Jump to content

Union University

Coordinates: 35°40′59″N 88°51′23″W / 35.6830°N 88.8565°W / 35.6830; -88.8565
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Union University in Tennessee. For other institutions of this or a similar name, see Union University (disambiguation).
Union University
Former names
List
    • Jackson Male Academy (1823–1844)
    • West Tennessee College (1844–1874)
    • Hall-Moody Junior College (1900–1927)
    • Union University (1848–1859, 1868–1873)
    • Southwestern Baptist University (1875–1907)[1]
MottoReligio et Eruditio[2]
TypePrivate university
Established1823; 202 years ago (1823)
Religious affiliation
Tennessee Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention)
Endowment$55.2 million (2024)
Academic staff
201 full-time
Students2,731
Location
Jackson, Hendersonville, and Germantown
,
Tennessee
,
U.S.

35°40′59″N 88°51′23″W / 35.6830°N 88.8565°W / 35.6830; -88.8565
CampusUrban, 290 acres (120 ha)
ColorsCardinal & cream
NicknameBulldogs
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division II – Gulf South
Websiteuu.edu

Union University is a private Baptist university in Jackson, Tennessee, with additional campuses in Germantown and Hendersonville. The university is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention). It was established in 1875 as "Southwestern Baptist University" on the campus of the former West Tennessee College. It absorbed the Hall-Moody Junior College of Martin, Tennessee[citation needed].

History

[edit]

Predecessors

[edit]

"Jackson Male Academy" was founded in Jackson, Tennessee in 1823 as a preparatory school for wealthy students.[3] The Tennessee General Assembly chartered the academy in 1825.[3] In 1844, the academy reorganized and rechartered as "West Tennessee College".[3] During the Civil War, the college was used as a military hospital by Confederate and Union troops.[3] West Tennessee College reopened after the war. In 1874, the Tennessee Baptists acquired the college.[3]

"Union University" was established at Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1849. It went inactive due to the Civil War in 1859 but operated again between 1868 and 1873.

Early history

[edit]

The East Tennessee Baptist General Association, the General Association of Baptists in Middle Tennessee, and the West Tennessee Baptist Convention met in Humbolt, Tennessee on March 15, 1873, adopting a resolution to establish a "first-class college".[3] This resulted in an Educational Convention that met on April 10, 187,4 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at the former campus of Union University. The convention explored potential locations for a new campus, eventually recommending Jackson.[3] Their recommendation included taking over the endowment and campus of West Tennessee College.[3]

The Tennessee General Assembly issued a charter for a new school, Southwestern Baptist University, in June 1875.[3] Southwestern Baptist University opened in October 1875 in Jackson.[3] It was a preparatory school the first year, adding college courses for its second year.[3] Many of Southwestern's early faculty and trustees were alumni or former faculty of Union University.[3]

Southwestern Baptist University campus, 1906

In 1907, Southwestern trustee T. T. Eaton left his 6,000-volume library to the college. Eaton was a former professor of Union University, where his father, Joseph H. Eaton, was a former president. On September 17, 1907, Southwestern changed its name to Union University to honor the Eatons and others from Union at Murfreesboro who had impacted Southwestern as faculty, administrators, trustees, and contributors.[4][3]

In 1925 the Tennessee Baptist Convention secured a charter that vested the rights, authority, and property of Union University in the Tennessee Convention. This charter included the election of the university's trustees. Two years later, the Convention consolidated "Hall-Moody Junior College" at Martin (1900–1927) with Union University; the former Hall-Moody campus subsequently became the location of the University of Tennessee Junior College, now the University of Tennessee at Martin.[5]

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted Union University accreditation in 1948. From the early 1950s to the early 1970s, Union operated an Extension Center in the Memphis area.

Craig and Barefoot administrations

[edit]

During President Robert Craig (1967–85) and President Hyran Barefoot's (1987–1996) administrations, enrollment increased to more than 2,000 and several buildigs were constructed.

David S. Dockery's administration

[edit]
David Dockery at Union University

David S. Dockery was elected as the fifteenth president of Union University in December 1995. During his administration, which lasted until 2014, the university's enrollment increased and several buildings were constructed.[6]

2008 tornado

[edit]
One of the Union dorms that was destroyed by the February 5, 2008 tornado.
Radar loop of the Nashville, Jackson and Christian County, Kentucky supercells. Those supercells were responsible for at least 32 deaths (courtesy of NWS Nashville)
Main article: 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak

On February 5, 2008, at 7:02 p.m., the university was struck by an EF4 tornado, with winds between 166 and 200 miles per hour (267 and 322 km/h). The tornado destroyed 18 dormitory buildings and caused over $40 million worth of damage to the campus, which suffered a direct hit, rendering almost 80% of the dormitory space either destroyed or unlivable. None of the approximately 1,800 students on campus at the time were killed.

Fifty-one students were taken to Jackson-Madison General Hospital. While most students were released after being treated, nine were kept overnight. Some students were trapped for hours while emergency crews worked to rescue them. A total of 31 buildings received damage of varying degrees.[7] The devastation captured nationwide attention and was featured by CNN, Fox News,[8] The New York Times[9] and numerous regional news outlets. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, FEMA Director R. David Paulison and Governor of Tennessee Phil Bredesen all visited the campus after the disaster.[10]

The Commercial Appeal reported that due to extensive damage, the campus would not reopen until February 18.[11] Lambuth University, a rival area university, reportedly offered to open its dormitories to displaced Union students. The congregation of Englewood Baptist Church, which owned the Old English Inn in Jackson, voted unanimously to open the inn to Union students. The church's move accommodated almost 300 students until December 2008. The university also expected that around 200 students would be housed in the private homes of Union faculty, staff, and friends.

The February 5, 2008, event was the second time in just over five years that the campus was hit by a tornado. On the evening of November 10, 2002, during the Veterans Day Weekend tornado outbreak, the university was struck by an F1 tornado, with winds of approximately 100 miles per hour, which did approximately 2 million dollars worth of damage to the university. There were no serious injuries.[12] Union president David Dockery stated that the February 5, 2008 tornado was about 15 times as bad at the 2002 tornado. The damage caused by the February 5th tornado was estimated at $40 million.[13]

Academics, ethnic diversity, & acceptance rate

[edit]

Union University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Its business program is also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).[14]

As of 2025, total undergraduate enrollment is 1,891 students.[15] In terms of ethnic diversity, 70% of the undergraduate student body is white.[15] Tuition and fees are $39,850.[15] The university has a 47% acceptance rate.[15] The lowest average SAT score acceptable for admission is 1030.[15]

Campus

[edit]

Jackson facilities

[edit]

The campus is 290 acres (1.2 km2) and includes a 2,200-seat gymnasium, dormitories for men and women including a married housing complex, separate lodges for the fraternities and sororities, academic halls, an administration center, baseball and softball parks, two soccer fields, and wellness center.[16]

Germantown facilities

[edit]

Union also has a 35-acre (140,000 m2) campus in Germantown, Tennessee, (suburban Memphis) offering graduate degrees in business, education, Christian studies & nursing. The degrees in education include the M.Ed., M.A.Ed., Ed.S., and Ed.D.[17]

Hendersonville facilities

[edit]

Union's newest location is in Hendersonville, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. This campus offers graduate degrees in education and Christian studies.[18]

Athletics

[edit]
Main article: Union University Bulldogs

The Union University athletic teams are called the Bulldogs. The university is a member of the NCAA Division II level, primarily competing in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) since the 2012–13 academic year. They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Mid-East Region of the Division I level. The Bulldogs previously competed in the defunct TranSouth Athletic Conference (TranSouth or TSAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1996–97 to 2011–12. Union began the three-year transition to full NCAA Division II membership in 2011.

Union University competes in eleven intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Former sports included cheerleading.

Student life

[edit]

Greek life

[edit]

There are several social fraternities and sororities on campus.

LGBT students

[edit]

Union University is an affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention, and as such strictly follows a Baptist interpretation of Christian scripture. This has led to controversies with regard to intolerance of LGBT ideologies.[19] The school has a code of conduct that prohibits among other things, homosexual behavior and advocacy, as well as premarital sex and alcohol.[20] Former students have claimed that anti-gay policies are enforced more strictly and that heterosexual students received smaller fines for violations, while homosexual students were given the choice of conversion therapy or expulsion.[19]

In 2008, Union denied access to the Soulforce Equality Ride, an effort to fight discrimination against gay people.[21] Students were warned to have no contact with the group and one student who approached them was subsequently investigated.[22] Soulforce participants were arrested for trespassing.[21]

In 2015, Union withdrew from the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities after two council colleges changed their policies to allow hiring faculty members in same-sex marriages.[23] Four members of the university faculty signed the 2017 Nashville Statement, an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles that was perceived by some as expressing homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny.[24]

In 2020, the school rescinded an admissions offer to a gay graduate-level nursing student, Alex Duron, after investigating his sexual orientation.[19] Duron subsequently joined an unsuccessful lawsuit, Elizabeth Hunter, et al. v. U.S. Department of Education, seeking to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ students at publicly funded religious colleges and universities.[22] Union University president Dub Oliver defended the school's actions by pointing to the college's religious exemption from the prohibitions on discrimination in Title IX, which it had applied for and received from the U.S. Department of Education, and to the college's statement of principles, which all students agree to follow.[25]

Publications

[edit]
  • The Cardinal and Cream is the campus newspaper[26]
  • The Torch is the English Department's literary and arts publication

Notable people

[edit]

Alumni

[edit]
Howell Jackson
William Hicks Jackson
David Alexander Nunn

Faculty and administration

[edit]
Benjamin Lee Arnold Union University professor, later president of Oregon State University

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "HISTORY". uu.edu. Union University. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  2. ^ "RELIGIO ET ERUDITIO" (PDF). uu.edu. Union University. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rust, Randal. "Union University". Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  4. ^ "History of Union University". Union University. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  5. ^ "History | Union University". Uu.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  6. ^ "History | Union University, a Christian College in Tennessee". Uu.edu. 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  7. ^ 東京旅行で楽しむ、お台場などの人気の場所へ観光. "東京旅行で楽しむ、お台場などの人気の場所へ観光". Uurecovery.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  8. ^ "Clean-Up to Begin at Union University After Tornado Destroyed Dorms, Campus". Fox News. December 6, 2011.
  9. ^ Dewan, Shaila; Goodman, Brenda (7 February 2008). "Toll of Deadly Tornadoes in South Climbs Past 50". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  10. ^ "UUEmergency". UUEmergency.com. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  11. ^ [1] Archived July 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Union University suffers damage from F1 tornado - News Release | Union University, a Christian College in Tennessee". Uu.edu. 2002-11-12. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  13. ^ "Union street sign found - in Huntingdon". Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  14. ^ "Union University's business school earns AACSB accreditation - News Release | Union University, a Christian College in Tennessee". Uu.edu. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Union University #209 in National Universities". U.S. News & World Report. 2023. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  16. ^ "Jackson Campus Map | Union University". Uu.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  17. ^ "Germantown / Memphis | Degree Programs for Adults | Union University, a Christian College in Tennessee". Uu.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  18. ^ "Hendersonville / Nashville | Degree Programs for Adults | Union University, a Christian College in Tennessee". Uu.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  19. ^ a b c Friedman, Adam (21 August 2020). "Gay former Union students recount fear, trauma from a school that didn't want them". Jackson Sun. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Campus Life Handbook 2023-24" (PDF). Union University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Equality Riders arrested at Union University". BAPTIST NEWS GLOBAL. APB. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  22. ^ a b Andrews, Becca (20 May 2021). "Love, God, and Surveillance in a Little Fortress of LGBTQ Oppression". Mother Jones. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  23. ^ J.C. Derrick (12 August 2015). "CCCU loses Union University". World Magazine. Archived from the original on 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2015-08-14.
  24. ^ Cruz, Eliel (1 September 2017). "The Nashville Statement Is an Attack on L.G.B.T. Christians". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  25. ^ Fowler, Hayley (23 July 2020). "Tennessee college revokes student's admission after learning he's gay. That's allowed". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  26. ^ Israel, Charles Alan (2004). Before Scopes: Evangelicalism, Education, and Evolution in Tennessee, 1870-1925. University of Georgia Press. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-8203-2646-7.
  27. ^ Harrison, Bobby (February 21, 2015). "McMahan running for state Senate". Djournal.com. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  28. ^ "R. R. Sneed Dies At Jackson Home". The Tennessean. June 15, 1947. p. 6. Retrieved May 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Higher Learning Commission". Ncahlc.org. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  30. ^ Archived 2020-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Union University (Jackson, Tennessee).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Union_University&oldid=1287358796"