.S. Army (1964) - Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
- KoreaKoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
Faculty
- Kay BarnesKay BarnesKay Waldo Barnes is a former two-term mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. She was the Democratic nominee for of the United States House of Representatives in the 2008 election against Republican incumbent Sam Graves.-Biography:...
(Distinguished Professor for Public Leadership) - Former mayor of Kansas CityKansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and candidate for Congress in 2008
External links
Missouri°N date=December 2010°W