William Penn University
Encyclopedia
William Penn University is a private, liberal arts university in Oskaloosa, Iowa
, United States
. It was founded by members of the Religious Society of Friends
(Quakers) in 1873 as Penn College. In 1933, the name was changed to William Penn College, and finally to William Penn University in 2000.
Athletes ("Statesmen") play in the Midwest Classic Conference
of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
for most sports, and the affiliated Mid-States Football Association
for football
. Before 2000, the school was a part of the NCAA division III.
In 2007, Musco Lighting
, also in Oskaloosa, donated $12 million to the school for various projects—the biggest single gift in the school's history. The money is to be used for 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) of new structures including student recreation, classrooms, laboratories, and a stand-alone Industrial Technology Center building, which will be home for the expanding Digital Broadcast Studies Program.
In 1916, fire destroyed the original campus. Flames that began on the third floor of Old Penn Hall spread to a tank of chemicals, causing an explosion that scattered fire in all directions. Insufficient water pressure made it impossible to fight the fire. Trying to remove college records, Penn's business manager Robert Williams and freshman student Harry Oakley were killed when the four-ton college bell crashed through the main building and buried them beneath it.
William Penn has always welcomed students of diverse and varying backgrounds. During the depression, students sometimes gave cows and lambs to pay their tuition. After World War II, Penn College actively recruited Japanese-American students from relocation camps. Penn has one of the most diverse student populations in the state of Iowa.
In 1995, William Penn's 'College for Working Adults' was founded, which enrolls non-traditional students in an evening program of accelerated study. In January 2000 the college returned to the NAIA
Division II. William Penn University enrolls students from throughout the U.S. and the world. William Penn is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association..
Countries currently represented in the student population include Rwanda, Brazil, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Australia, Bahamas, Burma (Myanmar), Canada, France, China, Ireland, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
.
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was founded by members of the Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
(Quakers) in 1873 as Penn College. In 1933, the name was changed to William Penn College, and finally to William Penn University in 2000.
Athletes ("Statesmen") play in the Midwest Classic Conference
Midwest Classic Conference
The Midwest Collegiate Conference is a college athletic conference, consisting of ten colleges and universities located in Iowa and Wisconsin...
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...
for most sports, and the affiliated Mid-States Football Association
Mid-States Football Association
The Mid-States Football Association is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio. The MSFA was organized in 1993, and on-field competition began in 1994...
for football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. Before 2000, the school was a part of the NCAA division III.
In 2007, Musco Lighting
Musco Lighting
Musco Lighting is an American privately owned company, based out of Oskaloosa, Iowa that is noted for providing permanent or temporary lighting at major sports events and stadiums including the Super Bowl and Olympics....
, also in Oskaloosa, donated $12 million to the school for various projects—the biggest single gift in the school's history. The money is to be used for 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) of new structures including student recreation, classrooms, laboratories, and a stand-alone Industrial Technology Center building, which will be home for the expanding Digital Broadcast Studies Program.
History
William Penn University's ideal of providing quality education has not changed in nearly 140 years. It has always provided equal access to quality education, without discrimination towards a person's race, gender, age, religion, or national origin. In 1873, the college debated its naming to either Penn College or John Bright College. On September 9 of that same year, the board adopted Penn College. It was that same year that the first lectures were delivered, and only two years later the first class graduated. The college's name was legally changed from Penn College to William Penn College in 1933 and then to William Penn University in 2000.In 1916, fire destroyed the original campus. Flames that began on the third floor of Old Penn Hall spread to a tank of chemicals, causing an explosion that scattered fire in all directions. Insufficient water pressure made it impossible to fight the fire. Trying to remove college records, Penn's business manager Robert Williams and freshman student Harry Oakley were killed when the four-ton college bell crashed through the main building and buried them beneath it.
William Penn has always welcomed students of diverse and varying backgrounds. During the depression, students sometimes gave cows and lambs to pay their tuition. After World War II, Penn College actively recruited Japanese-American students from relocation camps. Penn has one of the most diverse student populations in the state of Iowa.
In 1995, William Penn's 'College for Working Adults' was founded, which enrolls non-traditional students in an evening program of accelerated study. In January 2000 the college returned to the NAIA
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...
Division II. William Penn University enrolls students from throughout the U.S. and the world. William Penn is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association..
Academics
At William Penn University, students take pride in academics, and the university strives to offer them exciting opportunities. The college has a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. Penn has many career majors to choose from, including applied technology, business administration, education, health and life sciences, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and many academic minors.College for Working Adults
The William Penn University College for Working Adults is a program for working professionals or others who may have difficulty finding time for traditional college attendance. It operates satellite campuses in West Des Moines and Ankeny, Iowa. Upon enrollment, students choose from three degree-programs: the Associate of Arts in Leadership Studies, the Bachelor of Arts in Business, and the Master of Business Leadership.Campus Ministries
At William Penn University, students are encouraged, but not required, to participate in religious life programming. Programming sponsored by Campus Ministries is Christian in orientation and interdenominational in nature. Campus Ministry assists students to explore questions of faith in a nurturing environment and discover spiritual resources to face life's challenges.”International Students
William Penn University offers international students the experience of total immersion into American academic and cultural life.Countries currently represented in the student population include Rwanda, Brazil, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Australia, Bahamas, Burma (Myanmar), Canada, France, China, Ireland, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
Athletics
William Penn University issues athletic tuition reductions for almost every sport available. Most of the university's athletic programs compete in NAIA division II as part of the Midwest Collegiate Conference. The football program competes in the Midwest League of the Mid-States Football AssociationMid-States Football Association
The Mid-States Football Association is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio. The MSFA was organized in 1993, and on-field competition began in 1994...
.