View source for Dordt University

{{Short description|College in Sioux Center, Iowa, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Dordt University
 | image                  = DordtCollegeSeal.png
 | image_size             = 150px
 | motto                  = [[Soli Deo Gloria]]<ref name="DC About us">
{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/about/ |title=About us |author=Dordt College |date=2009-06-24 |access-date=October 28, 2009}}</ref>
 | mottoeng               = Glory to God alone
 | established            = 1955
 | type                   = [[Private university]]
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Christian Reformed Church in North America|Christian Reformed Church]]
 | endowment              = [[United States dollar|US $]]62.1 million (2015)<ref name="2020 financials">{{cite web |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/sioux-center-ia/dordt-college-1859 |title=Best Colleges 2016: Dordt |author=U.S. News & World Report |year=2016 |access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref>
 | president              = Erik Hoekstra
 | students               = 1,943 <ref>https://www.riotimesonline.com/u-s-christian-colleges-defy-trends-with-record-enrollments/</ref>
 | city                   = [[Sioux Center, Iowa]]
 | country                = U.S.
 | coor                   = {{Coord|43.0833|-96.1671|display=inline,title}}
 | campus                 = Rural<ref name="USNews">{{citation |url= http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/dordt-college-1859 |title= Dordt College |publisher = U.S. News & World Report |access-date= 19 March 2011}}</ref><br /> {{convert|115|acre|km2}}<ref name="USNews"/>
 | former_names           = Midwest Christian Junior College (1955–1956)<br>Dordt College (1956–2019)
 | athletics_affiliations = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] – [[Great Plains Athletic Conference|GPAC]]
 | colors                 = {{nowrap|{{color box|black}} {{color box|#ffb81c}}<br />Black & Gold<ref name="GPAC members">{{cite web |url=https://www.trucolor.net/portfolio/great-plains-athletic-conference-1969-1970-through-present/#dordt-u |title=Great Plains Athletic Conference (1969-1970 through present) |author=TruColor |year= 2022 |access-date=1 Aug 2024}}</ref>}}
 | sports_nickname        = Defenders<ref name="GPAC members"/>
 | website                = {{URL|http://www.dordt.edu/}}
 | logo                   = Dordt University Logo.png
 | faculty                = 80 Full Time
 | academic_affiliations  = [[Council for Christian Colleges and Universities|CCCU]]<ref name="CCCU">{{cite web |url=http://www.cccu.org/members_and_affiliates/?member_type=mbr&all=true |title=Members & Affiliates |author=Council for Christian Colleges & Universities |year=2016 |access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref>
 | logo_size              = 150px
}}
{{Portal|Reformed Christianity}}
'''Dordt University''' is a [[Private university|private]] [[evangelical Christian]] university in [[Sioux Center, Iowa]]. It was founded in 1955 and is affiliated with the [[Christian Reformed Church in North America]]. The university name is a reference to the [[Synod of Dort|Synod of Dordt (Dordrecht)]].

Dordt annually enrolls about 1,500 students.<ref name="DC About us"/> The university offers 90 programs of study that lead to [[Associate of Arts]], [[Bachelor of Arts]], [[Bachelor of Science in Engineering]], [[Bachelor of Social Work]], [[Bachelor of Science in Nursing]], and [[Master of Education]] [[academic degree|degrees]].

== History ==
Dordt University was founded as Midwest Christian Junior College in 1953.<ref name="A Developing History">{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/about/our_mission/developing_history.shtml |title=A Developing History |author=Dordt College |date=2009-06-24 |access-date=28 Oct 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613041105/http://www.dordt.edu/about/our_mission/developing_history.shtml |archive-date=13 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1954, a group of men from local [[Christian Reformed Church in North America|Christian Reformed Churches]] in [[Iowa]], [[South Dakota]] and [[Minnesota]] agreed to establish the college in Sioux Center.<ref name="College Site">
{{cite web |url=http://siouxcounty.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewer.aspx?img=108094906 |title=Sioux Center College Site is Final |publisher= The Sioux Center News |format=PDF |date=25 Mar 1954 |access-date=16 November 2009
}}</ref> It was tentatively referred to as Midwest Christian Junior College,<ref name="College Site"/> and the first classes were held at the college in the fall of 1955 with about 40 students.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://siouxcounty.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewer.aspx?img=131602254 |title= Midwest College to Open Doors Here Next Monday |publisher= The Sioux Center News |format=PDF |date=8 Sep 1955 |access-date=16 November 2009
}}</ref>

In April 1956, the name was changed to Dordt College.<ref name="Dordt Name">
{{cite web |url=http://siouxcounty.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewer.aspx?img=131602660 |title=Christian Jr. College Is Renamed by Group Meeting Here Friday |publisher= The Sioux Center News |format=PDF |date=19 April 1956 |access-date=16 November 2009
}}</ref> This name was chosen to honor a historic 17th century [[Calvinism|Reformed]] church meeting called the [[Synod of Dort|Synod of Dordt]] that took place in the Netherlands in 1618–1619.<ref name="A Developing History"/><ref name="Dordt Name"/>

{{Blockquote
|text=
[T]he name 'Dordt' will constantly remind us of the heritage in which we are rooted and the goals we should strive for. It will give us a constant source of inspiration to continue in the faith of the fathers. It will tell all people everywhere just exactly what we are and what we stand for."<ref name="Dordt Name"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Zatlin|first=Kelly|date=19 April 2012|title=Is Dordt Losing Sight of Its Reformed Vision?|url=https://dordtdiamond.com/2012/04/19/is-dordt-losing-sight-of-its-reformed-vision/|access-date=9 August 2020|website=The Dordt Diamond|quote=In 1956, when the name was changed to Dordt College, he told the Sioux Center News that "the name 'Dordt' will constantly remind us of the heritage in which we are rooted and the goals we should strive for. It will give us a constant source of inspiration to continue in the faith of the fathers. It will tell all people everywhere just exactly what we are and what we stand for."}}</ref><br />Dordt College, as no other name, will express the distinctiveness of our school and the purpose for which it was established, The Spirit of Dordt, its strivings to seek the glory of God in all its thinking...its efforts to be faithful to the Word of God in every detail, summarizes all the things our school should strive for..."<ref name="Dordt Name"/>}}

The first graduating class consisted of 18 students in 1957.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://siouxcounty.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewer.aspx?img=108095267 |title=First Graduating Class of Dordt College |publisher= The Sioux Center News |format=PDF |date=30 May 1957 |access-date=16 November 2009 }}</ref> The first students to earn B.A. degrees graduated in 1965.<ref name="A Developing History"/> The college changed its name to Dordt University on May 13, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/news/45952 |title=Dordt Now Officially Known as Dordt University |publisher=Dordt University |date=2019 |access-date=May 13, 2019}}</ref>

== Academics ==
Dordt offers over 90 programs of study<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/academics/ |title=Academics |author= Dordt College |date=2009-06-26 |access-date=18 November 2009}}</ref> with over 40<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dordt.edu/academics|title=Academics|date=2016-04-11|website=Dordt University|language=en|access-date=2019-05-23}}</ref> majors and 11 pre-professional<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dordt.edu/academics/preprof_programs/ |title=Pre-professional Programs |author=Dordt College |date=2009-06-24 |access-date=18 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527211335/https://www.dordt.edu/academics/preprof_programs/ |archive-date=May 27, 2010 }}</ref> programs of study. The core is drawn from various academic disciplines such as language, natural science, and social science.

Dordt is accredited to grant bachelor and Master of Education degrees by the [[Higher Learning Commission]].<ref name="DC About us"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncahlc.org/index.php?option=com_directory&Itemid=192&Action=ShowBasic&instid=1229 |title=Affiliated Institutions |author= Higher Learning Commission |year=2009 |access-date=18 November 2009}}</ref> Furthermore, the engineering program is [[ABET]] accredited,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abet.org/AccredProgramSearch/AccreditationSearch.aspx |title=Search All Accredited Programs |author=ABET, Inc. |year=2009 |access-date=18 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817205746/http://www.abet.org/AccredProgramSearch/AccreditationSearch.aspx |archive-date=August 17, 2011 }}</ref> the nursing program is accredited by the [[National League for Nursing]] and the Iowa Board of Nursing<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/academics/programs/nursing/faq.shtml |title=Nursing: Frequently Asked Questions |author=Dordt College |date=2009-06-25 |access-date=18 November 2009}}</ref> and the social work program is accredited by the [[Council on Social Work Education]].<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://portal.cswe.org/Membership/CompanyInformation.aspx?sqs=EF06VduNynawLIMrKrC61lmPqEF3kdxqz8bxQyD+ojN6RB2/VUmnevs+zCAREC9Zcql0VLi6J0RnPLFMWcXNLaONcNzrXu1xf3HiKg82p4rxLaBUAvHfRCWF8disKrQt2gl/uxdppTHJVj3gk5ybTyK5F3qVCPW+CuujNsAfKlM+kLeEvUs2BbINHEAYvDHa9Rfj9gy4hCQP8XimDtGVv5VAyzUdLyWHAgZFUQRRZvzC&addressnum= |title=Membership Directory |author= Council on Social Work Education |year=2008 |access-date=18 November 2009}}</ref>

Dordt offers more than 25 off-campus study opportunities in countries around the world through its affiliation with the [[Council for Christian Colleges and Universities]]. These countries include Australia, China, France, Ghana, Honduras, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, Uganda, and the United Kingdom. Off-campus programs also exist for [[Chicago]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dordt.edu/academics/off_campus/semester_dordt.shtml |title=Dordt College Off-Campus Programs |publisher=Dordt College |access-date=11 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123154113/http://dordt.edu/academics/off_campus/semester_dordt.shtml |archive-date=November 23, 2010 }}</ref> [[Washington D.C.]],<ref name="CCCU Off Campus">{{cite web|url=http://www.dordt.edu/academics/off_campus/semester_cccu.shtml |title=Dordt College Off-Campus Programs: CCCU Semester Programs |access-date=11 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123141935/http://dordt.edu/academics/off_campus/semester_cccu.shtml |archive-date=November 23, 2010 }}</ref> and [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="CCCU Off Campus" />

Ninety-eight percent of students receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. The university awards scholarships based on academic potential and performance (e.g., the Kuyper Honors program<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dordt.edu/academics/ksp/ |title=Kuyper Scholars Program |author=Dordt College |date=2009-06-24 |access-date=18 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527151611/https://www.dordt.edu/academics/ksp/ |archive-date=May 27, 2010 }}</ref>), activities (e.g., sports, theater, music), and demonstrated financial need. Over $18.5 million is awarded in financial aid annually, thanks in large part to private donors and alumni.

== Campus ==
[[File:Dordt University Campus.jpg|thumb|The Campus Center in 2014.]]
The university is located in [[Sioux Center, Iowa]], about {{convert|45|mi|km|0}} north of [[Sioux City, Iowa|Sioux City]], and {{convert|55|mi|km|0}} southeast of [[Sioux Falls, SD]]. The campus covers a {{convert|115|acre|ha|adj=on}} area and includes 25 buildings, eleven for student housing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-13 |title=Campus Map |url=https://www.dordt.edu/about-dordt/map-and-directions |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Dordt University |language=en}}</ref>

The hub of the campus is the Campus Center. The {{convert|70000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} facility was constructed in 2002 at a cost of $12.5 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edaengineers.com/pages/references.html |title=References |author=EDA, Inc. (Stan Oordt) |date=January 17, 2005 |access-date=2009-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820035409/http://www.edaengineers.com/pages/references.html |archive-date=August 20, 2008 }}</ref> and is open continuously during the academic year. The entry level consists of a campus store, an art gallery, meditation rooms, and a student lounge. The upper level features enhanced-technology classrooms, conference rooms, and various offices. The lower-level houses an activity center, a dining area, a snack bar, and Campus Health. The basement features a recording studio and a game room complete with a four-lane regulation-size [[bowling alley]], as well as [[Table football|foosball]] and [[Pool (cue sports)|pool]] tables.<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/campus/campus_center/ |title=Campus Center |author= Dordt College |date=8 July 2009 |access-date=2009-11-17
}}</ref>

=== Academic facilities ===
The campus center is the John and Louise Hulst Library, which houses a collection of more than 300,000 book volumes, 16,000 print journal volumes, and 163,000 microtext units. The library subscribes to more than 600 journals, magazines, and newspapers, and has electronic access to another 10,000 titles. In addition to providing print and electronic resources, the library serves the campus media needs by offering checkout availability of various media equipment. The library has a significant collection of curriculum and children's literature materials housed in the Learning Resource Center. Other specialized collections include the Dordt University Archives and the Dutch Memorial Collection.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/academics/library/about_us.shtml |title=John & Louise Hulst Library About Us |author=Dordt College |date=12 Oct 2009 |access-date=2009-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608060945/https://www.dordt.edu/academics/library/about_us.shtml |archive-date=8 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Science and Technology Center at has 180- and 80-seat lecture halls, a [[greenhouse]], laboratories, general-use classrooms, and various science departmental offices. There are laboratories for organic chemistry, physical chemistry and physics. It also houses agriculture facilities for animal science and agronomy labs. The engineering wing includes labs for mechanical engineering, electronics, electrical engineering, and computer-aided design.<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/campus/sci_tech_center/ |title=Science/Technology Center |author= Dordt College |date=3 Nov 2009 |access-date=2009-11-17
}}</ref> The Science and Technology Center is connected to the Campus Center via a sky walk, which was constructed in 2017.

=== B. J. Haan Auditorium ===
[[File:135. Vocal Music. (41547815094).jpg|thumb|right]]
The B. J. Haan Auditorium seats approximately 1,500 people and is used for chapel services, concerts, [[Organ (music)|organ]] recitals, and other regional events. Convocation and commencement exercises are also held in "the Beej", as it is called by students. The auditorium features a three-[[Manual (music)|manual]], [[tracker action|tracker-action]] [[Casavant Frères]] [[Pipe organ|organ]] with 37 [[Organ stop|stops]], 57 ranks, and 2,833 [[Organ pipe|pipes]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Casavant Frères Ltée. (Opus 3360, 1978) |url= https://pipeorgandatabase.org/organ/1101 |access-date=18 November 2023 |publisher = Organ Historical Society |website=Pipe Organ Database}}</ref>
{{Wikiquote|Donald Trump#Speech at Dordt University (23 January 2016)|Donald J. Trump's 2016 presidential campaign rally at Dordt University}}
The auditorium is adjoined by the Music Building, which also has rehearsal rooms, studios and classrooms, vocal and instrumental practice rooms, and music faculty offices. Its mezzanine also houses the [[IAPCHE: the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education|International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education]].<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/campus/bj_haan/ |title=B.J. Haan Auditorium |author= Dordt College |date=29 June 2009 |access-date=2009-11-17
}}</ref>

The auditorium was the site of a [[List of rallies for the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign|campaign rally]] by candidate [[Donald Trump|Donald J. Trump]] on January 23, 2016,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Dias |first=Elizabeth |date=9 August 2020 |title='Christianity Will Have Power' – How a Promise by Trump Bonded Him to White Evangelicals |volume=169 |pages=A1, A20–21 |work=The New York Times |issue=58780 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/09/us/evangelicals-trump-christianity.html |access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref> during the race for the [[2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses]].

=== Athletic facilities ===
The campus recreation center hosts the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) departmental facilities and the athletics offices. The Rec Center includes basketball, volleyball and racquetball courts, an aerobics room, a weight room, a 200-meter indoor track, and a batting cage.<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/campus/recreation_center/ |title=Recreation Center |author= Dordt College |date=29 June 2009 |access-date=2009-11-17
}}</ref>

The All Seasons Center was built in 2004 and contains an [[NHL]]-sized hockey rink, waterslides, a lap pool, and both indoor and outdoor family aquatic pools.<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://www.dordt.edu/campus/all_seasons_center/ |title=All Seasons Center |author= Dordt College |date=29 June 2009 |access-date=2009-11-17
}}</ref> This US$9 million facility is shared by Dordt College and the city of Sioux Center and received the Iowa League of Cities 2002 All-Star Community Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iowaleague.org/aboutcities/CIA.aspx?id=79 |title=Sioux Center's All Seasons Center |author=Iowa League of Cities |date=Winter 2002 |access-date=2009-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609011606/http://www.iowaleague.org/aboutcities/CIA.aspx?id=79 |archive-date=June 9, 2011 }}</ref> The arena plays host to the Defenders Ice Hockey program.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.siouxcenter.org/allseas.htm |title=All Seasons Center |author= City of Sioux Center |access-date=2009-11-17
}}</ref>

== Athletics ==
The Dordt athletic teams are called the Defenders. The university is a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA), primarily competing in the [[Great Plains Athletic Conference]] (GPAC) since the 2000–2001 academic year.<ref name="GPAC members"/> The Defenders previously competed in the defunct [[South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference]] (SDIC) from 1995–96 to 1999–00.

Dordt competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, soccer, track & field and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, golf, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball.

=== Cross country ===
The men's team won the [[2022 NAIA Cross Country Championships]] with a final score of 97 points.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.naia.org/sports/mxc/2022-23/Releases/Championship |title= Dordt (Iowa) Men Captured First Red Banner at 2022 NAIA Cross Country Championship |author= NAIA |date= 18 November 2022 |access-date=4 Dec 2022}}</ref> This was the first national championship for any athletic program in Dordt history.

=== Basketball ===
In 2014, the Defenders set a record for points scored by both teams in the [[2014 NAIA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament|NAIA National Basketball Tournament]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Dordt Men's Season ends in Double OT at National Tournament|url=http://kiwaradio.com/sports/dordt-mens-season-ends-in-double-ot-at-national-tournament/|publisher=KIWA Radio|access-date=8 April 2014|archive-date=30 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830080919/http://kiwaradio.com/sports/dordt-mens-season-ends-in-double-ot-at-national-tournament/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2024, the Defenders women's team claimed their first national title at the [[NAIA women's basketball championship]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Champions! Defenders Repeat As NAIA National Champs|url=https://godordt.com/news/2025/3/26/womens-basketball-champions-defenders-repeat-as-naia-national-champs.aspx |access-date=26 March 2025}}</ref> against [[Providence Argonauts|University of Providence]] with a score of 57–53. Again in 2025 the team successfully defended their title in a game against [[Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats|Indiana Wesleyan]] with a score of 82-73. Macy Sievers was named "Player of the Tournament" both years.

=== Club sports ===
Dordt University no longer sponsors any club programs.

=== Ice hockey ===
Ice hockey is recognized as an NAIA varsity sport at Dordt. However, Dordt University's men's Ice Hockey team competes at the [[American Collegiate Hockey Association]] Division III level in the [[Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association#Silver Division#West Conference|MACHA Silver West]] conference.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) |url=https://www.achahockey.org/stats/roster/32/34?division=90&league=1 |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=www.achahockey.org |language=en-US}}</ref> Most of the teams at this level are club sports teams.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.dordt.edu Official website]
* [http://godordt.com Official athletics website]

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[[Category:Dordt University| ]]
[[Category:Liberal arts colleges in Iowa]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1955]]
[[Category:Education in Sioux County, Iowa]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sioux County, Iowa]]
[[Category:1955 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Council for Christian Colleges and Universities]]
[[Category:Sioux Center, Iowa]]
[[Category:Great Plains Athletic Conference schools]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Iowa]]