Park University

Park University
Motto	Fides et Labor
Motto in English	Faith & Work
Type	Private university
Established	1875; 149 years ago
President	Shane B. Smeed
Provost	Michelle Myers
Students	6,389 (Fall 2023)
Location	Parkville, Missouri, U.S.; 39°11′24″N 94°40′48″W / 39.1899°N 94.6801°W
Colors	Canary and Wine;
Nickname	Pirates (Parkville),; Buccaneers (Gilbert)
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – HAAC (Parkville); NAIA – Cal Pac (Gilbert)
Website	www.park.edu

Park University is a private university in Parkville, Missouri. It was founded in 1875.^[3] In the fall of 2023, Park had an enrollment of 6,389 students.^[1]

History

The school which was originally called Park College was founded in 1875 by John A. McAfee on land donated by George S. Park with its initial structure being the stone hotel Park owned on the bluff above the Missouri River.

The original concept called for students to receive 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.^[4]

There were 17 students in the first school year and in the first graduation class there were five women. 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.^[5] The building was constructed using limestone mined on the campus grounds and built with the labor of students. Construction began in 1883 and was finished by 1893. Mackay Hall 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.

For decades the school was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church but it no longer has that affiliation.^[when?] The college has had a relationship with the military since 1889. However, the relationship was greatly expanded in the late 1960s with the establishment of a Military Degree Completion Program and later 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.^[6] In 2000, it was renamed Park University.

Locations

Parkville campus

The flagship campus of Park University is located in the city of Parkville, Missouri. The Park University Graduate School is located in downtown Kansas City. There are 41 campuses in 22 U.S. states^[7] including four campuses in the Kansas City area (downtown Kansas City, Independence, Lenexa, and Parkville) and a campus center in Austin, Texas. Most of the satellite campuses are on or near United States military bases and share quarters with other businesses/organizations.

Gilbert campus

In 2018, the university opened a campus center in Gilbert, Arizona in the city's Heritage District. Park leased 11,000-square-foot (1,000 m²) at the University Building.^[8] The university continued to expand the Gilbert campus in 2019, leasing an additional 7,000-square-foot (650 m²) and extending the initial three-year term to five years with the city.^[8] The university continued to expand the Gilbert campus with the addition of college athletics.^[8] Initially playing as an independent during the 2019–20 academic year, the university announced membership in the NAIA and California Pacific Conference (Pac West) starting in 2020–21.^[9]

Rankings

Ranked second in the “online and nontraditional” category on the Military Times’ "Best for Vets: Colleges 2016" list.^[10]
Ranked second among all private colleges/universities in the country with a 9.5 percent annual ROI by 2015 PayScale College ROI Report.^[11]
2015-16 Colleges of Distinction list.^[12]
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 126-165 best Midwest college in 2018.^[13]

Athletics

Park Pirates

The athletic teams of the Park University main campus are called the Pirates. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) since the 2020–21 academic year. The Pirates previously competed in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) from 2009–10 to 2019–20; which they were a member on a previous stint from 1986–87 to 1993–94; and in the defunct Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) from 1994–95 to 2008–09.

Park competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include eSports.

The Department of Athletics at Park University was led by Claude English, Director of Athletics, who was also the Pirates’ men's basketball coach from 1992 to 2005 and retired in 2021. From 1980 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 in 1970–1971.^{[citation needed]}

Seven former Park Pirates competed for the Kansas City Comets of the Major Arena Soccer League as of 2020^[update].^[14]

Championships

2018 Women's Volleyball (NAIA National Champions)
2017 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)
2014 Women's Volleyball (NAIA National Champions)
2014 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)
2012 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)
2008 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)
2003 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)

Park–Gilbert Buccaneers

The athletic teams of the Gilbert campus of Park University (Park–Gilbert) are called the Buccaneers.^[8] The university added a college athletics program to the Gilbert, Arizona campus center in 2019.^[8] After playing as independent institution during the 2019–20 academic year, the university announced membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) starting in the 2020–21 academic year.^[9]

Park–Gilbert competes in 15 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

Notable people

Marsia Alexander-Clarke, artist^[15]
Vlatko Andonovski - professional soccer coach
James J. Barry Jr. (1969) - former New Jersey General Assemblyman and New Jersey Director of Consumer Affairs
Ralph von Frese (1969) - American geologist
Tsiang Tingfu (Chinese: 蔣廷黻)- Chinese scholar and diplomat. In 1911, he attended the Park Academy
Don H. Compier (1985) - founding Dean of the Community of Christ Seminary
Steve Cox - freelance writer
John R. Everett (1942) - President of Hollins College, first Chancellor of the Municipal College System of the City of New York, and President of the New School for Social Research
Maurice Green Olympic Sprinter; world record holder
Melana Scantlin (2002) - former Miss Missouri USA, television personality
Chance Browne - American musician, painter, and cartoonist
Robert E. Hall - eleventh Sergeant Major of the Army
Charles A. Holland, Los Angeles, California, City Council member, 1929–31
James A. Roy - sixteenth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Edwin Kagin - attorney, founder Camp Quest
George Kelly - American psychologist, therapist and educator
Texe Marrs - American preacher
Cleland Boyd McAfee (1884) - American theologian
Newell A. George - United States Congressman, 1959–1961.
Carl McIntire - radio broadcaster
Stephen M. Veazey - Prophet-President of the Community of Christ
George S. Robb, U.S. Army (1912) - Medal of Honor - World War I
Lewis Millet, U.S. Army (1964) - Medal of Honor - Korea
Thaddeus J. Martin, U.S. Air Force, Connecticut Adjutant General
David Grace (basketball) UCLA and Oregon State University men's assistant basketball coach (USAF Retired)^[16]
Anthony Melchiorri - Hospitality expert and Travel Channel host
Hollington Tong (Chinese: 董顯光) - transferred to University of Missouri, Republic of China ambassador to the United States
Jan Zimmerman - police chief and chair of the Missouri Gaming Commission^[17]

Faculty and staff

Stanislav Ioudenitch (Professor of Music and Piano) - Pianist and gold medalist of Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2001
Kay Barnes (Senior Director for University Engagement) - Former mayor of Kansas City and candidate for Congress in 2008^[18]

References

^ ^a ^b "Enrollment Report for Missouri Public and Comprehensive Independent Institutions". Missouri Department of Higher Education. December 1, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
^ Park University Brand Guidelines (PDF). February 1, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
^ "College Navigator - Park University". National Center for Education Statistics. U.S. Department of Education. 2017. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
^ Centennial History of Missouri: (the Center State) One Hundred Years in the Union, 1820-1921 By Walter Barlow Stevens –1921 – S.J. Clarke Publishing – Page 41 (available on print.google.com)
^ Decatur Daily Dispatch - Among Our Neighbors - 1890-09-11
^ Distance Learning Programs 2004. September 2003. ISBN 9780768911596. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
^ "Park University". park.edu. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Staff (1 April 2020). "Park University to expand campus in downtown Gilbert". KTAR News. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b VSN Staff (31 March 2020). "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". Victory Sports Network. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
^ "Best for Vets: Colleges 2016". Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
^ "PayScale College ROI Report". Retrieved 7 March 2016.
^ "Colleges of Distinction". Retrieved 7 March 2016.
^ "Park University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
^ Homegrown Talent: Pirates to Comets. Major Arena Soccer League. Retrieved 2 April 2020. https://www.maslsoccer.com/news/homegrown
^ Marsia Alexander-Clarke (2003). "Resume". Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
^ "David Grace Biography - UCLA Bruins Official Athletic Site | UCLABruins.com". Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
^ Tlustos, Genna (2023-07-20). "First woman appointed gaming commission chair". News Tribune. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
^ "Mayor Kay Barnes to Join Park University, Lead New Center". Park University. April 4, 2007. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved 2008-10-17.

External links

[2023_Enrollment-1] "Enrollment Report for Missouri Public and Comprehensive Independent Institutions". Missouri Department of Higher Education. December 1, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.

[2] Park University Brand Guidelines (PDF). February 1, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.

[NCES-3] "College Navigator - Park University". National Center for Education Statistics. U.S. Department of Education. 2017. Retrieved 2018-08-23.

[4] Centennial History of Missouri: (the Center State) One Hundred Years in the Union, 1820-1921 By Walter Barlow Stevens –1921 – S.J. Clarke Publishing – Page 41 (available on print.google.com)

[5] Decatur Daily Dispatch - Among Our Neighbors - 1890-09-11

[6] Distance Learning Programs 2004. September 2003. ISBN 9780768911596. Retrieved 22 May 2015.

[7] "Park University". park.edu. Retrieved 22 December 2017.

[ParkGilbert2019-8] Staff (1 April 2020). "Park University to expand campus in downtown Gilbert". KTAR News. Retrieved 1 April 2020.

[2020NAIAnewmembers-9] VSN Staff (31 March 2020). "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". Victory Sports Network. Retrieved 31 March 2020.

[10] "Best for Vets: Colleges 2016". Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.

[11] "PayScale College ROI Report". Retrieved 7 March 2016.

[12] "Colleges of Distinction". Retrieved 7 March 2016.

[13] "Park University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 16, 2018.

[14] Homegrown Talent: Pirates to Comets. Major Arena Soccer League. Retrieved 2 April 2020. https://www.maslsoccer.com/news/homegrown

[Resume-15] Marsia Alexander-Clarke (2003). "Resume". Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.

[16] "David Grace Biography - UCLA Bruins Official Athletic Site | UCLABruins.com". Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-04-16.

[17] Tlustos, Genna (2023-07-20). "First woman appointed gaming commission chair". News Tribune. Retrieved 2023-07-22.

[18] "Mayor Kay Barnes to Join Park University, Lead New Center". Park University. April 4, 2007. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved 2008-10-17.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

Park University

History

Locations

Parkville campus

Gilbert campus

Rankings

Athletics

Park Pirates

Championships

Park–Gilbert Buccaneers

Notable people

Faculty and staff

References

External links

Pondok Modern Darul Qiyam Gontor 6

العلاقات الأذربيجانية البوليفية

2nd Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

Basilica di Santa Croce (Torre del Greco)

Battle of the Anio River (361 BC)

Anat

Moot hill

Amelia Earhart

Batin (Islam)

Haltdalen Stave Church

Swinging Radio England

USS Detroit (C-10)

Colmar Airport

Robert Filmer

Rádio Expres

Cornell College

Fear Effect Sedna

Pictionary (video game)

University of the East Caloocan

Winplot