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Hannibal–LaGrange University

Coordinates:39°43′50″N91°23′31″W/ 39.73048°N 91.39196°W/39.73048; -91.39196
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Hannibal-LaGrange University
Hannibal-LaGrange University Logo
Former names
LaGrange Male and Female Seminary (1858–1928)
Hannibal College (????–1928)
Hannibal–LaGrange College (1928–2010)
MottoScientia ad serviendum ( "Knowledge for Service" )
TypePrivate university
Established1858
Religious affiliation
Baptist
Students494 (2022)[1]
Location
Hannibal
,
Missouri
,
United States

39°43′50″N91°23′31″W/ 39.73048°N 91.39196°W/39.73048; -91.39196
ColorsScarlet & Navy Blue
NicknameTrojans
Sporting affiliations
NAIA–American Midwest
MascotTrojan
Websitehlg.edu

Hannibal–LaGrange University(HLGU), formerlyHannibal–LaGrange College,is aprivateChristianuniversity inHannibal, Missouri.It is affiliated with theMissouri Baptist Convention,which is part of theSouthern Baptist Convention.As of 2022, 494 students are enrolled, and 29 majors are offered.[2][3]Although the university isaccreditedby theHigher Learning Commission,it is currently on probation for issues related to its finances, lack of control over its governing board, and insufficiency of faculty.[4]

Mid-1870s sketch of La Grange College

History

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Hannibal–LaGrange University was created as the result of the 1928 merger of LaGrange College (founded in 1858 as theLaGrange Male and Female Seminary) inLaGrange, Missouri,andHannibal Collegein Hannibal.[5]In October 2022, the trustees at Hannibal–LaGrange University elected Robert Matz as the 18th president of the university. Living former presidents include Anthony W. Allen (17th president), Woodrow Burt (16th president), Paul Brown (15th president), and Larry Lewis (14th president), a graduate ofLuther Rice Seminary,who left HLGU to be the president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board), one of the largest mission agencies in the world.

In 2010, the Missouri Baptist Convention voted to change the institution's name toHannibal–LaGrange Universityafter a bid to change the name to "University of Hannibal" was voted down.[6]

As a Christian school, the university was granted an exception toTitle IXin 2015 which allows it to legally discriminate against protected classes (religion, sexual orientation, gender identity).[7]

Following several years of declining enrollment, Hannibal–LaGrange University experienced severe financial challenges in 2021 and 2022. These challenges were exacerbated by theCOVID-19 pandemicwith enrollment declining to 780 students in 2021, down from over 1,000 students a decade prior.[8]The institution raised $1.5 million in the span of a few months in early 2022 but needed $2.2 million to pay outstanding debts. As a result, numerous faculty and staff were fired, salaries reduced, retirement matching eliminated and programs closed. All faculty contracts were terminated as a result of the institution's declaration of financial exigency.[9][10]Faculty contacts were restored in August 2022.[11]

Academics

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The university isaccreditedby theHigher Learning Commission.In November 2022, the commission placed HLGU on probation because it determined that the institution was out of compliance with HLC requirements as a result of its financial issues, lack of autonomy of its governing board, and issues related to sufficiency of faculty and staff.[12]

Hannibal–LaGrange University offers undergraduate programs and two fully online graduate programs, aMaster of Science(M.S.) in Education and aMaster of Arts(M.A.) in Leadership. HLGU's ADVANCE Degree Completion program is designed for working adults with an associate degree who want to complete their bachelor's degree in as little as 18 months.

In 2018, Hannibal–LaGrange University was ranked byU.S. News & World Reportas the 62–80 best Midwest college in the regional colleges category.[13]As of 2022 HLGU had been removed from the list entirely.[14]

Athletics

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Roland Fine Arts Center beyond a campus athletic area

The Hannibal–LaGrange athletic teams are called the Trojans. The university is a member of theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics(NAIA), primarily competing in theAmerican Midwest Conference(AMC) since the 1986–87 academic year. They are also a member of theNational Christian College Athletic Association(NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the North-Central Region of the Division I level.

Hannibal–LaGrange competes in 8 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include shotgun sports. Former sports include men's and women's golf, wrestling, swimming, and men's volleyball.

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^"Hannibal-LaGrange University".Archivedfrom the original on August 10, 2023.RetrievedAugust 9,2023.
  2. ^Overview. Semester based academic calenderArchived2023-01-11 at theWayback Machine
  3. ^"Undergraduate Majors – Hannibal-LaGrange University".9 November 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 11 January 2023.Retrieved11 January2023.
  4. ^"HLC Action Letter – Hannibal-LaGrange University"(PDF).hlcommission.org.November 15, 2022.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2023-12-08.Retrieved2024-08-06.
  5. ^Hannibal LaGrange Charter (On file)http://www.lagrangemo.com/cityoflagrangemo/LAHIST.HTMArchived2011-07-13 at theWayback Machine
  6. ^"Introducing Hannibal–LaGrange University"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 2022-03-20.Retrieved2022-03-14.
  7. ^Anderson, Nice (December 18, 2015)."Religious colleges get exemptions to anti-bias law; critics denounce 'hidden discrimination' against LGBT students".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on September 4, 2021.RetrievedAugust 24,2021.
  8. ^Whitford, Emma (March 29, 2022)."Fundraising Its Way Out of Financial Trouble".Inside Higher Ed.Archivedfrom the original on June 10, 2022.RetrievedJune 19,2022.
  9. ^Knox, Liam (May 26, 2022)."A Financial Collapse Averted—but at What Cost?".Inside Higher Ed.RetrievedJune 19,2022.
  10. ^McDonald, Trevor (June 1, 2022)."Hannibal-LaGrange will open for next year after finances improve".Hannibal Courier-Post.Archivedfrom the original on April 23, 2023.RetrievedApril 22,2023.
  11. ^McDonald, Trevor (August 5, 2022)."HLGU Announces Balanced Budget Encouraging News For 2022–2023 School Year".Hannibal Courier-Post.Archivedfrom the original on April 23, 2023.RetrievedApril 22,2023.
  12. ^Public disclosureArchived2023-01-11 at theWayback Machine
  13. ^"Hannibal–LaGrange University".U.S. News & World Report.Archivedfrom the original on February 16, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 16,2018.
  14. ^Regional university rankingArchived2023-01-11 at theWayback Machine
  15. ^'Illinois Blue Book 1903–1904,' Biographical Sketch of Jefferson R. Boulware, pg. 365
  16. ^"Ashleigh Spencer, Basketball Player, News, Stats – australiabasket".
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