McKendree College

McKendree University

Former names	Lebanon Seminary McKendree College
Motto	Artium Morum et Religionis Disciplinae
Motto in English	The Disciplines of the Arts, of Morals and of Religion
Type	Private
Established	1828 (1828)
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church
Endowment	$30.9 million
President	James M. Dennis
Academic staff	105 f/t
Administrative staff	180
Students	3,001
Undergraduates	2,342
Postgraduates	659
Location	Lebanon, Illinois, U.S. 38°36′25″N 89°48′55″W / 38.60694°N 89.81528°W / 38.60694; -89.81528Coordinates: 38°36′25″N 89°48′55″W / 38.60694°N 89.81528°W / 38.60694; -89.81528
Campus	Suburban 235 acres (95 ha)
Colors	McK purple and white
Athletics	NCAA Division II - GLVC
Sports	33 varsity teams
Nickname	Bearcats
Mascot	Bogey
Website	www.mckendree.edu

McKendree University (McK), formerly known as McKendree College, is a private liberal arts university located in Lebanon, Illinois, United States. The area is a part of the Metro-East region of Greater St. Louis. Founded in 1828 as the Lebanon Seminary, it is the oldest college in Illinois. McKendree enrolls approximately 2,300 undergraduates and nearly 700 graduate students representing 25 countries and 29 states. In the undergraduate program, on average there are 51% females and 49% males. The institution remains affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school renamed McKendree University beginning with the 2007–08 academic year. McKendree University comprises a College of Arts and Science, a School of Business, a School of Health Professions, and a School of Education.

Fielding athletic teams known as the McKendree Bearcats, the university has recently completed the process of transitioning athletics from the NAIA and member of the American Midwest Conference to NCAA Division II and the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).

Established by pioneer Methodists, McKendree is the oldest university in the state of Illinois and continues to have ties to the United Methodist Church. First called Lebanon Seminary, the school opened in two rented sheds for 72 students in 1828 under Edward Raymond Ames. In 1830, Bishop William McKendree, the first American-born bishop of the Methodist church, permitted the Board of Trustees to change the institution's name to McKendree College. Later Bishop McKendree deeded 480 acres (194.2 ha) of land in Shiloh, Illinois to endow the college. Reverend Peter Akers, in 1833, was the first president of the newly named college. He was president of McKendree College three times and received its first degree, an honorary Doctorate of Divinity. In 1835, the college received one of the first charters granted to independent church colleges by the Illinois legislature. The institution still operates under the provisions of a second, more liberal charter obtained in 1839.