Heidelberg University

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Heidelberg University
Established	1850
Type	Private, Coeducational
Endowment	$35.5 million[1]
President	Dr. Robert H. Huntington (July 1, 2009-Present)
Students	1,600
Undergraduates	1,200
Postgraduates	400
Location	Tiffin, OH, U.S.
Campus	Urban, 110 acres (0.45 km2)
Athletics	20 Division III NCAA teams
Colors	Red, Orange, and Black
Mascot	The Student Prince
Affiliations	United Church of Christ
Website	http://www.heidelberg.edu/

Heidelberg University is a private liberal arts college located in the city of Tiffin, Ohio in the U.S. state of Ohio. Founded in 1850, it was known as Heidelberg College until 1889 and from 1926 to 2009.

History

Heidelberg University was founded by the German Reformed Church in 1850 and is currently affiliated with the United Church of Christ. At that time, there were a significant number of German immigrants in Ohio, and the German Reformed Church had seventy-four churches in the state when members decided to establish the college. The College had an initial graduating class of five students.

Campus

Heidelberg is situated on 110 acres (0.45 km²) enclosed in Tiffin, Ohio, the county seat of Seneca County, in northwestern Ohio. The campus is located on the east side of Tiffin on College Hill, within a half mile of downtown Tiffin.

Architecture

Heidelberg's campus includes 26 buildings, 10 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The architecture ranges from pure Greek Revival and Victorian Gothic to English Gothic and the functional style. Many of the buildings are formed in gray Bloomville limestone with cut Bedford stone for trim, bringing a sense of overall unity to the various styles.

Transition from Heidelberg College To Heidelberg University

On the morning of October 25, 2008 the Heidelberg College Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to transition to Heidelberg University. The name change will be made fully effective at the beginning of the 2009–2010 academic year.

From a historical perspective, this decision marks the second time the institution has been named Heidelberg University. In 1889, the decision was made to change from college to university, which remained until 1926, when the name Heidelberg College was returned.

—James A. Troha, Ph.D.

Interim President Heidelberg College

According to a statement issued by former interim Dean Dr. James Troha to all Heidelberg students: "In considering the transition from college to university, the board and senior administrators addressed such issues as competition and trends in higher education and the perception of "university" among prospective students in the U.S. and abroad. Thorough research of both internal and external audiences indicated strong support to become Heidelberg University."

Academics

Heidelberg offers 36 undergraduate courses of study, 4 graduate programs, 16 minors, and 13 pre-professional programs. The University boasts a unique Honors Program, titled The Life of the Mind, that focuses on four thematic components: the artist, the citizen, the scholar and the scientist. In addition, the American Junior Year program at Heidelberg University in Heidelberg, Germany is the oldest exchange program between an American university and a German university. Heidelberg is also home to the renowned National Center for Water Quality Research and The Center for Historic and Military Archaeology.

Reputation

Heidelberg University has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Midwest's top colleges for twenty-two consecutive years. The institution again appears in the top tier of the 'Best Universities - Master's' category in the Midwest region for 2010^[2]. Heidelberg was also listed in the "Great Schools at a Great Price" category for 2008^[3].

Faculty

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Eighty-five percent of the senior faculty members hold a doctorate or the highest degree in their core competency. Heidelberg is a teaching institution and supports an intimate classroom environment where students are afforded personal attention. The student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1 and the average class size is 20 to 25.

Students

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Heidelberg students are culturally and geographically diverse and originate from all parts of the country, as well as internationally (eight percent of undergraduates). Fifty-seven percent are male and forty-three percent are female. Roughly eighty-five percent of students live in campus-owned housing, which includes six traditional residence halls, senior apartments, and an average of ten Cooperative Learning Communities (CLCs). CLCs are themed houses that provide students with the opportunity to develop initiatives and programs that will benefit the Heidelberg and/or Tiffin communities.

Programs and majors

Undergraduate

Graduate

Athletics

Heidelberg is affiliated with NCAA Division III athletics and is a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference, one of the oldest intercollegiate athletic conferences in the country. The Berg has won 25 Ohio Athletic Conference championships.

The school is known for its distinctive "Student Prince" mascot, originating from the German operetta of the same name. On September 5, 2008 a redesigned "Student Prince" mascot was unveiled.

Heidelberg University’s current success has come in volleyball, men's cross country, wrestling, baseball, and track and field. Volleyball has had two straight seasons of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament (2007, 2008). Men's cross country has had four straight seasons of qualifying for the NCAA Championship, (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) and seventh overall in school history (1997, 1998, 1999). Wrestling has had three straight successful seasons in the OAC, and placed as high as 6th in the nation (OAC Tournament Champions 2006, 2007, 2008 Regular Season 2006, 2008). Baseball has also had success over the past few years with two Regional Runner-Ups, and four OAC Championships (OAC Tournament Champions 2008, 2009 Regular Season 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2009). The track and field team also had success with a placing of 14th in the nation in 2007.

In the fall of 2009, Heidelberg University had two athletic teams capture OAC Championships. The men's cross country team won its fourth OAC Championship in school history, and the volleyball team captured its second OAC regular season championship with a victory over Mount Union College.

References

External links

• Heidelberg University Website
• Heidelberg University Network on LinkedIn