Bradley University is a private, mid-sized university in Peoria, Illinois. Founded in 1897, Bradley University currently enrolls 5,400 students who are pursuing degrees in more than 100 undergraduate programs and more than 30 graduate programs in five colleges. All classes are taught by professors rather than teaching assistants. The university is accredited by 22 national accrediting agencies, including the Higher Learning Commission. Students can participate in more than 240 student organizations.
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History
The Bradley Polytechnic Institute was founded by philanthropist Lydia Moss Bradley in 1897 in memory of her husband Tobias and their six children, all of whom died early and suddenly, leaving Bradley a childless widow. The Bradleys had discussed establishing an orphanage in memory of their deceased children. After some study and travel to various institutions, Mrs. Bradley decided instead to found a school where young people could learn how to do practical things to prepare them for living in the modern world. As a first step toward her goal, in 1892 she purchased a controlling interest in Parsons Horological School in LaPorte, Indiana, the first school for watchmakers in America, and moved it to Peoria. She specified in her will that the school should be expanded after her death to include a classical education as well as industrial arts and home economics: "...it being the first object of this Institution to furnish its students with the means of living an independent, industrious and useful life by the aid of a practical knowledge of the useful arts and sciences."
In October 1896 Mrs. Bradley was introduced to Dr. William Rainey Harper, president of the University of Chicago. He soon convinced her to move ahead with her plans and establish the school during her lifetime. Bradley Polytechnic Institute was chartered on November 13, 1896. Mrs. Bradley provided 17.5 acres (71,000 m2) of land, $170,000 for buildings, equipment, and a library, and $30,000 per year for operating expenses.
Contracts for Bradley Hall and Horology Hall (now Westlake) were awarded in April and work moved ahead quickly. Fourteen faculty and 150 students began classes in Bradley Hall on October 4--with 500 workers still hammering away. (The Horological Department added another eight faculty and 70 students.) Bradley Polytechnic Institute was formally dedicated on October 8, 1897. Its first graduate, in June 1898, was Cora Unland.
Originally, the institute was organized as a four-year academy as well as a two-year college. There was only one other high school in the city of Peoria at the time. By 1899 the institute had expanded to accommodate nearly 500 pupils, and study fields included biology, chemistry, food work, sewing, English, German, French, Latin, Greek, history, manual arts, drawing, mathematics, and physics. By 1920 the institute dropped the academy orientation and adopted a four-year collegial program. Enrollment continued to grow over the coming decades and the name Bradley University was adopted in 1946.
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Strategic plan
The Board of Trustees adopted the 2012-17 strategic plan on January 27, 2012. The plan focuses on three overarching strategic goals: enhancing educational excellence and value of a Bradley education; enhancing Bradley's living and working environment; and enhancing Bradley's operations, endowment, and resource efficiencies to support activities of national distinction.
Academics
Bradley University was ranked 6th among Regional Midwest Universities in the 2017 edition of America's Best Colleges published by U.S. News & World Report. The annual survey also recognized Bradley as the 36th "best value" Midwestern school in the ranking of Great Schools at Great Prices.
The Bradley University Department of Teacher Education and College of Education and Health Sciences is NCATE-approved. Additionally, Bradley University's Foster College of Business is one of less than 2% of business schools worldwide to achieve and maintain AACSB International accreditation for both business and accounting programs.
Bradley University is organized into the following colleges and schools:
Undergraduate colleges
- College of Education and Health Sciences
- Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Foster College of Business
- Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts
- Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Students without a declared major may also be admitted to the Academic Exploration Program (AEP).
The University is also home to the Charley Steiner School of Sports Communication, the first such named school in the U.S.
Graduate school
Through the Graduate School, Bradley University offers Masters level graduate degrees in five of its colleges: business, communication and fine arts, education and health sciences, engineering, and liberal arts and sciences. Each has its own hourly requirements and varies in completion time. The program of physical therapy offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Bradley University is among the first universities in the nation to have a school of entrepreneurship and the first established as a freestanding academic unit. The Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation is named in honor of Bob and Carolyn Turner, long-time supporters of Bradley. The Turners established the Robert and Carolyn Turner Center for Entrepreneurship in 2002. Dr. Gerald Hills, the School's founding academic executive director, received the Karl Vesper Entrepreneurship Pioneer Award in 2012 and the Babson Lifetime Award in 2011. Hills served as the Turner Chair of Entrepreneurship until he retired in December 2014.
Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review ranked Bradley's undergraduate entrepreneurship program among the top 25 programs in the nation.
Bradley is headquarters for the national Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO), with CEO student chapters at 240 universities.
Tuition and financial aid
As of the 2015-2016 school year, students who are enrolled full-time at Bradley University pay $31,110 for tuition. Students living in the residence halls on campus pay an additional $9,700 for room and board, along with a $370 activity and health fee. The total cost for full-time students living on campus is $41,180. The University offers hundreds of different scholarships and grants from numerous sources such as federal, state and private entities. They provide financial aid in the form loans, work study, scholarship, and grants. Financial assistance awards are typically received by more than 85% of the Universities students.
Campus
Bradley's 84-acre (340,000 m2) campus is located on Peoria's west bluff and is minutes from the city's downtown. The campus of Bradley University is relatively compact. There are few places on campus which cannot be reached from any other part of campus in under ten minutes on foot. Bradley's student housing is concentrated on the campus's east side, and the residence halls include: College (all women's), Geisert, Harper, Heitz, University, Williams, and Wyckoff Halls. There is also a complex of singles dormitories and two university-owned apartment complexes: St. James Apartments and the Student Apartment Complex.
Also located on the south side of Bradley's campus is Dingeldine Music Center, which was acquired from the Second Church of Christ, Scientist in 1983. The Center serves as the main performance and practice facility for Bradley's instrumental and choral programs.
Bradley University is also the site of Peoria's National Public Radio affiliate, WCBU-FM, located on the second floor of Jobst Hall.
Westlake Hall renovation
Built in 1897, Westlake Hall is the oldest building on campus, that has been utilized as a learning facility for over one hundred years. This building is home to Bradley's College of Education and Health Sciences. In March 2010, this building underwent a $24 million renovation that was officially completed in June 2012. This renovation increased the building to four stories tall consisting of academic classrooms and offices. The building went from 13,500 square ft to 84,500 square ft, six times its original size. The buildings signature clock tower and limestone was incorporated into the renovation to keep some of the buildings originality. The building was also designed to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certification standards, which includes qualities such as energy saving, water efficiencies, and CO2 emission reductions. The remodel was recognized by American School and University for its remarkable design in adaptive reuse.
Athletics
Bradley University is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Conference-approved sports at Bradley for men are baseball, basketball, cross country running, golf, indoor and outdoor track, and soccer. Women's' sports consist of basketball, cross country running, golf, indoor and outdoor track, softball, tennis, and volleyball. The men's basketball team has appeared eight times in the NCAA Tournament: 1950, 1954, 1955, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1996, and 2006. In 1950 and 1954 they were national runners up in the Final Four, and in 2006 the Braves made their first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1955, defeating 4th seed Kansas and 5th seed Pittsburgh. However, Bradley's run came to an end in the Sweet Sixteen with a loss to the University of Memphis. Bradley also won the National Invitation Tournament in 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1982. In 2008, the men's basketball team was selected to participate in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational. They reached the Championship game but lost to Tulsa 2-1 in a 3-game series.
In 2006, the Bradley soccer team lost in the MVC Championship. In 2007, the Bradley soccer team returned to the MVC Championship and defeated Creighton 1-0 to claim their first MVC Tournament Championship and fourth appearance in the NCAA postseason soccer tournament. They had never won a game in the NCAA tournament. Following their first ever NCAA tournament game victory over DePaul 2-0, the Braves continued on a magical run to the Elite Eight by defeating seven-time national champion Indiana University on penalty kicks (5-4) and the University of Maryland in overtime, both on the road. During the Maryland game they were down 2-0 with less than three minutes left and won. The match has been referred to as "The Miracle in Maryland." Bradley's coach, Jim DeRose, was named the national Coach of the Year by Soccer America after their great season.
In 2015, the Bradley baseball team received an at-large bid to the NCAA postseason baseball tournament, the school's first appearance in the tournament since 1968. After finishing the regular season with a record of 32-18, the Braves advanced to the Missouri Valley conference tournament championship game by defeating Evansville, Indiana State, and #11 nationally ranked Dallas Baptist and were ultimately defeated by #8 nationally ranked Missouri State 5-2. After finishing the season with the #19 RPI in the nation and a record of 35-19, the Braves were placed in the Louisville regional as the #2 seed, along with #3 seeded Michigan, #4 seeded Morehead State and #1 seed host Louisville. Video taken at the team's selection show viewing party shows the team excitement when they learned they would be participating in the NCAA tournament. When the Braves earned a 9-4 victory over Morehead State, they snapped a streak of 9 straight loses in NCAA postseason play dating back to the third round of the College World Series in 1956 when they defeated Wyoming 12-8.
The university does not have a football team. The football program was disbanded in 1970.
Bradley University was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1910-1937.
Groups and activities
Forensics
Bradley University boasts the most successful speech team in the nation, with their American Forensics Association Championship winning streak from 1980 through 2000 only broken in 1994 and 1995. Bradley has garnered 141 individual national titles and 39 team sweepstakes over the last 30 years. Bradley's forensics team hosts the nation's oldest intercollegiate competition, known as the L.E. Norton Invitational named after former forensics director L.E. Norton. The team also hosts an annual tournament for high school speech teams, known as the George Armstrong Invitational.
Greek
More than thirty percent of undergraduate students are involved in fraternities and sororities at Bradley University. The community currently consists of twenty-seven chapters, representing the North-American Interfraternity Conference, National Panhellenic Conference, and National Pan-Hellenic Council. Twenty of the chapters have houses on campus, which are primarily located on the south side of campus.
Active Chapters of the North American Interfraternity Conference
Active Colonies of the North American Interfraternity Conference
- Delta Sigma Phi
Active Chapters of the National Panhellenic Conference
- Alpha Chi Omega
- Chi Omega
- Gamma Phi Beta
- Kappa Delta
- Pi Beta Phi
- Sigma Delta Tau
- Sigma Kappa
Active Fraternity Chapters of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
- Alpha Phi Alpha
- Kappa Alpha Psi
Active Sorority Chapters of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
- Alpha Kappa Alpha
- Delta Sigma Theta
- Sigma Gamma Rho
- Zeta Phi Beta
Other social and professional organizations
- Epsilon Sigma Alpha (Service Sorority)
- Alpha Phi Omega (Co-ed Community Service)
- Beta Gamma Sigma
- Gamma Iota Sigma
- Sigma Alpha Iota
- Sigma Theta Epsilon
- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
- Kappa Phi Club
- Chi Alpha Campus Ministries
- Alpha Psi Omega (National Honorary Theatre Fraternity)
- Phi Chi Theta
- Pi Lambda Theta
Broadside
The annual student literary journal, Broadside, publishes student art and writing in a 100-page journal that is released each spring. The publication is staffed and run entirely by students. The organization also holds two readings: an informal "open mic" night in the fall, and a formal reading in late April which usually features writers published in the journal.
The Scout
The student-run weekly newspaper, The Scout, covers student life and issues on campus, Bradley sports, and local Peoria news that concerns students. Dates for local concerts, movie and music reviews can all be found written by students in The Scout's "Voice" section. Student staff rotates and changes yearly.
Common Ground
Common Ground provides a supportive, non-judgmental atmosphere in which people in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their relatives or friends may explore and discuss the issues facing their lives. Common Ground also offers speakers bureau services, brings speakers to campus, and provides confidential, anonymous, private meetings. All communication made to Common Ground is kept confidential.
Office of Diversity and Inclusion The Office of Diversity and Inclusion ODI) was established to advance Bradley University's commitment to diversity, and enhance underrepresented students access and success at the university. It their aim to facilitate dialogue among the campus community that seeks to provide a climate that is supportive, inclusive, and appreciative of diversity and all of its benefits. All communities are welcomed into the Garret Center to enter an environment free of judgement and open to suggestions about rising above the isims and perceptions of underrepresented groups.
Recognitions
Awards
- "E" Award -- In 2009, Bradley's International Trade Center was awarded the Presidential "E" Award for U.S. Exporters. Only 21 awards were given nationally and Bradley's ITC was the only trade center in the country to be recognized.
- Fulbright Program -- Bradley was ranked sixth nationally among universities of its kind for producing Fulbright students in 2013-2014.
- Innovation in Leadership of Business Education Award --Bradley's Foster College of Business was one of three schools to receive this award given by the Mid-Continent East Division of AACSB.
Rankings
- U.S. News and World Report ranked Bradley University #6 Best Colleges overall among Midwest Regional Universities.
- Money Magazine ranked Bradley 88 out of 736 colleges and universities that delivers the most value. Schools are considered based on their value of education and their affordable price, that helps students create strong careers.
- On Princeton Review's 2015 "The Best 380 Colleges", Bradley was ranked once again. Bradley is part of the 15% that is consistently ranked on this list. In the review, Bradley was admired for their wide-ranging academic resources, personal attention to students and class size.
- Bloomberg Businessweek ranked Bradley's Foster College of Business 42nd in the nation and 10th in the Employer Satisfaction Survey.
Notable people
Alumni
Government, public service, and public policy
- David Brant - former director of Naval Criminal Investigative Service
- David T. Caldwell - former state district court judge in Jonesboro, Louisiana.
- Brad Cohen - motivational speaker and teacher
- Tom Fink - former mayor of Anchorage, Alaska and Speaker of Alaska House of Representatives
- Joseph R. Holzapple - U.S. Air Force four-star general
- Robin Kelly - Democratic U.S. Congresswoman from Illinois' 2nd District
- Morris Kleiner - AFL-CIO Professor of Public Policy, Humphrey School, University of Minnesota
- Ray LaHood - U.S. Congressman from Illinois' 18th District and Secretary of Transportation in the Obama Administration
- Judge Joe Billy McDade - Federal district court judge for the Central District of Illinois (BS '59, MS '60)
- Robert H. Michel - retired U.S. Congressman from Illinois' 18th District and longest serving Republican leader of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Nicholas Scoppetta - New York City Fire Commissioner
- James E. Shadid - District Judge for U.S. District Court
- General John M. Shalikashvili - retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO
- Jerald D. Slack - U.S. Air National Guard Major General, Adjutant General of Wisconsin
- Scott Randolph - Orange County Tax Collector and former member of the Florida House of Representatives
- Aaron Schock - Former member of the US House of Representatives
- Chuck Weaver - Member of the Illinois Senate from the 37th District
- Ryan Spain - Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 74th district.
- Michael D Unes - Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 91st district and Assistant Minority Leader
Literature, arts, and media
- Jill Bennett - actress
- Jack Brickhouse - Baseball Hall of Fame radio and TV announcer for the Chicago Cubs
- Cardon V. Burnham - musical composer, arranger, conductor, performer
- Philip José Farmer - author, principally known for science fiction and fantasy novels
- Neil Flynn - actor best known for his roles on Scrubs and The Middle.
- Jerry Hadley - lyric tenor for the New York Metropolitan Opera
- Chick Hearn - Basketball Hall of Fame play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers
- David Horowitz - consumer advocate
- Tami Lane - Academy Award winner (makeup, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
- Ralph Lawler - TV and radio play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Clippers
- Jeff Mauro - television personality on Food Network
- Lyall Smith - sportswriter, editor and Detroit Lions public-relations director
- Charley Steiner - sportscaster, ESPN's SportsCenter, radio announcer for New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers
- Timothy Treadwell - environmentalist and documentarian, star of Animal Planet's Grizzly Man Diaries
Business and science
- Dr. Lillian Glass -- expert in body language, columnist, TV commentator
- Jerry Hayden--former President of Peacock Engineering
- John R. Horne (MS 1964) - former CEO of Navistar
- Howard Lance -- chairman, president, and chief executive officer at Harris Corporation
- Major Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr. -- became the first African American astronaut in 1967
- J.J. Liu -- software engineer; now one of the top women poker players in the world
- Timothy L. Mounts -- agricultural chemist specializing in edible oilseed
- George T. Shaheen -- former CEO of Siebel Systems, Andersen Consulting, and Webvan
- Louis Skidmore -- Architect and co-founder of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Athletics
- Pat Brady -- professional football player for Pittsburgh Steelers
- Gavin Glinton -- professional soccer player for Nam Dinh FC and Turks and Caicos Islands national football team
- Hersey Hawkins -- professional basketball player for Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers; also bronze medalist, 1988 Summer Olympics; all-time leading scorer for Bradley men's basketball
- Harry Jacobs -- professional football player for Boston Patriots, Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints
- Jim Les -- professional basketball player for Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks; assistant coach for WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs; former head coach at Bradley
- Bobby Joe Mason -- professional basketball player for Harlem Globetrotters
- Shellie McMillon -- professional basketball player for Detroit Pistons
- Gene Melchiorre -- basketball player, first overall pick in 1951 NBA Draft
- Steve Miller -- coach, Kansas State athletic director, Nike and Professional Bowlers Association executive, University of Oregon faculty member
- Dennis Morgan -- professional football player for Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles
- Bryan Namoff -- soccer player: defensive starter for Major League Soccer team D.C. United
- Patrick O'Bryant -- professional basketball player drafted ninth overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Parker -- professional basketball player for Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers
- Marcus Pollard -- professional football player for Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks
- Kirby Puckett -- professional baseball player for Minnesota Twins inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
- Ray Ramsey -- professional football player for the Chicago Cardinals
- Bryan Rekar -- professional baseball player for Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Kansas City Royals
- Bill Roehnelt -- professional football player for Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos
- Matt Savoie -- figure skater, U.S. bronze medalist, member of 2006 Winter Olympics U.S. team
- Rob Scahill -- professional baseball player for Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates
- Leo Schrall -- baseball head coach from 1949 through 1972, led Bradley Braves to two College World Series appearances and five Missouri Valley Conference championships
- Brian Shouse -- professional baseball player for Tampa Bay Rays
- Bill Stone -- football player, halfback for Baltimore Colts, Chicago Bears ('51-'54), Bradley football head coach
- Levern Tart -- professional basketball player for several ABA teams
- David Thirdkill -- professional basketball player, member of 1985-86 Boston Celtics championship team, also played for Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns
- Bill Tuttle -- professional baseball player for Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, and Minnesota Twins
- John M. Veitch -- Hall of Fame thoroughbred racehorse trainer
- Chet Walker -- professional basketball player for Syracuse Nationals, Philadelphia 76ers, and Chicago Bulls
Faculty
People who did not attend Bradley as a student but were on the Bradley staff or faculty.
- John R. Brazil -- president of Bradley, 1992-2000
- Ernst Ising -- German physicist: developed the Ising model in statistical mechanics
- David P. Schmitt -- Personality psychologist, founder of the International Sexuality Description Project, (1995-present)
- Kevin Stein -- Poet Laureate of Illinois (2003-present)
- Charles E. Tucker, Jr. -- Retired U.S. Air Force Major General and Executive Director of the World Engagement Institute
- Phil Crane -- Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 13th district (1969-1973), 12th district (1973-1993), and 8th district (1993-2005)
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