View source for Freed–Hardeman University

{{short description|Private university in Henderson, Tennessee, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Freed–Hardeman University
 | image                  = Freed-hardeman university logo.png
 | image_size             = 173px
 | motto                  = How to Live and Make a Living
 | established            = {{start date and age|1869}}
 | type                   = [[Private university]]
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Churches of Christ]]
 | president              = David Shannon
 | city                   = [[Henderson, Tennessee]]
 | country                = United States
 | undergrad              = 1,850
 | postgrad               = 433
 | students               = 2,283
 | faculty                = 
 | endowment              = $118.8 million (2024)<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Documents/Research/2020-NTSE-Public-Tables--Endowment-Market-Values--FINAL-FEBRUARY-19-2021.ashx |title=U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers and [[TIAA]] |date=19 February 2021 |access-date=21 February 2021}}</ref>
 | colors                 = {{color box|#6f2d3d}} {{color box|#ffd700}}<br>Maroon and gold
 | campus                 = Rural|campus_size= {{cvt|96|acre}}
 | former_names           = Henderson Male Institute (1869–1907)<br>National Teachers' Normal and Business College (1907–1919)<br>Freed–Hardeman College (1919–1990)
 | athletics_affiliations = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] – [[Mid-South Conference|Mid-South]]
 | sports_nickname        = Lions
 | website                = {{URL|www.fhu.edu}}
}}
'''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==
[[Image:FreedHardemanUniversityBellTower.jpg|thumb|right|upright|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>{{cite web |url=http://www.therestorationmovement.com/robertson.htm |title=John Franklin Robertson |website=The Restoration Movement |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927135833/http://www.therestorationmovement.com/robertson.htm |archive-date=2011-09-27 |access-date=24 July 2023 |url-status=dead }}</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>{{cite web |url=https://www.fhu.edu/about/history |title=History and Mission |publisher=Freed–Hardeman University |access-date=15 March 2020}}</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>{{Cite book |last=Key |first=Barclay |title=Race & restoration: Churches of Christ and the Black freedom struggle |date=2020 |publisher=Louisiana State University Press |isbn=978-0-8071-7274-2 |series=Making the modern South |location=Baton Rouge (La.)}}</ref> The first black graduate was Elizabeth Saunders in 1967.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2018/08/17/freed-hardemans-first-black-grad-bell-master/37517853/ |title=Freed-Hardeman's first black grad to be bell master |work=Jackson Sun |date=2018-08-17 |access-date=2022-05-02}}</ref>

The university offers courses outside of the Henderson area in [[Memphis, Tennessee]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FHU / Memphis |url=https://www.fhu.edu/memphis |publisher=Freed–Hardeman University |access-date=2020-05-20}}</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>{{cite web |url=http://www.fhu.edu/academics/abroad/south-korea |title=South Korea |publisher=Freed–Hardeman University |access-date=March 15, 2020}}</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">{{cite web |url=https://www.campuspride.org/worstlist/ |title=Worst List: The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth |website=Campus Pride |date=17 May 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2021}}</ref>

During the 2019–2020 academic year, the university celebrated its 150th anniversary<ref>{{cite web |title=FHU to Begin 150th Year with Tolling of the Bell |url=https://www.fhu.edu/news/fhu-to-begin-150th-year-with-tolling-of-the-bell |publisher=Freed–Hardeman University |access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref> and a volume of university history, ''By the Grace of God: The Story of Freed–Hardeman University'', was published.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Massey |first=Greg |title=By the grace of God : The story of Freed-Hardeman University |publisher=Abilene Christian University |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-68426-101-7 |location=Abilene, Texas |oclc=1137598222}}</ref>

==Campus buildings==
[[File:National Teacher's Normal and Business College Administration Building.JPG|thumb|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">{{cite web |url=https://www.fhu.edu/academics/colleges/ArtsAndSciences/FineArts/Theatre |title=Theatre (B.A.) |publisher=Freed–Hardeman University |access-date=Mar 15, 2020}}</ref>

The Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center, opened in 2016, houses the Loden-Daniel Library, a café, and other resources.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Freed-Hardeman University, Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center |url=https://esarch.com/portfolio/freed-hardeman-university-hope-barber-shull-academic-resource-center/ |website=ESa architecture firm}}</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>{{cite web |url=https://www.fhu.edu/campusLife/socialLife/socialClubs |title=Social Clubs |publisher=Freed–Hardeman University |access-date=March 15, 2020}}</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.{{cn|date=July 2023}} The university reported a 44% acceptance rate of applicants for the fall 2012 semester.{{update needed|date=July 2023}}

The university is ranked among the "Absolute Worst Campuses for [[LGBT]]Q 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>{{cite web |title=Members |url=https://www.naia.org/schools/files/2022-23_NAIA_Institutions.pdf |publisher=National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics |access-date=8 March 2023}}</ref> primarily competing in the [[Mid-South Conference]] (MSC) since the 2020–21 academic year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mid-South Conference adds three new full-time members |url=https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/mid-south-conference-adds-three-new-full-time-members/article_b59f0387-a41c-55f8-8104-9941c0d94e71.html |work=Bowling Green Daily News |access-date=8 March 2023}}</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>{{cite web |title=THE DON MEYER AWARD |url=http://www.donmeyeraward.com/ |work=College Insider |access-date=7 April 2014}}</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 Women's Basketball Championships|NAIA National Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.naia.org/sports/wbkb/2017-18/releases/2018032199vdo |title=After 21 Trips, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) Wins National Championship |date=March 21, 2018 |publisher=NAIA|access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref>

==Notable alumni and faculty==
{{refimprove|section|date=August 2024}}
* [[Gracia Alonso de Armiño|Grace Alonso de Armiño]], Spanish professional basketball player, 3x3 Olympian
* [[Carl Bell (musician)|Carl Bell]], musician
* [[George S. Benson]], university administrator
* [[John W. Brown (corporate executive)|John Brown]], businessman
* [[T. Jeff Busby]], politician
* [[John Dale (minister)|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>{{cite book |title=Who's Who in America, 1982-1983 |location=Chicago, Illinois |publisher=Marquis Who's Who |date=1982 |page=2844}}</ref>
* [[Rubel Shelly]], author and college administrator
* [[Thomas B. Warren]], theologian
* [[Sue Shelton White]], suffragist lawyer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Freed-Hardeman University}}
* {{official|http://www.fhu.edu}}
* [http://www.gofhulions.com Official athletics website]

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{{Tennessee private colleges and universities}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Freed-Hardeman University}}
[[Category:Freed–Hardeman University| ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Churches of Christ]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Education in Chester County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1869]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Chester County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Tennessee]]