Rochester College

Rochester College
Established	1959
Type	Private
Religious affiliation	Churches of Christ
President	Dr. Rubel Shelly
Students	1,084
Undergraduates	876
Postgraduates	16
Location	Rochester Hills, MI, USA
Campus	Suburban, 74 acres (0.30 km2)
Athletics	NAIA (Independent)
Nickname	Warriors
Website	www.rc.edu

Rochester College is a four-year, liberal arts college located in Rochester Hills, Michigan; a suburb of Detroit. The college was founded by members of Churches of Christ in 1959. Total enrollment for the fall 2011 semester is 1,084 students.

Rochester College is primarily undergraduate and includes both residential and commuting student populations. The college also offers a degree completion program for adult students. The college is governed by a board of trustees who are members of the Churches of Christ. The Ennis and Nancy Ham Library provides service to students, faculty, staff, and others.

Rochester College was founded in 1959 as North Central Christian College, then later renamed Michigan Christian College. In 1997, the board of trustees adopted the name Rochester College in order to more clearly portray the institution's nature as a liberal arts college in a Christian setting.

In 2005, Rochester College added Master of Religious Education degree that is designed to provide advanced preparation for men and women entering full time ministry in church and para-church service, preparing for a life of scholarship and teaching, or desiring personal spiritual enrichment.

History

In 1954, members of the Churches of Christ formed a board of trustees to establish an educational institution in the North Central region of the United States. After months of consideration, the board decided to establish a liberal arts college and purchased a beautiful country estate in rural Rochester Hills, Michigan, for a campus site. In September 1959, the college opened as North Central Christian College, retaining that name until 1961.

In the years that followed, the institution operated under the name of Michigan Christian College. In 1997, the board adopted the name Rochester College in order to more clearly portray the institution's nature as a liberal arts college in a Christian setting. In the initial college catalog, leaders affirmed their dedication “to the task of leading students toward higher academic achievement.” The founders also stated their belief “that the development of Christian ideals in the life of an individual is highly important.” Leaders of Rochester College remain firmly committed to those ideals.

The campus of Rochester College has grown to exceed 74 acres (300,000 m²), assuring space for continued expansion. During the same time, college leaders have continued to develop and modify programs to meet the needs of students and a changing society.

Athletics

The Rochester College athletic teams are known as the Warriors, the college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).^[1] The Warriors will compete as an independent program with the hopes of securing conference affiliation in the future.^[1] The college was previously a member of the of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and National Small College Athletic Association (NSCAA) prior to that, in which the college won a combined eight national championships.

Sports

Athletic Championships

References

External links

• Rochester College
• Warrior Athletics