Ohio Northern University is a private, United Methodist Church-affiliated university located in the United States in Ada, Ohio, founded by Henry Solomon Lehr in 1871. ONU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. ONU is a sister university with Dankook University, a private university in Seoul, South Korea. In 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013 U.S. News & World Report listed Ohio Northern as Regional Universities (Midwest), #2.
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History
Early years
Ohio Northern's ambitious, pioneering attitude has been alive since the very beginning. The school started with a single person and a single idea. With the help of the community, 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 and, eventually, in 1903, Ohio Northern University. In 1899, the University affiliated with the United Methodist Church and more intentionally embraced church-related values. From these beginnings, Ohio Northern University has developed a focus on teaching, learning, scholarship, professional practice and a campus environment that's centered on students, service and values.
Post-war education boom
Throughout the 1960s, a number of ONU students and faculty/staff participated in the American Civil Rights Movement. ONU hosted Dr. Martin Luther King on January 11, 1968, four days before his 39th birthday and just three months before his assassination. During his visit at ONU, Dr. 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.
Recent growth
Growth continued under Dr. 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 Dr. 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, which contains over 70 deluxe guestrooms. In 2017, construction on a new engineering building will begin, with the first classes to be held in fall 2019.
Technology growth
Starting in the early 1980s, the university provided computer services to a growing segment of the university's population, expanding from a centralized mainframe to networked personal computers and a computer network. ONU joined OhioLINK and technology revolutionized academic administrative activities and supported classroom activities. With the addition of the Internet, the university began offering its first distance learning courses in the pharmacy program. Today, there are over 1,200 networked computers and Internet access on campus.
ONU in the 21st Century
Ohio Northern is ranked fourth among midwest regional liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report. It is considered "more selective," with an acceptance rate of 68%. It has a 53% 4-year graduation rate.
On February 4, 2010, ONU announced that its board of trustees approved the nomination of Daniel A. DiBiasio, president of Wilmington College to become the new president of Ohio Northern. DiBiasio assumed his duties on August 1, 2011.
Environmental efforts
Ohio Northern has made several significant strides in sustainability, and currently is making considerable efforts to realize the full benefits of a comprehensive approach in several areas of sustainability, alternative energy and environmental stewardship.
- Three wind turbines generate 400 kilowatts of power to meet 8-9 percent of the University's electricity needs.
- A solar array field generates about 10 percent of ONU's annual electricity needs, reducing ONU's carbon footprint by over 2,200 tons, equal to 210 average households.
- Ohio Northern University is a 100 percent tobacco-free campus.
- Recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation.
- Electric vehicle charging stations have been installed on campus.
- A grassy area surrounding a retention basin has been transformed into a prairie area featuring natural vegetation with a focus on providing a perfect habitat for bees.
- The Affinity Gardens project has transformed the green space of the residence community.
Academic programs
The university comprises five colleges:
- Getty College of Arts and Sciences
- James F. Dicke College of Business Administration
- T.J. Smull College of Engineering
- Rudolph H. Raabe College of Pharmacy
- Claude W. Pettit College of Law (established 1885)
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.
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.
- The school mascot is a polar bear named Klondike.
- The ONU varsity football team defeated Mount Union College in 2005 to snap the Purple Raiders 110-game regular season winning streak.
- The ONU women's volleyball team had a NCAA All-Divisions record 36 consecutive winning
National honors
NCAA Championship
- 1993 Men's Basketball NCAA Division III Champions
NCAA Runner-up finishes
- 1989 Women's Volleyball NCAA Division III Runners-up
- 2012 Men's Soccer NCAA Division III Runners-up
NCAA Final Four appearances
- 2001 Men's Basketball NCAA Division III Final Four
- 2008 Women's Volleyball NCAA Division III Final Four
NCAA Elite Eight appearance
- 2017 Women's Basketball
NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances
- 1999 Football
- 2000 Football
- 2010 Football
- 2015 Football
- 2017 Women's Basketball
Club Sport Championship
- 2007 Men's Volleyball NIRSA Division II National Champions
Notable alumni
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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