Graceland University is a private liberal arts university with campuses in Lamoni, Iowa and Independence, Missouri, in the United States. The university offers degree completion and master’s degree programs at satellite campuses in Centerville and Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Trenton, Missouri. It also offers undergraduate and graduate programs online. The university was founded in 1895. Graceland was established by, and is affiliated with, the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church).
Graceland's main campus in Lamoni offers over 50 academic programs, including nine preprofessional programs and 35 undergraduate majors. The residential campus also offers 19 varsity sports, campus-wide activities and intramural sports.
The Independence campus offers graduate and undergraduate programs in the School of Nursing and the Edmund J. Gleazer School of Education. The campus is also home to programs in the Community of Christ Seminary. John Sellars is Graceland's president. He assumed his role July 15, 2007.
History
Graceland University was established as Graceland College in 1895 by the RLDS Church in Lamoni, Iowa. Land for the college was donated by church members, with the first 20 acres given by Marietta Walker. The name "Graceland" was selected by Col. George Barrett, land surveyor for the college, for the graceful slope of the hill upon which the college was built. Until the administration building was completed, classes were conducted in a building in downtown Lamoni. The first day of classes was September 17, 1895.
In 1917, Graceland received accreditation from the states of Iowa and Missouri and from the North Central Association of Colleges, making it the first fully accredited junior college in Iowa. Graceland became a four-year college in 1960. Graceland's nursing program began in 1910 as a cooperative program with the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital, Independence, MO. The Graceland campus was extended to Independence with the establishment of the college's bachelor's degree program in 1968-69.
The Graceland Partnership Program, offering degree-completion programs on community college campuses, was established in 1989. In 1995, Graceland acquired SkillPath, a business training company that offers seminars and classes. Graceland College became Graceland University on June 1, 2000.
Academics
Reputation
Graceland has been ranked ‘first tier’ in the U.S. News & World Report’s America’s “Best Colleges†in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Graceland falls in the “Private University†category, “Midwest Region.†In 2012, Graceland was ranked 91 and in the 2013 report Graceland was ranked 88. The report standings cite Graceland’s small class sizes, with 72 percent of classes containing 20 or fewer students, financial aid services, and the university’s “selective†admissions process in its rankings. Graceland has also been recognized by the Princeton Review as a top school in the Midwest.
Accreditation
Graceland is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The teacher education programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and have full approval status with the Iowa Board of Nursing and the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
Programs
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Graceland’s College of Liberal Arts and Science holds classes only on the Lamoni campus. The college holds five divisions: Division of Visual and Performing Arts, Division of Health and Movement Science, Division of Humanities, Division of Science and Math and the Division of Social Science. Among these divisions are over 30 majors, including pre-professional programs.
School of Nursing
The School of Nursing is one of Graceland’s most popular programs. The School of Nursing offers classes on the Independence Campus and online. In the undergraduate Nursing program (Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Registered Nurse,) students complete four semesters of general education classes on the Lamoni campus, then transfer to the Independence campus to complete their final four semesters. An accelerated Nursing program is available that allows students to graduate is seven semesters.
The School of Nursing’s online programs include both graduate and undergraduate degrees: BA in Health Care Management, RN to BSN, RN to MSN, Master of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Post Master MSN certificate, Nurse Educator Post Master MSN certificate and a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
The Graceland School of Nursing has been ranked by thebestschools.org as one of the Top 25 Schools for Online Nursing Degrees.
Edmund J. Gleazer School of Education
The School of Education is one of Graceland’s largest programs, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. Classes are offered on the Lamoni campus, Independence campus, the regional campuses and online.
Undergraduate degrees include Elementary Education and Secondary Education. The Lamoni campus is the only location that offers a secondary teaching certificate. The School of Education has a partnership with Kansas City, MO, schools, called Professional Development Schools (PDS). The PDS partnership assigns Education students to an in-the-field classroom for an entire semester of student teaching (as opposed to the traditional one semester.)
The School of Education offers international programs, where students can student-teach in New Zealand, or take winter term classes in Jamaica and Zambia.
Graduate programs include a Master’s of Education with six different specializations: Literacy Instruction, Management in the Inclusive Classroom, Collaborative Teaching and Learning, Differentiated Instruction, Technology Integration and Mild/Moderate Special Education.
Thebestsschools.org ranked Graceland 8th in its Top 25 Online Teacher Education Programs calling the school a “pioneer in distance learning†and tuition prices “very affordable.â€
The Edmund J. Gleazer School of Education is named for Edmund John Gleazer Jr., a past president of the university.
C.H. Sandage School of Business
The C.H. Sandage School of Business offers undergraduate programs. Classes are held on the Lamoni campus and degree completion programs are held online and at regional campuses. Programs include Accounting, Agricultural Business, Business Administration, Economics, Organizational Leadership and Sport Management.
The School of Business maintains a close partnership with the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University. Graceland students who plan to attend a graduate school are encouraged to consider Seton Hall as an option. The School of Business is named after Dr. Charles H. Sandage, a past professor for the university.
Enactus
The School of Business is tied to Graceland’s Enactus team. Founded in 1989, the team works internationally and locally. In recent years, Graceland Enactus program has taken winter term trips to Zambia, the Philippines and Belize. In 1996 Graceland Enactus was named U.S. National Champion, and advanced to compete at the Enactus World Cup in Paris, France. The team finished second to China at the competition. In April 2012, Graceland Enactus was named Regional Champion for the 12 consecutive year and placed in the top eight teams at the Enactus National Exposition.
Community of Christ Seminary
The Community of Christ Seminary is offered online or at the Community of Christ Temple. The program offers a Master’s of Arts in Religion.
Chapel
The Cheville Chapel was dedicated in 1978 in honor of Roy Cheville, theologian, educator and former Presiding Patriarch of the Community of Christ. The structure was built for $325,000 and was funded by a restricted private bequest. In keeping with the desire for the chapel to be an accessible place of solitude, Graceland's president Frank Hough determined that the facility should remain unstaffed and open at all times.
The Chapel's relatively small seating capacity makes it an intimate setting for worship, theological education and the performance of sacred music. Known for its excellent acoustics, it has been used for small ensemble performances. It is used several times a week by campus groups for worship services, and as a place of individual prayer and reflection.
Architecturally, the postmodern brick structure is minimalist in its design. It is reminiscent of the exterior simplicity of the Rothko Chapel in Houston built only a few years earlier, while its twin steeple foreshadows the deconstructivism style in architecture that began a decade later. The chapel houses Aaron Sherer's "The Process of Becoming," a canvas wall hanging employing a mix of colorfully painted ribbons.
Student life
Residence life
Instead of having fraternities and sororities like many universities, Graceland has residential social organizations called "Houses." These Houses are present on Graceland’s main campus; however, the Independence campus does have its own House, McKevit Manor. Students are assigned to a House regardless whether they live on or off campus. Graceland has six men’s Houses: Agape, Cheville, Closson, Faunce, Orion, and Stewart Manor. Graceland has nine female Houses: Amici, Aponivi, Dimora, Hanthorne, Khiyah, Paloma, Sariah, Shalom, and Solah.
Each House has officers who serve on Graceland’s Student Government. The officers form a “House Council,†including a House President (who leads the House Council), a Campus Organization of Social Activities (COSA) representative, an Academic Student Council (ASC) representative, a senator, an intramural sports representative and a chaplain. Members of the House Council are elected to their positions by members of their House. In addition to their Student Government duties, House Council members plan social activities called “functions.†These functions vary by House and range from formal dinners to campouts.
Houses hold meetings every Tuesday at 10 p.m. Meetings are led by the House President and House Council and vary widely from House to House.
Activities and organizations
Graceland has over 50 clubs and organizations for students. Between Graceland Student Government and the campus clubs and organizations, over 250 official leadership positions are available.
Graceland Student Government is a popular student activity, particularly for sophomore and junior students on campus.
Intramurals is perhaps the campus’ most popular activity, with over 98 percent student participation. Intramural teams are divided by House and level of competition.
Other popular student clubs include the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), International Club, Outreach International club, Enactus, Art Student Society and Sustainability Club.
Performing arts
With the completion of the Shaw Center expansion in fall 2012, Graceland has placed a renewed emphasis on the performing arts. Graceland performance groups include Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Oratorio Chorus, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Symphonic Band, Orchestra and Theatre. For the 2012-2013 academic year, Graceland doubled its number of annual theatre productions. Over 1/3 of Graceland student participate in the arts (both visual and performing).
Graceland brings a variety of talent acts to campus. In 2012, Graceland has brought in Canadian trumpeter Jens Lindemann, trombone player Wycliffe Gordon, the Fountain City Brass Band, vocalist Shannon Gaye, and actor Arliss Howard who directed Graceland’s Homecoming play.
In fall 2012 also brought in the Vienna Boys Choir and Owen/Cox Dance group.
School traditions
House Meeting
Every Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. student gather with their fellow House members in a weekly meeting. Meetings are led by the House President and involve House Council members. Meetings vary from House to House, but generally include recreational activities and announcements from House Council members. Meetings are generally held in House lounges.
Airband
Every year at Graceland’s annual Homecoming weekend, COSA puts on an annual Airband competition. Male Houses are paired with female Houses (brother/sister Houses) and the teams compete against each other in a choreographed dance competition. Houses spend weeks preparing props, themes, and storylines for the competition; then perform their routine before a panel of judges. The winner of Airband is awarded points, and the team with the most Homecoming points wins money for their House.
New Years in November
Every year in mid-November, COSA sponsors a campuswide dance and celebration, called New Year’s in November. The event is essentially a celebration of the coming new year, because students are not on campus for New Year’s Eve. The event has a specific theme every year and includes dancing and other activities. The event traditionally ends with a pancake breakfast in the Commons.
Final Fling
The final weekend of the semester, COSA sponsors a campuswide celebration for students. Events vary year to year, but often include inflatables, sports tournaments, and various entertainment acts. Students collect wristbands for each event they attend, and at the weekend’s conclusion enter their wristbands in a drawing for prizes.
Thursday Night Movie
Once a week, COSA plays a free movie in the local theatre, The Coliseum. Before 2012, the movie played on Wednesdays; however the day was changed in fall 2012 to accommodate Graceland Student Government meetings.
Athletics
The athletic teams are known as the Yellowjackets. Graceland is a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Notable alumni
- Alik L. Alik: politician, Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia, 2007â€"present
- Leonard Boswell: politician, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, Iowa 3rd District, 1997â€"present
- Teresa Carpenter: journalist and novelist, Pulitzer Prize winner, 1981
- Caitlyn Jenner (formerly known as Bruce Jenner): Olympic gold medalist, television personality
- Merle Harmon: sport announcer, motivational speaker, entrepreneur
- Don Knabe: Member of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
- C. Robert Mesle: Process theologian, 1972
- Frederick Madison Smith: Graceland's first graduate; third president of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now the Community of Christ, 1915â€"1946
- Israel Alexander Smith: President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now the Community of Christ, 1946â€"1958
- David Yost: actor, original Blue Power Ranger
- Milton Young: politician, Republican U.S. Senator from North Dakota, 1945â€"1981
References
External links
- Official website