EASTERN NAZARENE COLLEGE

'Eastern Nazarene College (ENC)' is a Christian liberal arts college in Quincy, Massachusetts. The 15-acre (6-hectare) campus^[2] is located in Quincy's Wollaston neighborhood.^[3] It is the only evangelical Christian college in metropolitan Boston. ENC is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). The school's alumni publication is the ''Christian Scholar''.^[4]

Contents

Affiliation

History

Academics

Student life

Christian lifestyle

Residential life

Athletics and activities

Notable alumni and persons associated with Eastern Nazarene College

Notes and references

External links

See also

Affiliation

One of eight U.S. liberal arts colleges^[5] and universities affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene,^[6] ENC is the college for the "Eastern Region"^[7] of the United States.^[8] In terms of the Church of the Nazarene, this is comprised of the Maine, New England, Upstate New York, Metro New York, Philadephia, Pittsburgh, Mid-Atlantic (formerly Washington), and Virginia districts, which include Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and a small portion of West Virginia. Until the founding of Mount Vernon Nazarene College in 1968, the Eastern Region included Ohio as well,^[9] the loss of which immediately affected ENC.^[10] Each college receives financial backing from the Nazarene churches on its region; part of each church budget is paid into a fund for its regional school. Each college or university is also bound by a gentlemen's agreement not to actively recruit outside its respective "educational region."^[11]

History

Eastern Nazarene College was founded in 1900 in Saratoga Springs, New York as the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute (PCI) and Bible Training School, a co-educational institution established for the sole purpose of providing Biblical Christian education and training in the form of a Christian high school academy, college, and seminary.^[12] It was operated under the auspices of the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America.^[13] At the time, "pentecostal" did not hold the same meaning as it does today, but rather served as a synonym for "holiness."^[14] From its incipience, attendance at PCI (later ENC) was multi-denominational, only one-quarter to one-third Pentecostal or Nazarene during any given academic year. James Cameron references close relationships with the Reformed Baptist denomination in his history of ENC.^[15]




In 1902, the school moved to North Scituate, Rhode Island, as the result of a dispute between its first president, Lyman C. Pettit, and the Educational Committee of the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America. Pettit thought it appropriate and necessary to remove the Institute from the auspices of the Association, that "human machinery" was "contrary to aggressive holiness" and felt himself accountable "only to God." The Association, however, simply wished to subject the president and administration to some regulation and financial accounting as part of standard procedure. Pettit, who owned of the land on which the Institute was situated, refused to work with the Committee. The Association relocated the Institute, incorporated it, removed the Bible Training School for college and seminary work, became purely college preparatory, and found a principal in William F. Albrecht. Pettit's school only lasted one more year before closing, after which he became a Presbyterian minister.^[12]



In 1903, the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America merged with the Church of the Nazarene to form the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene. The church later dropped "Pentecostal" from the name as it became increasingly associated with congregations requiring glossolalia as demonstration of faith in the 20th century,^[14] and the school took on the name Eastern Nazarene College in 1918. That same year, the institution saw its original dream of a liberal arts college realised, as well, though secondary education was maintained in conjunction with the post-secondary curriculum through 1955.^[12]



In 1919, the college moved to its most recent location in the Wollaston neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts. The property, former site of the Quincy Mansion School for Girls, was sold to the College for a total of $50,000.00 and consisted of the Quincy Mansion (1848), a summer mansion built by the fourth Josiah Quincy where ''Angell Hall'' now stands, a classroom building called the Manchester (1896), the stables (1848), and the Canterbury (1901), which still stands today as ''Canterbury Hall''. Elm Avenue was the avenue, or driveway, for the two mansions on the property.^[19] The first of the two, the Josiah Quincy House (1770), still stands on Muirhead Street. After the move, the Rhode Island campus, formerly the Lapham Institute, became the Watchman Institute in 1920.



It was another 10 years before ENC was given degree-granting power by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Department of Education was unimpressed by the college, but President Floyd W. Nease appealed to the authority-granting body itself, the General Court. The college defended its petition before the Joint Committe on Education and the House and Senate on January 28, 1930, calling on financial records, campus improvement plans, and prominent community leaders, and the bill passed in both houses.^[20] Thirteen years later, under President Gideon B. Williamson, Eastern Nazarene College gained accreditation by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.^[21]



In the late 1970s, there were plans to relocate the College^[22] to Newtown Square, Pennsylvania and purchase the faltering Charles E. Ellis School for Fatherless Girls.^[23] The proposal was very unpopular among students and members of the community, and the relocation never took place.^[24]

Academics

The College uses a "4-1-4 system" for its academic year. There are two full semesters in the Fall and Spring, each roughly four months long, and a one-month term in January known as "J Term."



The "student-to-faculty ratio" at Eastern Nazarene is 15:1 (703 students to 46 full-time faculty). All faculty members are required to be professing Christians, and many are ENC alumni.^[25] According to former Dean Bertha Munro, ENC exists with the idea in mind that one can be a Christian and a scholar, that "there is no conflict between the best in education and the best in Christian faith,"^[12] a philosophy echoed by modern-day Christian authors and scientists like Darrel R. Falk^[27] and Francis S. Collins.^[28]



At the undergraduate level, the College grants Associate's and Bachelor's (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science) degrees. As at any "four-year college," most degree offerings are Baccalaureate degrees. There are several academic majors, minors, and professional-preparatory programs.^[29] Eastern Nazarene College claims to have a 94% acceptance rate into medical school and a 100% acceptance into law school.^[30] ENC also operates an "Adult Studies" division, which offers Associate's degrees, Bachelor's degree completion, and Master's degree programs for graduate study, as well as maintaining an articulation agreement with Massasoit Community College.^[31]

Student life

ENC had 701 traditional undergraduates as of Fall 2006. One purported benefit of a small student body is that it stimulates a close community atmosphere. Relationships are thus expected to develop between students and faculty and provide mentoring opportunities for spiritual formation on campus as well as contacts for internship and research opportunities.



In 2006, members of that student body were affiliated with at least 29 different Christian denominations. 35% was affiliated Nazarene, while an additional 35% of the student population had an unreported denominational/religious affiliation. The next three largest representations were Catholic, Baptist, and specifically Non-denominational. Also in the same year, students from 31 states and 21 countries were attending Eastern Nazarene College.^[32] Considering ENC's regional status, which prohibits the College from actively recruiting outside its "region," this fact may prove significant. ENC is 24% "ethnically" diverse, as well, according to their own statistics. Demographic and denominational diversity at ENC, as well as any expected academic diversity at a liberal arts college, is reflected in ENC's most recent marketing slogan, "Many Differences, One Faith."

Christian lifestyle

Students are not required to be Christian to attend Eastern Nazarene College, though adherence to lifestyle guidelines is required.



Each student, upon registering, also agrees to "abstain from the use of illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and to avoid attendance at bars, clubs, or other activities or places of entertainment that promote themes of inappropriate sexuality, violence, profanity, pornography or activities demeaning to human life,"^[33] both while on and off-campus. The school's catalog further specifies that "sexual intimacy, while honorable in marriage, is inappropriate outside the bonds of marriage and must be avoided." "Excessive" displays of affection in public areas, and "abbreviated shorts and tops (e.g., midriffs, cutaway shirts, halter and tube tops, etc.)" are prohibited, and sport bras and spandex shorts "should be covered by outerwear."



Although "theatergoing" was on the school's list of forbidden activities as recently as 1980,^[34] the college has a very active student theater organization,^[35] and the current guidelines merely note that students are encouraged to "evaluate critically all forms of literature, music, media, and other forms of entertainment and to abstain from supporting those that promote themes of violence, profanity, pornography, or activities demeaning human life." While many churches do not keep a written policy, most Christian denominations uphold these ideals.



At this Christian college, Chapel services are offered on Wednesdays and Fridays. There are 26 opportunities throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, and students are encouraged to attend at least 20. Students are also encouraged to find a church home, and area churches have provided transportation.



There exist both campus-oriented and community-oriented ministries, facilitated through both student leadership and ENC's Spiritual Development program. One example is "Open Hand, Open Heart," which ministers to the homeless of Boston by providing food and blankets.

Residential life

Most of the student population resides on campus, as special permission is required for non-commuter undergraduate students to live off-campus.



The College is co-educational, and students live in single-sex dormitories with visitation hours throughout the week. There are 3 female dormitories (''Spangenberg Hall'', ''Williamson Hall'', and ''Munro Hall'') and 2 male dormitories (''Memorial Hall'' and ''Shields Hall''). "Young Apartments" (or ''Young Hall'') is divided into staff housing, married student housing, upperclassman female housing, and upperclassman male housing. Each dormitory also houses a common area, known as a parlor, where students of both sexes are welcome. Social events, student ministries, and study groups use these parlors extensively during the week.



The ''Mann Student Center'' houses "The Commons" for sit-down meals cafeteria-style, as well as "The Dugout" for meals in a café-type atmosphere. The latter is a popular location for social gathering, as is the adjacent "Colonel's Coffee House."

Athletics and activities

Varsity sports are NCAA Division III, in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). Men's varsity sports include Baseball, Basketball, Cross-Country, Soccer, and Tennis. Women's sports include Basketball, Cross-Country, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball. Additionally, intramural sports take place year-round and change from season to season based on student interest (past sports have included Lacrosse, Field Hockey, and Men's Volleyball). Other campus sports, such as January-Term Basketball and Soccer, are organized by Student Government Association's (SGA) Rec. Life.



Students participate in student government, academic clubs, student ministries, and school sports, but there are no fraternities or sororities, only "societies." These include Physics, Biology, History, and Psychology "clubs." The student-run newspaper is the ''Campus Camera'', and the student-developed yearbook is the ''Nautilus''. There are four vocal and five instrumental ensembles in which students participate: A Cappella Choir,^[36] Chamber Singers, Gospel Choir, Choral Union, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, Guitar Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble.

Notable alumni and persons associated with Eastern Nazarene College

★ David Bergers — Alumnus, Director for the Boston Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission^[37]

★ John U. Free — Alumnus, current faculty^[38][39]

★ Karl Giberson — Alumnus, current faculty, editor of ''Research News & Opportunities in Science and Theology'' for the John Templeton Foundation

★ Eldon C. Hall — Alumnus, engineer and lead designer of the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC)^[40]

★ Kent R. Hill — former president, Assistant Administrator for Global Health for USAID^[41]

★ Neil Nicoll — Alumnus, current President & CEO of the YMCA^[42]

★ John S. Rigden — Alumnus, former faculty, former editor of ''The American Journal of Physics'' (1975-1985)^[43]

★ Ross Tubo — Alumnus, Senior Director of Stem Cell Biology, Genzyme

★ Donald A. Yerxa — Alumnus, current faculty, editor of ''Historically Speaking''^[44] for The Historical Society^[45] at Boston University

Notes and references

1. Wollaston MBTA Station page with Google Map
2. The campus is also an arboretum, dedicated as the ''Babcock Arboretum'' in 1993. The History of the Babcock Arboretum, written by Gerry Wood, is available at Nease Library.
3. Approx. 1.5 miles southeast of Boston, Massachusetts, as the crow flies, approx. 6 miles from downtown Boston, and 0.5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean (See Wollaston Beach and Boston Harbor, Outer Harbor, Quincy Bay).
4. The ''Christian Scholar'' Online
5. ENC is the only Nazarene institution to retain the "college" moniker. In terms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Higher Education's "two doctorate" standard, no Nazarene school merits university status. Different states hold different standards, but only two Nazarene schools offer any doctoral programs, and neither of these liberal arts colleges fit the standard national definition of a ''research university''.
6. ''LIBERAL ARTS AND THE PRIORITIES OF NAZARENE HIGHER EDUCATION'' by J. Matthew Price, Ph.D.
7. Eastern Region
8. ENC and NNU are the only Nazarene schools to remain true to their regional names.
9. When the boundaries were made in 1918, the districts included New England, New York, Pittsburgh, Ohio, Washington-Philadelphia, and Virginia. James R. Cameron, ''Eastern Nazarene College—The First Fifty Years, 1900-1950'', Nazarene Publishing House (1968), 131.
10. Jim Cameron, an Ohio native, referred to Ohio as ENC's "largest source of both students and funds." James R. Cameron. ''The Spirit Makes the Difference: The History of Eastern Nazarene College, Part II, 1950-2000'', ENC Press (2000), 282.
11. Nazarene Educational Regions
12. James R. Cameron, ''Eastern Nazarene College—The First Fifty Years, 1900-1950'', Nazarene Publishing House, 1968.
13. ''Why These Schools? Historical Perspectives on Nazarene Higher Education'' by Stan Ingersol
14. See Church of the Nazarene, History, for more information.
15. James R. Cameron, ''Eastern Nazarene College—The First Fifty Years, 1900-1950'', Nazarene Publishing House (1968), 175.
16. James R. Cameron, ''Eastern Nazarene College—The First Fifty Years, 1900-1950'', Nazarene Publishing House, 1968.
17. See Church of the Nazarene, History, for more information.
18. James R. Cameron, ''Eastern Nazarene College—The First Fifty Years, 1900-1950'', Nazarene Publishing House, 1968.
19. Information provided by Eastern Nazarene College, history of the Babcock Arboretum, written by Gerry Wood, founder.
20. James R. Cameron, ''Eastern Nazarene College—The First Fifty Years, 1900-1950'', Nazarene Publishing House (1968), 194-195.
21. James R. Cameron, ''Eastern Nazarene College—The First Fifty Years, 1900-1950'', Nazarene Publishing House (1968), 293.
22.
23. History of the Ellis School
24. The History of the Ellis School confirms James Cameron's claim that the college was also outbid by a major corporation. James R. Cameron, ''The Spirit Makes the Difference: The History of Eastern Nazarene College, Part II, 1950-2000'', ENC Press (2000) 283.
25. The 2006 ENC Viewbook
26. James R. Cameron, ''Eastern Nazarene College—The First Fifty Years, 1900-1950'', Nazarene Publishing House, 1968.
27. ''Coming to Peace with Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology'', InterVarsity Press, 2004, ISBN 0830827420
28. ''The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief'', Free Press, 2006, ISBN 0743286391
29. Eastern Nazarene College Undergraduate Programs
30. Colleges of Distinction "Fast Facts" page for ENC.
''Colleges of Distinction'' is a college guide created as a reaction to college ranking as done by U.S.News & World Report among others; see About Colleges of Distinction and More About the Project. See ''College and University Rankings: Criticism (North America)'' information on college ranking criticism.
31. Eastern Nazarene College Graduate Programs
32. Eastern Nazarene College, Office of the Registrar.
33. Eastern Nazarene College Application for Admission
34. Johnson, Carolyn Y. (2005) "A Calling to Educate: New Head of Christian College Aims to Train 'People of Value'", ''The Boston Globe,'' July 31, 2005, Globe South p. 1
35. Quincy Arts Alive features ENC
36. ENC A Cappella Choir Website
37. SEC Press Release
38. Visiting Scientist Report PDF on Dr. Free from Harvard University, Cambridge
39. Research Report PDF from Harvard University, Cambridge featuring professor John Free and ENC student Joseph Cox on p. 7
40. Smart Computing Encyclopedia entry for Eldon Hall
41. USAID Bio of Kent Kill
42. YMCA Press Release
43. American Institute of Physics re: John Ridgen
44. ''Historically Speaking''
45. The Historical Society homepage

External links

★ Eastern Nazarene College

★ Colleges of Distinction: Eastern Nazarene College

See also

★ Nazarene International Education Association

★ List of Church of the Nazarene schools

★ List of NCAA Division III Institutions