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Park University

Coordinates:39°11′24″N94°40′48″W/ 39.1899°N 94.6801°W/39.1899; -94.6801
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Park University
Former names
Park College (1875–2000)
MottoFides et Labor
Motto in English
Faith & Work
TypePrivate university
Established1875;149 years ago(1875)
PresidentShane B. Smeed
ProvostMichelle Myers
Students6,389 (Fall 2023)[1]
Location
Parkville, Missouri
,
U.S.

39°11′24″N94°40′48″W/ 39.1899°N 94.6801°W/39.1899; -94.6801
ColorsCanary and Wine[2]
NicknamePirates (Parkville),
Buccaneers (Gilbert)
Sporting affiliations
NAIA–HAAC(Parkville)
NAIA –Cal Pac(Gilbert)
Websitewww.park.edu
Mackay Hall

Park Universityis aprivate universityinParkville, Missouri,United States. It was founded in 1875.[3][4] In the fall of 2023, Park had an enrollment of 6,389 students.[1]

History

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The school which was originally calledPark Collegewas founded in 1875[5]by John A. McAfee on land donated byGeorge S. Parkwith its initial structure being the stone hotel Park owned on the bluff above the Missouri River.

The original concept called for students to receive free tuition and board in exchange for working up to half day in the college's farm, electrical shop or printing plant. According to the terms of the arrangement if the "Parkville Experiment" did not work out within five years, the college grounds were to revert to Park.[6]

There were 17 students in the first school year and in the first graduation class there were five women. McAfee led until his death in 1890. His son Lowell M. McAfee became the second president of Park until stepping down in 1913. The first international student at Park University arrived in 1880 from Japan.

The defining landmark of the campus isMackay Hall,named afterCarroll County, Illinoisbanker Duncan Mackay who donated $25,000 in materials for the structure shortly before his death.[7]The building was constructed usinglimestonemined on the campus grounds and built with the labor of students. Construction began in 1883 and was finished by 1893. Mackay Hall is the main focal point of the campus and dominates the hillside, overlooking the town of Parkville. It is on theNational Register of Historic Places.

For decades the school was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church but it no longer has that affiliation.[when?]The college has had a relationship with the military since 1889. However, the relationship was greatly expanded in the late 1960s with the establishment of a Military Degree Completion Program and later in 1972 with the Military Resident Center System. Park's total enrollment has grown from its small base since 1996 when it first began offering online courses.[8]In 2000, it was renamedPark University.

Locations

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Parkville campus

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The flagship campus of Park University is in the city ofParkville, Missouri.The Park University Graduate School is in downtownKansas City.There are 41 campuses in 22U.S. states[9]including four campuses in the Kansas City area (downtown Kansas City,Independence,Lenexa,and Parkville) and a campus center inAustin, Texas.Most of thesatellite campusesare on or near United States military bases and share quarters with other businesses/organizations.

Gilbert campus

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In 2018, the university opened a campus center inGilbert, Arizona,in the city's Heritage District. Park leased 11,000 square feet (1,000 m2) at the University Building.[10]The university continued to expand the Gilbert campus in 2019, leasing an additional 7,000 square feet (650 m2) and extending the initial three-year term with the city to five years.[10]The university continued to expand the Gilbert campus with the addition of college athletics.[10]Initially playing as an independent during the 2019–20 academic year, the university announced membership in the NAIA andCalifornia Pacific Conference(Pac West) starting in 2020–21.[11]

Rankings

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  • Ranked second in the “online and nontraditional” category on theMilitary Times’"Best for Vets: Colleges 2016" list.[12]
  • Ranked second among all private colleges/universities in the country with a 9.5 percent annual ROI by 2015 PayScale College ROI Report.[13]
  • 2015-16 Colleges of Distinction list.[14]
  • Ranked byU.S. News & World Reportas the 126-165 best Midwest college in 2018.[15]

Athletics

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Park Pirates

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The athletic teams of the Park University main campus are called the Pirates. The university is a member of theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics(NAIA), primarily competing in theHeart of America Athletic Conference(HAAC) since the 2020–21 academic year. The Pirates previously competed in theAmerican Midwest Conference(AMC) from 2009–10 to 2019–20; which they were a member on a previous stint from 1986–87 to 1993–94; and in the defunctMidlands Collegiate Athletic Conference(MCAC) from 1994–95 to 2008–09.

Park competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include eSports.

The Department of Athletics at Park University was led byClaude English,Director of Athletics, who was also the Pirates’ men's basketball coach from 1992 to 2005 and retired in 2021. From 1980 to 1984, English was the head men's basketball coach at his alma mater, theUniversity of Rhode Island,and he played one season in the NBA with thePortland Trail Blazersin 1970–1971.[citation needed]

Seven former Park Pirates competed for theKansas City Cometsof theMajor Arena Soccer Leagueas of 2020.[16]

Championships

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  • 2018 Women's Volleyball (NAIA National Champions)
  • 2017 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)
  • 2014 Women's Volleyball (NAIA National Champions)
  • 2014 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)
  • 2012 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)
  • 2008 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)
  • 2003 Men's Volleyball (NAIA Invitational Tournament)

Park–Gilbert Buccaneers

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The athletic teams of the Gilbert campus of Park University (Park–Gilbert) are called the Buccaneers.[10]The university added a college athletics program to the Gilbert campus center in 2019.[10]After playing as independent institution during the 2019–20 academic year, the university announced membership in theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics(NAIA), primarily competing in theCalifornia Pacific Conference(Cal Pac) starting in the 2020–21 academic year.[11]

Park–Gilbert competes in 15 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

Notable people

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Faculty and staff

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References

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  1. ^ab"Enrollment Report for Missouri Public and Comprehensive Independent Institutions".Missouri Department of Higher Education.December 1, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 3,2024.
  2. ^Park University Brand Guidelines(PDF).February 1, 2022.RetrievedAugust 2,2022.
  3. ^"College Navigator - Park University".National Center for Education Statistics.U.S. Department of Education.2017.Retrieved2018-08-23.
  4. ^"Mission, Vision, History and Affiliations - Park University - Modern Campus Catalog™".catalog.park.edu.Retrieved2024-11-18.
  5. ^"Mission, Vision, History and Affiliations - Park University - Modern Campus Catalog™".catalog.park.edu.Retrieved2024-11-18.
  6. ^Centennial History of Missouri: (the Center State) One Hundred Years in the Union, 1820-1921 By Walter Barlow Stevens –1921 – S.J. Clarke Publishing – Page 41(available on print.google.com)
  7. ^Decatur Daily Dispatch - Among Our Neighbors - 1890-09-11
  8. ^Distance Learning Programs 2004.September 2003.ISBN9780768911596.Retrieved22 May2015.
  9. ^"Park University".park.edu.Retrieved22 December2017.
  10. ^abcdeStaff (1 April 2020)."Park University to expand campus in downtown Gilbert".KTAR News.Retrieved1 April2020.
  11. ^abVSN Staff (31 March 2020)."NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership".Victory Sports Network.Retrieved31 March2020.
  12. ^"Best for Vets: Colleges 2016".Archived fromthe originalon 21 January 2016.Retrieved7 March2016.
  13. ^"PayScale College ROI Report".Retrieved7 March2016.
  14. ^"Colleges of Distinction".Retrieved7 March2016.
  15. ^"Park University".U.S. News & World Report.RetrievedFebruary 16,2018.
  16. ^Homegrown Talent: Pirates to Comets. Major Arena Soccer League. Retrieved 2 April 2020.https://www.maslsoccer.com/news/homegrown
  17. ^Marsia Alexander-Clarke (2003)."Resume".Archived fromthe originalon 31 March 2012.Retrieved24 August2011.
  18. ^"David Grace Biography - UCLA Bruins Official Athletic Site | UCLABruins.com".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-06-02.Retrieved2016-04-16.
  19. ^Tlustos, Genna (2023-07-20)."First woman appointed gaming commission chair".News Tribune.Retrieved2023-07-22.
  20. ^"Mayor Kay Barnes to Join Park University, Lead New Center".Park University. April 4, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2012.Retrieved2008-10-17.
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