Bushnell University

Bushnell University
Former names	Eugene Divinity School (1895–1908); Eugene Bible University (1908–1930); Eugene Bible College (1930–1934); Northwest Christian College (1934–2008); Northwest Christian University (2008–2020)
Type	Private university
Established	1895
Affiliation	Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
President	Joseph Womack
Undergraduates	576
Postgraduates	193
Other students	degree completion
Location	Eugene, Oregon, U.S.; 44°02′49″N 123°04′47″W / 44.047°N 123.0797°W
Colors	Navy Blue & Gold;
Nickname	Beacons
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – CCC
Mascot	Beacon
Website	www.bushnell.edu

Bushnell University is a private Christian university in Eugene, Oregon. It is historically affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Christian churches and churches of Christ.

History

Photo of Bushnell University (then Eugene Divinity School) and its founder, 1903

The school was founded as a divinity school in 1895 by Disciple of Christ preacher and educator Eugene Claremont Sanderson as the Eugene Divinity School (EDS). In 1908 it became Eugene Bible University; in 1930 that name changed to Eugene Bible College. After a merger with Spokane University in 1934, it became known as Northwest Christian College and then Northwest Christian University in 2008.^[1]^[2] In 2020, it formally changed its named to Bushnell University, after James A. Bushnell, the first chairman of the university's board of trustees.^[3]

On December 8, 2009, Joseph Womack was named as Bushnell University's 10th president, taking office on June 1, 2010.^[4] Womack is the son of Bushnell's eighth president, James Womack, who served from 1986 to 2004.^[5]

Presidents

Eugene C. Sanderson, 1895–1929
S. Earl Childers, 1929–1934
Victor P. Morris, Acting, 1934–1936 & 1943–1944
Kendall E. Burke, 1936–1943
Ross J. Griffeth, 1944–1965
Barton A. Dowdy, 1965–1978
William E. Hays, 1978–1985
H. Charles Pyron, Interim, 1985–1986
James E. Womack, 1986–2004
David W. Wilson, 2004–2010
Joseph D. Womack, 2010–present

Academics

Bushnell University is organized into seven schools: Arts & Sciences, Bible & World Christianity, Business, Leadership & Teachnology, Education, Music & Performing Arts, Nursing, and Psychology & Counseling.^[6]

Accreditation and affiliations

Bushnell University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.^[7]^[8] It is a member of the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (OAICU), the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). The education programs are approved by the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC), the business programs are accredited by the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), and the Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Campus

Bushnell University is located in east Eugene, at the corner of Alder Street and E. 11th Avenue, separated from the larger University of Oregon by the width of a single lane street. Founder Eugene Sanderson envisioned a school at which students would study the Bible and principles of Christian ministry under Eugene Divinity School's faculty, but take other subjects on the neighboring campus, a model he also attempted to set up at Manhattan Christian College, located near Kansas State University. The Eugene Divinity School and its successive institutions maintained this arrangement with the University of Oregon until 1995, when it was discontinued. Since that time Bushnell has grown to become a comprehensive liberal arts college. Today, Bushnell students occasionally take University of Oregon classes, have checkout privileges from Knight Library, and take advantage of free lectures and other events on the neighboring campus.

Athletics

The Bushnell athletic teams are called the Beacons. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) since the 2007–08 academic year; which they were a member on a previous stint during the 2006–07 school year as an associate member for women's volleyball and softball. The Beacons previously competed as an NAIA Independent from 2005–06 to 2006–07.

Bushnell competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, eSports, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, eSports, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball.^[9]

Baseball

In January 2021, the university announced a plan to revive its baseball program after a more than 50-year hiatus as the school's 17th varsity sport offering, and named Tommy Richards, a former Baltimore Orioles' prospect and Whitman College Assistant, as the program's new head coach.^[10]

Cross country

During the fall of 2015 the woman's cross country team won first place in the NAIA Cross Country National Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. This was the first time Bushnell University's (then known as Northwest Christian) cross country team won first place in this championship. The seven runners who competed at the meet were, Melissa Rios (Freshman), Rosa Schmidt (Sophomore), Shea Vallaire, (Junior), Michelle Fletcher, (Junior), Macie Gale, (Junior), and Alyssa Harmon (Junior).^[11]

Other sports

In 2018, Bailey Dell won the NAIA national championship in women's javelin.^[12] In 2019, Anika Rasubala won the NAIA national championship in women's steeplechase.^[13]

Notable alumni

Mary Burrows, politician
Bruce Hanna, politician
Mickey Loomis, general manager of the New Orleans Saints (NFL)
E. R. Moon, class of 1903, Christian missionary to the Belgian Congo from 1908 to 1923 as well as Jamaica from 1938 to 1944
Frank Morse, class of 1966, president of Morse Brothers construction company and Oregon state senator from 2003 to 2012
Mike Petersen, basketball coach, assistant coach of the Atlanta Dream (WNBA)
Ryan Stevenson, singer
Paul Wright, lead singer of Rootdown

References

^ "Bushnell University at a Glance". Bushnell University. 2021. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
^ Richardson, William J. "Northwest Christian College" in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, (eds) Foster, Douglas A., Blowers, Paul M., Dunnavant, Anthony L., and Williams, D. Newell. Grand Rapids, MN: Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004, p 572-573
^ Brown, Jordyn (March 8, 2020). "Northwest Christian University in Eugene to change its name". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
^ "Womack Named New NCU President". NCU News. December 16, 2009. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
^ Northwest Christian College Alumni Bulletin, Spring 2004
^ "Academic Schools". Bushnell.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
^ "Member Institution Directory". NWCCU.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
^ "Accreditations and Memberships". Bushnell.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
^ "Official Website of Bushnell University Athletics". Bushnell University Athletics. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
^ "Bushnell Adds Baseball as 17th Sport". Bushnell Beacons. January 12, 2021. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
^ "Ladies Look to Hoist a Banner". Northwest Christian University Athletics. November 20, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
^ "NCU's Dell wins NAIA javelin title". Eugene Register Guard. Eugene, Oregon. May 24, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
^ "NCU's Rasubala wins women's steeplechase at NAIA national track meet". Eugene Register Guard. Eugene, Oregon. May 25, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2022.