Bellevue University

Not to be confused with Bellevue College.
Bellevue University
Motto Real Learning for Real Life
Type Private, Non-profit
Established 1966
Endowment $28.07 Million
President Mary Hawkins
Students 10,304[1]
Undergraduates 6,828
Postgraduates 3,476
Location Bellevue, Nebraska, U.S.
Campus Suburban
Colors Purple & Gold
         
Nickname Bruins
Website www.bellevue.edu

Bellevue University is a private, non-profit university located in Bellevue, Nebraska. It opened in 1966 and from the outset has focused on providing adult education and educational outreach. As of 2011, 80% of their undergraduates were aged 25 and over.[1] The university has over 10,000 students enrolled in a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs.

History

The university began as Bellevue College and opened in 1966 with the aim of providing education for working adults in the area. By 1974 it had become the fourth largest private college in Nebraska and had added a gymnasium, student center, and library.[2] In 1977, Bellevue earned full accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. In the mid-1980s increasing competition from other colleges in the area, which had also begun catering to working adult students, created financial problems which nearly led to the college's closure. However, under its third President, John Muller, who took over in 1985, the college refocused, survived, and started to expand.[2]

In 1987 the college began offering an accelerated bachelor's degree program and in 1990 began its first master's degree program. In 1994 Bellevue College became Bellevue University.

Campus

The university's main campus is in Bellevue, Nebraska. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw expansion of the campus with the opening of the Lozier Professional Center in west Omaha, the Riley Technology Center on the main campus, and the Lakeside Center. The library, humanities center, athletic center, and the student center were all renovated, and a new 72,000-square-foot (6,700 m2) Educational Services building was built to host classrooms, offices, and faculty space.[2]

Presidents

Dr. Mary Hawkins is the fourth president of Bellevue University.

President Tenure
Dr. Sam Sollenberger 1966–1968
Richard Winchell 1968–1985
Dr. John Muller 1985–2009
Dr. Mary Hawkins 2009–present

Academic profile

Bellevue University now has over 10,000 students and numerous undergraduate and graduate programs.[2] There are programs that are accelerated, cohort-based, in-class, and online. The school offers numerous bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, and one Ph.D. program.[3] Bellevue University’s online bachelor’s degrees are among the top ten in the United States according to U.S. News & World Report, and the university’s online program ranked 7th overall in the United States on Guide to Online Schools’ 2013 Online College Rankings.[4]

The University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Business degrees at Bellevue University are also accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.[1]

Student life

Athletics

Bellevue University teams, nicknamed athletically as the Bruins, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the North Star Athletic Association (since 2015), and Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) until 2015. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, golf and soccer; while women's sports include golf, soccer, softball and volleyball.

The Bellevue men's baseball team won the NAIA Baseball World Series in 1995. In 2011, Bellevue University added men's and women's golf teams.

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2011). Bellevue University
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bellevue University - 40th Anniversary
  3. ↑ "Degrees & Programs - Bellevue University". Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "2013 Online College Rankings". Guide To Online Schools. Retrieved 5 March 2013.

External links

Coordinates: 41°09′02″N 95°55′09″W / 41.15056°N 95.91917°W / 41.15056; -95.91917

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