Trinity Christian College
Encyclopedia
Trinity Christian College is a liberal arts
college located in Palos Heights, Illinois
, a southwest suburb of Chicago
. The college was founded in 1959 by a group of Chicago businessmen who wanted to establish a college providing students with a Christian higher education in a Reformed
tradition. Today, Trinity Christian College boasts a traditional student enrollment of just over 1,200 students and offers degrees in 30 fields. The college has also undergone extensive building projects over the past decade to become a modern, technologically rich institution. This college is not to be confused with Trinity International University
in north suburban Deerfield
.
As the response of the community grew and students embraced the college's unique perspective, it became evident that Trinity Christian College was fulfilling a greater need beyond providing a solid liberal arts education for two-year students. In 1966, the board initiated the process for the college to become a four-year, degree-granting institution. The first baccalaureate degrees were awarded in May 1971.
Trinity Christian developed a cohesive approach to its core curriculum of philosophy
, history
, English
, and theology
. In the years since its original vision was conceived, the college has kept pace with the changing educational landscape by offering a broader scope of courses and programs. The curriculum has expanded to include business
, criminal justice, education
, and nursing
in addition to its traditional liberal arts focus. Today, there are adult learners seeking to complete their undergraduate degrees along with recent high school graduates exploring a future in disciplines such as information technology
, graphic design
, and social work
.
The traditional (not including adult learners) student body has swelled to more than 1000 undergraduates, taught by a dedicated faculty of more than 80 instructors. With a student/faculty ratio of 12:1, Trinity Christian students receive individual attention that affirms their spiritual and academic experience. Although students are drawn from predominantly Reformed and Presbyterian
church backgrounds, students also come from diverse traditions, including Baptist
, Lutheran
, Methodist
, and Roman Catholic
.
With more than 40 majors, Trinity Christian offers a variety of educational and ministry experiences including studies abroad; interim trips to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Italy, London, Paris, Egypt, Jamaica, and Israel; and internships with corporations and non-profit organizations. The college's proximity to the resources of metropolitan Chicago offers students an exceptional "classroom" that provides experiential learning opportunities. Inter-collegiate sports for men and women, student-run ministry programs, and a full scope of creative expression in fine arts and student publications complete the Trinity Christian experience.
On campus, the Martin and Janet Ozinga Chapel, a 1200-seat facility, serves as a cultural and spiritual focal point for the student body as well as the greater community. The building provides practice and rehearsal rooms for the music department, and houses the campus ministries program under the direction of the campus chaplain. The Grand Lobby has hosted a variety of events beneath its striking stained glass window, the first of a series of stained glass panels hung throughout the building designed to celebrate Trinity Christian's mission in Reformed higher education.
The Heritage Science Center is a state-of-the-art facility, comprising 38,000-square feet (3,500 m²) of classroom and lab space for chemistry, biology, and physics programs, as well as classrooms and a lecture hall for technology and computer science studies.
The Art and Communication Center (ARCC), provides Trinity Christian students with ample space and tools to bring forth a whole new foray into the world of creative expression, with art and design studios, a graphic design lab, student gallery, and black box theatre for the performing arts. In process of construction as well are new athletic fields and a new athletic complex.
The Adult Studies programs are offered in a cohort format, so students begin the program as part of a group (20 maximum) and move through each course together. The cohort format encourages friendships and creates a supportive environment. Each course in the Adult Studies programs is accelerated. Courses that would normally require 16 weeks to finish are completed in five-, six- or seven-week periods. Classes will cover the necessary course material in a shorter timeframe, helping students finish their degrees and/or teaching certificates in less than two years.
To simplify the process further, courses are held on the same night of the week during the same time period (usually 6 p.m.-10 p.m.) throughout the program. For example, if the first class meeting begins on a Tuesday evening, the class continues to meet every Tuesday evening for the duration of the program. When students enroll in the Adult Studies programs, they are registering for every course in the program. This predetermined sequence and registration will help eliminate the need to modify students' personal or professional schedules.
Programs offered in the Adult Studies department are:
(NAIA), the National Christian College Athletic Association
(NCCAA), and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
(CCAC). The school fields teams in baseball
, men's and women's basketball
, men's and women's cross country
, men's and women's soccer
, men's and women's track and field
, women's softball
, and women's volleyball
. In November 2005 the women's soccer team collected Trinity Christian's first national title by winning the NCCAA National Soccer Tournament. In November 2007, the women's soccer team made it to the NCCAA national finals in Kissimee, Florida. In Fall 2011, a men's golf team will be added.
Illinois°N date=July 2009°W
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
college located in Palos Heights, Illinois
Palos Heights, Illinois
Palos Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 12,561 in 2005.-Geography:Palos Heights is located at ....
, a southwest suburb of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The college was founded in 1959 by a group of Chicago businessmen who wanted to establish a college providing students with a Christian higher education in a Reformed
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
tradition. Today, Trinity Christian College boasts a traditional student enrollment of just over 1,200 students and offers degrees in 30 fields. The college has also undergone extensive building projects over the past decade to become a modern, technologically rich institution. This college is not to be confused with Trinity International University
Trinity International University
Trinity International University is an evangelical Christian institution of higher education headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. It comprises an undergraduate college, a graduate school, a theological seminary , and a law school--together with nearly 3,000 students...
in north suburban Deerfield
Deerfield, Illinois
Deerfield is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and is located approximately 25 miles north of Chicago, Illinois. A portion of the village is in Cook County, Illinois, United States...
.
History
In 1952 Trinity Christian College was founded. By April 1956 this visionary group had drafted a constitution and incorporated the Trinity Christian College Association. The first board of trustees was elected in 1959, and they purchased the Navajo Hills Golf Course in suburban Palos Heights for the campus. After remodeling the former clubhouse and pro shop, the college opened that fall with a class of 37 students taught by five full-time faculty members.As the response of the community grew and students embraced the college's unique perspective, it became evident that Trinity Christian College was fulfilling a greater need beyond providing a solid liberal arts education for two-year students. In 1966, the board initiated the process for the college to become a four-year, degree-granting institution. The first baccalaureate degrees were awarded in May 1971.
Trinity Christian developed a cohesive approach to its core curriculum of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
, and theology
Theology
Theology 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...
. In the years since its original vision was conceived, the college has kept pace with the changing educational landscape by offering a broader scope of courses and programs. The curriculum has expanded to include business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, criminal justice, education
Education
Education 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...
, and nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
in addition to its traditional liberal arts focus. Today, there are adult learners seeking to complete their undergraduate degrees along with recent high school graduates exploring a future in disciplines such as information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
, and social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
.
The traditional (not including adult learners) student body has swelled to more than 1000 undergraduates, taught by a dedicated faculty of more than 80 instructors. With a student/faculty ratio of 12:1, Trinity Christian students receive individual attention that affirms their spiritual and academic experience. Although students are drawn from predominantly Reformed and Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
church backgrounds, students also come from diverse traditions, including Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
, Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
, and Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
With more than 40 majors, Trinity Christian offers a variety of educational and ministry experiences including studies abroad; interim trips to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Italy, London, Paris, Egypt, Jamaica, and Israel; and internships with corporations and non-profit organizations. The college's proximity to the resources of metropolitan Chicago offers students an exceptional "classroom" that provides experiential learning opportunities. Inter-collegiate sports for men and women, student-run ministry programs, and a full scope of creative expression in fine arts and student publications complete the Trinity Christian experience.
On campus, the Martin and Janet Ozinga Chapel, a 1200-seat facility, serves as a cultural and spiritual focal point for the student body as well as the greater community. The building provides practice and rehearsal rooms for the music department, and houses the campus ministries program under the direction of the campus chaplain. The Grand Lobby has hosted a variety of events beneath its striking stained glass window, the first of a series of stained glass panels hung throughout the building designed to celebrate Trinity Christian's mission in Reformed higher education.
The Heritage Science Center is a state-of-the-art facility, comprising 38,000-square feet (3,500 m²) of classroom and lab space for chemistry, biology, and physics programs, as well as classrooms and a lecture hall for technology and computer science studies.
The Art and Communication Center (ARCC), provides Trinity Christian students with ample space and tools to bring forth a whole new foray into the world of creative expression, with art and design studios, a graphic design lab, student gallery, and black box theatre for the performing arts. In process of construction as well are new athletic fields and a new athletic complex.
2004-2005 enrollment figures
- 973 traditional students, 1280 total
- 13:1 student/faculty ratio
- 649 students living in college residences
- Average class size - 13
- 44% of students from out of state
- 14.4% minority students
2009-2010 costs
- Tuition: $20,634
- Room/Meal Plan: $7,680 (12-meal plan)
- Student Life Fee: $120
2010-2011 costs
- Tuition: $22,232
- Room/Meal Plan: $8,202 (12-meal plan)
- Student Life Fee: $139
- Deferred Payment Fee: $35
Adult Studies
In 1998 Trinity Christian College opened the TRACS department, now called Adult Studies, to serve the needs of the non-traditional student. Adults 23 years of age and older can complete their college degree through this program.The Adult Studies programs are offered in a cohort format, so students begin the program as part of a group (20 maximum) and move through each course together. The cohort format encourages friendships and creates a supportive environment. Each course in the Adult Studies programs is accelerated. Courses that would normally require 16 weeks to finish are completed in five-, six- or seven-week periods. Classes will cover the necessary course material in a shorter timeframe, helping students finish their degrees and/or teaching certificates in less than two years.
To simplify the process further, courses are held on the same night of the week during the same time period (usually 6 p.m.-10 p.m.) throughout the program. For example, if the first class meeting begins on a Tuesday evening, the class continues to meet every Tuesday evening for the duration of the program. When students enroll in the Adult Studies programs, they are registering for every course in the program. This predetermined sequence and registration will help eliminate the need to modify students' personal or professional schedules.
Programs offered in the Adult Studies department are:
- B.A. in Education / Teaching Certification (offered in Palos Heights, Addison and Chicago)
- B.S. in Business (offered in Palos Heights)
- English as a Second Language / Bilingual Endorsement or Approval (for certified teachers) (offered in Palos Heights)
- Special Education Endorsement or Approval (for certified teachers) (offered in Palos Heights)
Athletics
The Trinity Christian College Trolls compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsNational 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), the National Christian College Athletic Association
National Christian College Athletic Association
The National Christian College Athletic Association is an association of approximately 100 Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada which see collegiate sports primarily as an opportunity for Christian fellowship and ministry. The national headquarters...
(NCCAA), and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Its 14 members are located in the Midwestern United States...
(CCAC). The school fields teams in baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
, men's and women's basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
, men's and women's cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, men's and women's soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, men's and women's track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, women's softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, and women's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
. In November 2005 the women's soccer team collected Trinity Christian's first national title by winning the NCCAA National Soccer Tournament. In November 2007, the women's soccer team made it to the NCCAA national finals in Kissimee, Florida. In Fall 2011, a men's golf team will be added.
Mascot
The Mascot for Trinity Christian College is the Troll. It is the only college in the nation that has this particular mascot. The Trinity Troll was among the Top Ten College Team mascots according to ESPN U.External links
Illinois°N date=July 2009°W