Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University
Motto	Disciplina est Facultas Knowledge is Power
Established	1873
Type	Private
Endowment	$1.26 billion (USD) (June 30, 2008)[1]
Chancellor	Dr. Victor J. Boschini, Jr.
Faculty	479 (full-time)
Students	8,696
Location	Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Campus	Urban, 325 acres (1.3 km2)
Mascot	Horned Frog
Affiliations	Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Website	http://www.tcu.edu

Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Its mascot is the "horned frog" and its school colors are purple and white. Over the past few years the university has engaged in a multi-million dollar construction project which has led to the construction of four new residence halls, the new Brown-Lupton University Union, the Sam Baugh indoor football practice facility, Amon Carter Stadium renovations, a new campus bookstore, and a full renovation and addition to the School of Education. Construction is currently underway to replace the old Student Center with Scharbauer Hall.

History

Thorp Spring, Texas, campus.

East Texas brothers Addison & Randolph Clark, together with their father Joseph A. Clark, founded what was then called the AddRan Male & Female College in 1873 after the brothers had returned from service in the American Civil War. The college was named after AddRan Clark, the first son of Addison. The boy died of diphtheria at the age of three. His name was derived from a contraction of the two brothers' names. That name is now preserved in TCU's AddRan College of Liberal Arts. It memorializes the university's connection with its founders.

Early image of the TCU campus in Fort Worth.

The Clarks were scholar-preacher/teachers who were products of the Campbellite movement, one of the streams of the Restoration movement in the nineteenth-century American church. The Campbellites were the spiritual ancestors of the modern Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, and the non-instrumental Churches of Christ (non-institutional). Campbellites were also major proponents of education, and the Clarks operated a preparatory school, the Male & Female Seminary of Fort Worth, from 1869 to 1874. But they also envisioned an institution of higher learning for both men and women that would be Christian in character, but nonsectarian in spirit and intellectually open-minded.

TCU students inside a dorm room at Jarvis Hall.

Statue of TCU founders Addison and Randolph Clark.

They planned to establish their college in Fort Worth on five city blocks purchased for that purpose in 1869. However, from 1867-1872, the character of Fort Worth changed substantially due to the commercial influence of the Chisholm Trail, the principal route for moving Texas cattle to the Kansas railheads. A huge influx of cattle, men, and money transformed the sleepy frontier village into a booming, brawling cowtown. The area around the property purchased by the Clarks for their college soon became the town's vice district, an unrelieved stretch of saloons, gambling halls, dance parlors, and bawdy houses catering to the rough tastes of the Chisholm Trail cowboys. Its rough and rowdy reputation had, by 1872, acquired it the nickname of "Hell's Half Acre" (the heart of which is today occupied by the Fort Worth Convention Center and the Fort Worth Water Gardens).

The Clarks feared this negative environment undermined the fledgling university's mission. They began to look for an alternative site to establish their college, and they found it at Thorp Spring, a small community and stagecoach stop 40 miles (60 km) to the southwest, near the frontier of Comanche and Kiowa territory. It was perhaps a marker of their Campbellite sensibilities that the Clarks feared the Indians less than they feared the corrupting influence of "the Acre."

AddRan College (TCU) was one of the first coeducational institutions of higher education west of the Mississippi River, and the very first in Texas—a progressive step at a time when only 15% of the national college enrollment was female and almost all were enrolled at women's colleges. The inaugural enrollment in Fall 1873 was 13 students, though this number rose to 123 by the end of the first term. Shortly thereafter, annual enrollment ranged from 200 to 400. The college formed a partnership with what would become the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1889 and was renamed AddRan Christian University. The church does not own or operate TCU; TCU is self-owned and self-governing. The church partnership is based on a common Disciples heritage and shared values.

The need for a larger population and transportation base prompted the university to relocate to Waco from 1895 to 1910. A featured speaker at the Waco welcoming ceremony was the president of crosstown rival, Baylor University. The institution was renamed Texas Christian University in 1902, though almost immediately it was dubbed with the unofficial moniker by which it is most popularly known today: TCU.

In 1910, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the university's main administration building. A group of enterprising Fort Worth businessmen offered the university $200,000 in rebuilding money and a 50-acre (200,000 m²) campus as an inducement to relocate to their city. This move brought TCU home to the historic source of its institutional roots. It also completed TCU's nearly 40-year transition from a frontier college to an urban university.

Academics and demographics

TCU is classified under the Carnegie classification system as a doctoral/research institution. It offers 100 undergraduate majors, 54 master's programs, and 12 doctoral programs. Although doctoral/research in academic classification, the university retains strong liberal arts roots. The humanities, social sciences, and sciences are emphasized throughout the curriculum, with a particularly strong emphasis on writing, critical thinking, and communication skills. Among 2,400 four-year colleges and universities in the United States, TCU is routinely ranked by U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" ranking as among the top 120, or the top 5 percent.

Between 2006 and 2010, TCU is spending $295 million reconstructing its main campus as a University Commons, a centrally located green space bounded by a new 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m²) University Union; four new, suite-style residence halls (housing mostly sophomores and juniors); and a new academic building that will become the headquarters of AddRan College of Liberal Arts. The purpose of this reconstruction is to reinforce and maintain TCU's traditional status as a predominantly residential and pedestrian-friendly campus. About two-thirds of TCU students live on campus.

The student population is about 8,700, with roughly 7,500 undergraduates and 1,200 graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 76% white, 7% Hispanic, 5% black, 2.5% Asian, and 9.5% other or unknown. About 57% of TCU undergrads are female and 43% are male.^[6]

Institutions

• AddRan College of Liberal Arts
• Brite Divinity School
• M.J. Neeley School of Business
• College of Communication
• College of Education
• College of Fine Arts
• Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
• Schieffer School of Journalism
• College of Science & Engineering

Student life

Student media

• The Daily Skiff, published since 1902, is TCU's student newspaper.
• The Horned Frog is the school yearbook.
• Image Magazine is TCU's student magazine.
• TCU has a radio station as well, which stretches widely across the Dallas/Fort Worth area. It is KTCU, FM 88.7 "The Choice"
• KTCU also broadcasts TCU football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball.

Campus Sustainability

TCU has strived for a greener campus by launching the “Think Purple, Live Green” Campaign. So far, the campaign has been successful and has had over 1800 signatories to the “TCU Live Green Pledge”. Incentives have also been offered for students that find innovative ways to live more sustainably on campus. The university is also retrofitting lighting on campus and converting to low-flow fixtures. Texas Christian University received a C- on the The College Sustainability Report Card.

Greek life

Texas Christian University boasts a robust Greek life, including the following organizations:

• Ten Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities (Kappa Sigma, Delta Tau Delta, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon)

• Eleven National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities (Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Kappa, Zeta Tau Alpha)

• One Christian fraternity, Beta Upsilon Chi, and one Christian sorority, Eta Iota Sigma.

• Six members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Kappa Alpha Psi)

• Four members of the Multi-cultural Greek Council (Lambda Theta Phi, Chi Upsilon Sigma, Sigma Lambda Alpha, Kappa Lambda Delta)

• Dozens of professional and academic organizations, including Phi Beta Kappa and Delta Sigma Pi

• Music Fraternities including Mu Phi Epsilon, Phi Mu Alpha, Tau Beta Sigma, and Kappa Kappa Psi.

Athletics

TCU competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports as a member of the Division I Mountain West Conference. Over its history, TCU was a long-time member of the former Southwest Conference, competing with Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, Southern Methodist University, Houston, Arkansas, and Rice. After the Southwest Conference's breakup in 1995, a period of transition began for TCU athletics. TCU soon joined the Western Athletic Conference, then shifted to Conference USA in 2001, and in 2005, moved again, joining the Mountain West Conference.

TCU's varsity sports have a long and storied history of excellence, boasting eight men's and ten women's varsity squads. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, swimming & diving, track & field, cross country and tennis. Women's sports include basketball, volleyball, golf, swimming & diving, cross country, track & field, soccer, rifle, equestrian, and tennis.

Football

The Horned Frogs have won two national championships, one in 1935^[7] and the other in 1938^[8]. Additionally, the team has captured fourteen conference championships. Many notable football players played for TCU, including Sammy Baugh, Davey O'Brien, Jim Swink, Bob Lilly, Aaron Schobel, Matt Schobel, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Tucker, Bo Schobel, and Jason Phillips.

The Horned Frogs play their home games in the on campus 44,008 seat Amon G. Carter Stadium. Gary Patterson has coached the team since December 2000, leading the Horned Frogs to a 73-27 record (.730), including five bowl wins in eight appearances and in 2008 the highest season-ending national ranking (7, AP and 7, ESPN/Coaches) in five decades.

Notable alumni

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2009)

Athletes

• LaDainian Tomlinson - 2006 NFL MVP, 2000 Heisman Trophy finalist, 5-time Pro Bowl running back for the San Diego Chargers (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
• Aaron Brown - current running back for the Detroit Lions
• Jason Phillips - current linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens
• Stephen Hodge - current linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys
• Anthony Alabi - offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Bob Lilly - Former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ranked number 10 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, the highest-ranking defensive lineman, and a member of the All-Century NFL Team.
• Sammy Baugh - 1935 Heisman Trophy finalist; NFL record-holder and 9-time All-Pro, who played for the Washington Redskins. Member of All Time NFL 50th and 75th Anniversary teams. Part of inaugural NFL Hall of Fame Class.
• Davey O'Brien - 1938 Heisman Trophy winner; former NFL quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles; only college football player to win the Heisman, Maxwell, and Walter Camp trophies in the same year
• Lyle Blackwood - Former safety for the Miami Dolphins
• Larry Brown - Former cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders, Super Bowl XXX MVP
• Kenneth E. Davis - 1984 Heisman Trophy finalist and All American running back.
• Basil Mitchell- Former GreenBay Packer, # 6 all time TCU running back, and 1998 MVP in the Sun Bowl when TCU played and beat the USC Trojans in their first bowl game victory since 1957.
• Jamie Dixon - Current head men's basketball coach at the University of Pittsburgh
• Larry Foyt - NASCAR & IRL Driver
• J. J. Henry - PGA golfer, member of the 2006 Ryder Cup team.
• Sandora Irvin - WNBA player, San Antonio Silver Stars
• Lee Nailon - Former NBA player
• Kurt Thomas - NBA player, for the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics and in February 2008 was traded to the San Antonio Spurs.; one-time NBA assistant coach, Dallas Mavericks; at TCU one of three players to lead the NCAA Division I in scoring and rebounding in the same year (a feat he accomplished twice).
• Kris Tschetter - Professional golfer on the LPGA Tour
• Angela Stanford - Professional golfer on the LPGA Tour
• Guy Morriss - Former Baylor University and University of Kentucky head football coach, and former 15-year Pro Bowl NFL center for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots.
• Jeff Newman - major league baseball player, Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics
• Mike Renfro - 10-season NFL receiver for the Houston Oilers and the Dallas Cowboys
• Khadevis Robinson - USA Olympian in the 800 meter run. Multi-time USATF gold medalist. World Record Breaker running the fastest leg in the 4x800 in 2006.
• Aaron Schobel - Pro Bowl defensive end with the NFL's Buffalo Bills
• Bo Schobel - Defensive end with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals
• DJ Fisher, former Euroleague basketball player for Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez
• Matt Schobel - Tight end with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles
• Herb Taylor - Offensive lineman with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs
• Jeff Zimmerman - Former All-Star pitcher for the Texas Rangers
• Marvin White - Safety with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals
• Jason Tucker - Receiver with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos
• Johnny Vaught - 1932 All- American guard for TCU. Head Coach of the University of Mississippi Football team from 1947-1970 and part of 1973 seasons attaining a record of 190-61-12 for a .745 winning percentage. His 1960 team was named national champion by the Football Writers Association. Vaught was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

Business and community leaders

• James Cash, Jr. - Former Chairman of Harvard MBA program and Senior Associate Dean and Chairman of HBS Publishing from 1998 to 2003. Currently sits on boards of GE and Microsoft
• G. Malcolm Louden - Billionaire entrepreneur; president and CEO of Walsh Holdings
• Gordon England (MBA '75) - 71st & 73rd Secretary of the Navy, Deputy Secretary of Defense (2005-2009)
• John Davis - Billionaire entrepreneur; 1-800-Flowers founder
• Eddie Bernice Johnson - B.S. 1967 U.S. Representative Texas 30th congressional district
• Thomas E. Locke - Lubbock banker
• John Roger Williams - Former Secretary of State (Texas)
• Bob Schieffer - journalist with CBS News since 1969 and host of Face the Nation
• Winthrop Paul Rockefeller - Former Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, from 1996 until his death in 2006.
• David Tauber - CEO of Tauber Oil
• Dan Boren - U.S Representative Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district
• Justin Avery Anderson - Founder and CEO of Anderson Trail, maker of "The Original Premium Moist Granola"
• Adam Blake -real estate guru, CEO of Blake Venture Corp. and Atlas Properties
• Matthew P. "Pete" Schneider, III, Slidell, Louisiana businessman and former state representative from St. Tammany Parish, 1992-2008
• Brian Thomas -Psychology professor at Baldwin-Wallace College
• Chris Powers Jr. - Real estate guru, CEO of Powers & Co., Powers Acquisitions, Dtownrenting.com. Real estate fund manager.

Alumni in arts and entertainment

• Corby Davidson- Radio personality in Dallas, Texas
• Betty Buckley- Broadway actress
• Glenda Green - Artist and author of the book Love Without End, Jesus Speaks published in 1998.
• Travis Willingham - Voice Actor
• Kristin Holt - Television personality, former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader; finalist on the original American Idol
• James Kerwin - film and theater director
• Sue Monk Kidd - Bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees
• Chris Klein - Movie actor, featured in films such as American Pie (film); We Were Soldiers Once, And Young; and Rollerball
• Dan Jenkins - Bestselling author and former Sports Illustrated writer
• William Lewis, opera singer and academic
• Travis Schuldt - television actor on Passions, 10-8: Officers on Duty and Scrubs
• Rod Roddy - former The Price is Right announcer
• Bud Shrake - Sportswriter and author
• Gary Cartwright - Feature writer, Texas Monthly
• Sandra Brown - Bestselling fiction author
• Luke Wilson - Actor
• Norman Alden - Actor
• Xing You - Director
• Tokio Sasaki - Actor

Fictional alumnus

• Roy Hinkley, a.k.a. "The Professor" on the TV series Gilligan's Island has, among his six degrees, a PhD from TCU.
• Kenny Lee Puckett, Professional golfer, protagonist of "Dead Solid Perfect" by author Dan Jenkins.
• Billy Clyde Puckett, Professional football player, protagonist of "Semi-Tought" by author Dan Jenkins.
• Captain Karen Walden (played by Meg Ryan), Courage Under Fire, 1996 movie directed by Edward Zwick.
• Rev. Lovejoy, The Simpsons, Season 20: "Wedding for Disaster", www.thesimpsons.com

References

• Swaim, Joan. (1992). Walking TCU. Fort Worth: Texas Christian University Press. ISBN 0-399-14218-50875651046

1. ^ "2008 NACUBO Endowment Study" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers. http://www.nacubo.org/documents/research/NES2008PublicTable-AllInstitutionsByFY08MarketValue.pdf. Retrieved February 6, 2009. 
2. ^ "National Universities Rankings". America's Best Colleges 2009. U.S. News & World Report. 2009. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-search. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
3. ^ "Best Business Schools". America's Best Graduate Schools. U.S. News & World Report. 2009. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/rankings. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
4. ^ "Best Education Programs". America's Best Graduate Schools. U.S. News & World Report. 2009. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/rankings. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
5. ^ "The Washington Monthly National University Rankings" (PDF). The Washington Monthly. 2007. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0709.natlrankings.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-31. 
6. ^ University Fact Book
7. ^ Complete List of Williamson National Champions from CFB Database
8. ^ NCAA Division I-A national football championship

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Texas Christian University

• Official website
• TCU Daily Skiff, student newspaper

Coordinates: 32°42′35″N 97°21′46″W / 32.709605°N 97.362823°W / 32.709605; -97.362823