Freed–Hardeman University

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox university Freed–Hardeman University is a private university associated with the Churches of Christ and located in Henderson, Tennessee, United States. It is primarily undergraduate and residential. The university also serves some commuting, part-time and adult students on-campus and through distance-learning programs.

The university is governed by a board of trustees, all of whom are required to be members of Churches of Christ. Courses are offered by 12 academic departments in 5 colleges: Arts and Sciences, Biblical Studies, Business, Education and Behavioral Sciences, and the Honors College.

History

The Bell Tower

Freed–Hardeman traces its origin to the 1869 charter of a private high school and college for Henderson, the Henderson Male Institute. It was known at various times as the Henderson Masonic Male and Female Institute, West Tennessee Christian College, or Georgie Robertson Christian College. It was named Georgie Robertson Christian College after George Ann "Georgie" Robertson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 1907 spring term Georgie Robertson Christian College closed. N. B. Hardeman, a Georgie Robertson Christian College alumnus, and A. G. Freed worked together to establish a new institution, the National Teachers' Normal and Business College to fill the educational void created in Henderson by the closing. The NTNBC was incorporated on May 21, 1907, but classes did not start until the fall of 1908. In 1919, it was renamed Freed–Hardeman College in honor of its founders. In February 1990, it became Freed–Hardeman University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The college did not accept African-American students until 1964, when its president, Hubert A. Dixon, stated that black students would be admitted in response "to the mistake of accepting federal funds".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The first black graduate was Elizabeth Saunders in 1967.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The university offers courses outside of the Henderson area in Memphis, Tennessee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also offers European study abroad programs based at the FHU facility in Verviers, Belgium. Other opportunities include programs in Spain, Israel, Costa Rica, New York City, Canada, and Seoul.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The university was granted an exception to Title IX in 2016 allowing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity where conflict exists with religious tenets.<ref name="CampusPride">Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 2019–2020 academic year, the university celebrated its 150th anniversary<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a volume of university history, By the Grace of God: The Story of Freed–Hardeman University, was published.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Campus buildings

The National Teacher's Normal and Business College Administration Building now known as the Old Administration Building, also affectionately called "Old Main", is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Loyd Auditorium is the main auditorium on campus and is used for Daily Chapel, FHU Lectureships, sports banquets, and the annual Homecoming Play.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center, opened in 2016, houses the Loden-Daniel Library, a café, and other resources.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Opposite Old Main is Crews Colbert Activity Center. It has two theaters, "Maroon Theater" and "Gold Theater", and a large activity room used for activities and meetings.<ref name="auto"/>

Student life

Freed–Hardeman does not have fraternities and sororities in the traditional sense. Instead, the university has co-educational social clubs. These are local only to Freed–Hardeman and have no connection to any national Greek system. Students participate in intramural sports, club meetings and devotionals with their respective clubs. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report included the university in its affordability ranking ("Great Schools, Great Prices"), listing it 13th among Southern master's degree-granting universities.Template:Cn The university reported a 44% acceptance rate of applicants for the fall 2012 semester.Template:Update needed

The university is ranked among the "Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth" by Campus Pride.<ref name="CampusPride"/>

Athletics

The Freed–Hardeman sports teams are called the "Lions" and "Lady Lions". The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> primarily competing in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) since the 2020–21 academic year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Lions and Lady Lions previously competed in the American Midwest Conference from 2013–14 to 2019–20, in the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TranSouth or TSAC) from 1996–97 to 2012–13 and in the Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference (TCAC) from 1986–87 to 1995–96.

Freed–Hardeman competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field. Women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

In 2014, the men's basketball coach, Jason Shelton, was awarded the Don Meyer Award, presented annually to the top NAIA coach in college basketball.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, the men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship.

On 20 March 2018, the Lady Lions basketball team won its first NAIA National Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable alumni and faculty

• Grace Alonso de Armiño, Spanish professional basketball player, 3x3 Olympian
• Carl Bell, musician
• George S. Benson, university administrator
• John Brown, businessman
• T. Jeff Busby, politician
• John Dale, minister
• John DeBerry, minister and politician
• Todd Farmer, screenwriter and actor
• Kerby Farrell, baseball player
• Dorsey B. Hardeman, politician
• Jere Hargrove, politician
• Hugo McCord, Bible scholar
• Dianne Odell, iron lung survivor
• Charles P. Roland, historian<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Rubel Shelly, author and college administrator
• Thomas B. Warren, theologian
• Sue Shelton White, suffragist lawyer

External links

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• Official athletics website