Ohio Northern University Explained

Ohio Northern University
Former Names:Northwestern Ohio Normal School (1871–1885)
Ohio Normal University (1885–1903)[1]
Image Upright:0.7
Motto:Ex diversitate vires (Latin)
Mottoeng:"Out of diversity strength"
Type:Private college
Academic Affiliations:Space-grant
Religious Affiliation:United Methodist Church
Endowment:$160.3 million (2019)[2]
President:Melissa J. Baumann[3]
Provost:Juliet K. Hurtig
Faculty:654
Students:3,088 (2017)
Undergrad:2,900 (2017)
City:Ada
State:Ohio
Country:United States
Campus:Rural
Colors:Orange, Black, White
Nickname:Polar Bears
Mascot:Klondike
Sporting Affiliations:NCAA Division III – OAC

Ohio Northern University (Ohio Northern or ONU) is a private college in Ada, Ohio. Founded by Henry Solomon Lehr in 1871, ONU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It offers over 60 programs across five colleges and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

History

Early years

Henry Solomon Lehr founded the Northwestern Ohio Normal School in August 1871. When the college's curriculum grew to include pharmacy, engineering, law and business programs, its name was changed to Ohio Normal University in 1885 and, eventually, in 1903, to Ohio Northern University. In 1899, it became affiliated with the United Methodist Church to reduce debt.[4]

Interwar and post-war education

Before the Great Depression, more than one thousand students were typically enrolled at Ohio Northern every year. Both the Great Depression and the following World War II plunged the school into low enrollment, and the possibility of closure was considered. During World War II, enrollment reached a low of 156 students. Thanks to the G.I. Bill, Ohio Northern was able to bring enrollment back up to nine hundred students by 1946.

Throughout the 1960s, a number of ONU students and faculty/staff participated in the American Civil Rights Movement. ONU hosted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 11, 1968, four days before his 39th birthday and just three months before his assassination.[5] During his visit at ONU, King famously spoke regarding the myth that many immigrant and/or ethnic groups successfully pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, whereas African Americans were incapable of doing so.[6] [7] ONU honored King and his speech on campus with the unveiling of a statue in his likeness on April 17, 2018.[8] [9]

Later 20th century into today

Growth continued under DeBow Freed through the 1980s and 1990s with additions to the Taggart Law Library, Presser Hall, Dukes Memorial, Wilson Art Building, Biggs Engineering, Heterick Memorial Library, and Meyer Hall of Science, and the construction of the Freed Center for the Performing Arts and a new president's on-campus home. Under Kendall Baker, campus additions include Dicke Hall, an expansion of the Robertson-Evans Pharmacy building, the Dial-Roberson Stadium and the Mathile Center for the Natural Sciences. In 2008, Ohio Northern University built and opened The Inn at Ohio Northern University.[10] A new engineering building was opened in October 2019.[11]

2024 Closure of Hill Memorial

Hill Memorial Building is a historic building on campus. The building was finished in 1879[12] [13] and is the second structure built on the grounds. Initially, Hill held administrative offices and classrooms, though many University departments would enter and leave the building throughout its history. The building is currently the oldest on campus and one of the oldest standing structures in Ada.

In July 2024, the administration of Ohio Northern announced the closure of Hill Building[14] . Citing age and a need of expansive repairs, the building was closed to the students and faculty. Classes and offices were temporarily relocated to the neighboring Dukes Hall while the administration worked to create a plan on how to progress at the site. University Alumni created a Change.org petition to try and save the building amassing more than six-hundred signatures[15] . As of 2024, there is no definitive public plan for the future of the building.

Leadership

Melissa J. Baumann is Ohio Northern University’s 12th president, and first female to serve in the role.

Past ONU presidents

Academics

The institution comprises five colleges:

Prior to 1973, the law school was known as "the Warren G. Harding College of Law". It was renamed in honor of Claude W. Pettit, a judge and former dean of the college.[16]

Athletics

ONU students participate in intercollegiate, intramural, and sports clubs in a variety of sports. The ONU Polar Bears compete in the NCAA Division III Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). The men's volleyball team participates in the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association in the Great Midwest Men's Volleyball Conference.

Men's sports

Women's sports

National honors

NCAA Championship

NCAA Runner-up finishes

NCAA Final Four appearances

NCAA Elite Eight appearance

NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances

Club Sport Championship

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ohio Northern University . www.hmdb.org . The Historical Marker Database . 23 October 2023.
  2. As of June 30, 2019. Web site: U.S. and Canadian 2019 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2019 Endowment Market Value, and Percentage Change in Market Value from FY18 to FY19 (Revised) . National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA . September 20, 2020.
  3. Web site: President . onu.edu . 5 January 2011 . 9 July 2022.
  4. Web site: Ohio Northern University. Ohio History Central. 6 October 2020.
  5. Web site: Digital Repository of Dr. King's visit to ONU, including original audio file, press releases, and transcript of his speech.. https://web.archive.org/web/20100528094751/http://www.onu.edu/drking/index2.html. dead. May 28, 2010. August 29, 2019.
  6. Web site: Dr King's Message for Today. Eight Cities Media &. Publications. February 18, 2017.
  7. Web site: The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute | . Mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu . August 29, 2019.
  8. Web site: April 13, 2018. MLK statue to be dedicated at ONU - The Lima News. limaohio.com.
  9. Web site: Statue commemorates MLK's 1968 speech. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180418230248/http://thecourier.com/local-news/2018/04/18/statue-commemorates-mlks-1968-speech/. April 18, 2018.
  10. Web site: The Inn at Ohio Northern University. July 6, 2010.
  11. Web site: dedication of new engineering building . 2020-10-06 . 2020-08-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200808151228/https://www.onu.edu/event/james-lehr-kennedy-engineering-building-dedication . dead .
  12. Web site: Francis . Matthew . LibGuides: Campus Buildings: Hill Building . 2024-08-07 . library.onu.edu . en.
  13. Web site: 14-33 Ohio Northern University . 2024-08-07 . Remarkable Ohio . en-US.
  14. Web site: Ohio Northern statement on the closing of Hill Memorial . 2024-08-07 . Ada Icon . en.
  15. Web site: says . Hill Memorial as a Campus Icon-Northern Review . 2022-10-28 . Should We Tear Down Hill Memorial? . 2024-08-07 . Northern Review . en-US.
  16. Web site: History of the ONU Pettit College of Law. August 21, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060902031016/http://www.law.onu.edu/catalog/history.htm. September 2, 2006. dead.
  17. Web site: Home. Ohio Northern University. August 29, 2019.
  18. News: USA Today.com: Mount Union's 110-game regular season winning streak snapped . October 24, 2005 . May 20, 2010.
  19. Web site: D3hoops.com: 1993 Men's NCAA Tournament Results. https://web.archive.org/web/20061030093047/http://www.d3hoops.com/archives/mncaa93.htm. dead. October 30, 2006. August 29, 2019.
  20. Web site: Athletics | Ohio Northern University. onusports.com. April 6, 2018. May 17, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080517034639/http://www.onusports.com/Mediacenter/2007vb.pdf. dead.
  21. Web site: Season Review: Men's Soccer caps off record breaking season with run to NCAA III Tournament Championship . Onusports.com . January 16, 2013 . November 18, 2013.
  22. Web site: The 2001 Division III men's tournament. https://web.archive.org/web/20061030092751/http://www.d3hoops.com/salem/01/index.html. dead. October 30, 2006. August 29, 2019.
  23. Web site: Ohio Northern University. February 18, 2017.
  24. Web site: Ohio Northern University | Ohio Northern University. www.onu.edu . https://web.archive.org/web/20090125230148/http://www.onu.edu/org/mensvb/ . January 25, 2009.
  25. Web site: Little Big Man. January 12, 1998 . 18 February 2017.
  26. Web site: Benjamin Brafman - Tag Story Index - USATODAY.com. content.usatoday.com. Aug 29, 2019.
  27. Web site: Ohio Attorney General - William J. Brown . 27 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080519214041/http://www.ag.state.oh.us/about/past_ags/william_j_brown.asp . 2008-05-19 . live.
  28. Web site: John W. Grabiel . ebooksread.com. August 23, 2012.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ohio Northern University".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.