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{{Short description|Private college in Liberty, Missouri, US}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = William Jewell College
 | image                  = William jewell college seal.png
 | image_size             = 150
 | motto                  = ''Deo Fisus Labora'' ([[Latin]])
 | mottoeng               = Trust in God, Work
 | established            = {{start date and age|1849}}
 | academic_affiliation   = [[Annapolis Group]]
 | type                   = [[Private school|Private]] [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States|liberal arts college]]
 | president              = Susan Chambers (interim)
 | students               = 853 (fall 2022)<ref name="2022 Enrollment">{{cite web|title=William Jewell College|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=William+je&s=all&id=179955|publisher=NCES|access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref>
 | city                   = [[Liberty, Missouri]]
 | country                = U.S.
 | coordinates            = {{coord|39.246263|-94.412159|display=inline,title}}
 | campus                 = Suburban
 | sports_nickname        = [[William Jewell Cardinals|Cardinals]]
 | athletics_affiliations = [[NCAA Division II]] - [[GLVC]]
 | colors                 = {{college color list|team=William Jewell Cardinals}}
 | website                = {{url|https://www.jewell.edu/|jewell.edu}}
 | logo                   = Jewell college textlogo.png
 | logo_size              = 150
}}

'''William Jewell College''' is a [[Private university|private]] [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States|liberal arts college]] in [[Liberty, Missouri]], United States. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri [[Baptist]] Convention and endowed with $10,000 by [[William Jewell (educator)|William Jewell]]. It was associated with the Missouri Baptist Convention for over 150 years until it separated in 2003 and became independent. After becoming a nonsectarian institution, the college's enrollment fell by approximately 40% to 739 students in 2018. Jewell is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the [[Higher Learning Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hlcommission.org/download/_BoardActionLetters/HLC%20Action%20Letter%20-%20William%20Jewell%20College%207.10.19.pdf |title=Public Disclosure:William Jewell College status changed from Accredited–Probation to Accredited |author=Higher Learning Commission |date=June 27, 2019 |access-date=July 11, 2019|author-link=Higher Learning Commission }}</ref>

==History==
===Founding===
[[File:WilliamJewell.jpg|thumb|left|upright|William Jewell]]

The college is named after [[William Jewell (educator)|William Jewell]], who in 1849 donated $10,000 to start a school. Jewell, who was from [[Columbia, Missouri]], had wanted the school built in [[Boonville, Missouri]]. However, Liberty resident [[Alexander William Doniphan]] argued that donated undeveloped land in Liberty would be more valuable than the proposed developed land in Boonville, and Liberty was eventually chosen. Judge James Turner Vance Thompson donated the hilltop land on which the campus sits.<ref>Missouri Historical Society Collections. (1912). United States: Missouri Historical Society, page 288, Vol. 4</ref> In the [[American Civil War]] during the [[Battle of Liberty]], the main building on campus, [[Jewell Hall]], was used as a [[hospital]], infirmary, and stables for the [[United States Army]]. Union troops were buried on the campus. It was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1978.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> The [[Mt. Memorial Cemetery]], listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012, is located on the campus grounds.<ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2012-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf|title=National Register of Historic Places Listings|date=May 4, 2012|work=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/23/12 through 4/27/12|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref> One of the school's founders was Baptist minister [[Robert S. James]], father of [[Jesse James]].

On {{dts|1913|02|13}}, the nearby '''Liberty Female Institute''', also known as the '''Liberty Ladies' College''', was destroyed in a fire, which brought female students to Jewell. The unanticipated merger developed slowly, but by 1920 the women of the ladies' college were admitted to William Jewell on the same terms as men.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

===Gano Chapel===
[[File:Gano Chapel at William Jewell.jpg|thumb|right|Gano Chapel in 2010]]
In 1926, the [[John Gano]] chapel was built, based on a donation from Gano's great-granddaughter Elizabeth Price, who lived in Kansas City. Price gave the money for the chapel with provisions that the chapel be named for Gano and that it hang a painting of Gano [[baptizing]] [[George Washington]] in the [[Potomac River]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. The college says the painting is one of the school's most popular tourist destinations and takes no stance on whether the baptism of Washington (who was an [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]) actually took place.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744421-3,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523132804/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744421-3,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |title=Rupert Hughes' rebuttal of the Gano baptism legend in Time magazine |date=September 26, 1932 |access-date=November 12, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://infidels.org/library/historical/franklin_steiner/presidents.html |title=Franklin Steiner's refutation of the Gano baptism legend |access-date=November 12, 2009}}</ref>

===Pryor Learning Commons===
In August 2013, William Jewell College opened Pryor Learning Commons, a 26,000-square-foot intellectual center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewell.edu/pryorlearningcommons|title=PLC: Welcome|work=jewell.edu}}</ref>

==Academics==
[[File:Jewell Hall 3.jpg|thumb|Jewell Hall in 2012]]
The college offers nearly 40 academic majors and 10 pre-professional programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewell.edu/majors|title=Majors & Minors|work=jewell.edu|date=September 6, 2019 }}</ref>

William Jewell College also provides an Oxbridge Honors Program.<ref>http://jewell.edu/oxbridge/ Oxbridge Honors Program</ref> Oxbridge majors take tutorials in their major, study abroad in [[Oxford]], and take comprehensive exams during their senior year. The college offers a Journey Grant program in which students can qualify for a minimum $2,000 grant to use their junior year of school to help create an educational experience like study abroad, leadership and service projects, internships, research, business projects, etc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jewell.edu/journeygrants/|title=Journey Grants: Welcome|work=jewell.edu|date=February 7, 2018 }}</ref>

In 2019, William Jewell started the Honors Institute in Critical Thinking, a scholarship honors program that delves into analytical thinking with a self-designed practicum centered around a world issue.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 24, 2019|title=Honors Institute|url=https://jewell.edu/learn/honors/honors-institute|access-date=November 24, 2020|website=William Jewell College|language=en}}</ref>

Since 2013, the college claimed three Fulbright Scholars, two Goldwater Scholars, one Rhodes Global Scholar international finalist, two Truman Scholar finalists, one Rotary International Scholarship and ten Teach For America corps members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jewell.edu/about/outcomes|title=Outcomes |date=August 30, 2018 }}</ref>

The college offers three graduate programs, all approved by the Higher Learning Commission: The Master of Arts in Teaching, the Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, and the Artist Diploma in Voice (certificate program).<ref>{{cite web|title=Department of Education: M.S.Ed.|url=https://www.jewell.edu/join/graduate-applicants|work=jewell.edu|date=December 2, 2019 }}</ref>

== Athletics ==
{{Main|William Jewell Cardinals}}

{{See also|William Jewell Cardinals men's soccer|William Jewell Cardinals women's soccer}}

The William Jewell athletic teams are called the Cardinals. The college is a member of the [[NCAA Division II]] ranks, primarily competing in the [[Great Lakes Valley Conference]] (GLVC) since the 2011–12 academic year.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[NCAA]] |url=https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Latest+News/2012/July/New+members+for+2012+13+could+include+Associations+first+Canadian+school|title=New members for 2012–13 could include Association's first Canadian school|date=July 13, 2012|access-date=August 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name="joinedGLVC">{{cite web|work=[[Great Lakes Valley Conference|GLVC]]|url=http://glvcsports.com/news/2009/10/8/GEN__wjc_1008094145.aspx|title=Great Lakes Valley Conference Admits New Member|date=October 8, 2009|access-date=August 12, 2011}}</ref> Prior to joining the NCAA, the Cardinals previously competed in the [[Heart of America Conference]] (HAAC) of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) from 1971–72 to 2010–11;<ref name="joinedGLVC"/><ref>{{cite web|work=William Jewell College |url=http://www.jewell.edu/william_jewell/gen/william_and_jewell_generated_pages/William_Jewell_Advances_to_Year_Three_of_NCAA_Division_II_Membership_Transition_Process_p6993.html|title=William Jewell Advances to Year Three of NCAA Division II Membership Transition Process|date=July 11, 2011|access-date=August 12, 2011}}</ref> and in the [[Missouri College Athletic Union]] (MCAU) from 1924–25 to 1970–71.

William Jewell competes in 25 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, quadball, [[William Jewell Cardinals men's soccer|soccer]], swimming, tennis, and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, [[William Jewell Cardinals women's soccer|soccer]], softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include athletic band, powerlifting and spirit team.

== Greek life ==
There are several fraternities and sororities on campus, with its first, or pioneer chapter being formed in 1871.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online">{{cite web|editor1=William Raimond Baird |editor2=Carroll Lurding |title=Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive) |url=https://uofi.app.box.com/v/institutions-pdf-folder/file/459782686463 |website=Student Life and Culture Archives |publisher=University of Illinois Archives |access-date=June 1, 2025 |location=University of Illinois |language=English}} The main archive URL is [https://www.library.illinois.edu/slc/welcome/fraternity-sorority-almanac/ The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage].</ref>

=== Fraternities ===
====Active academic and social fraternity chapters at William Jewel College====
* '''{{lang|grc|ΦΓΔ}} - ''' [[Phi Gamma Delta]], 1886 (NIC){{efn|This is the ''Zeta Phi chapter'' of Phi Gamma Delta. It had originated as the ''Sigma chapter'' of [[Zeta Phi]], that small fraternity's second chapter, in 1871.}}
* '''{{lang|grc|ΚΑ}} - ''' [[Kappa Alpha Order]], 1887 (FFC){{efn|This is the ''Alpha Delta chapter'' of the Kappa Alpha Order.}}
* '''{{lang|grc|ΛΧΑ}} - ''' [[Lambda Chi Alpha]], 1942 (NIC){{efn|This is the ''Epsilon-Nu chapter'' of Lambda Chi Alpha. It had originated as Zeta Chi (local) in 1917.}}
====Chapters whose names changed, or which are inactive====
:* {{lang|grc|ΖΦ}} - ''[[Zeta Phi]], 1871–1886, became {{lang|grc|ΦΓΔ}}''
:* {{lang|grc|ΣΝ}} - ''[[Sigma Nu]], 1894–2001 (NIC)''{{efn|This was the ''Beta Xi chapter'' of Sigma Nu. It had originated as the Phe Yod Ins (local) in 1892.}}
:* {{lang|grc|ΚΣ}} - ''[[Kappa Sigma]], 1897–1936''{{efn|This was the ''Alpha-Omega chapter'' of Kappa Sigma.  It had originated as Pi Alpha Theta (local) in 1895.}}
{{notelist}}

=== Sororities ===
====Active academic and social sorority chapters at William Jewel College====
* '''{{lang|grc|ΑΓΔ}}''' - [[Alpha Gamma Delta]], 1946 (NPC){{efn|This is the ''Epsilon Epsilon chapter'' of [[Alpha Gamma Delta]], which had formed earlier in 1946 as a colony.}}
* '''{{lang|grc|ΔΖ}}''' - [[Delta Zeta]], 1961 (NPC){{efn|This is the ''Zeta Rho chapter'' of [[Delta Zeta]], which had originated in 1960 as a colony.}}
* '''{{lang|grc|ΖΤΑ}}''' - [[Zeta Tau Alpha]], 1964 (NPC){{efn|This is the ''Delta Chi chapter'' of [[Zeta Tau Alpha]].}}<ref>This chapter had its origin in Iota Pi (local), which had formed in 1919. The local group would eventually accept a charter from [[Beta Sigma Omicron]] to become that sorority's ''Alpha Psi chapter'' in 1931, then participating in the national merger with {{lang|grc|ΖΤΑ}} in {{dts|1964}} when it became {{lang|grc|ΖΤΑ}}'s ''Delta Chi chapter''. However, a nearby women's college, the Liberty Ladies College, was home to the ''Omicron chapter'' of [[Beta Sigma Omicron]] from 1908 to 1913 until its building burned in a fire. Soon after, the school's operations and student body were merged into William Jewell College with an agreement on co-education and a formal school merger soon following. Out of this, {{lang|grc|ΒΣΟ}}'s ''Omicron chapter'' may be considered a second predecessor group to William Jewell's current {{lang|grc|ΖΤΑ}} chapter, even though the 6-year gap to the start of the predecessor local or the 17-yr gap to the creation of {{lang|grc|ΒΣΟ}}'s ''Alpha Psi chapter'' probably didn't allow any alumnae continuity.</ref><!--This could have been rendered as an EFN, but it is rather lengthy.  Hence I moved it to a reference.-->
====Chapters whose names changed, or which are inactive====
:* {{lang|grc|ΙΠ}} - ''Iota Pi (local), 1919–1931, became {{lang|grc|ΒΣΟ}}''
:* {{lang|grc|ΒΣΟ}} - ''[[Beta Sigma Omicron]]'', 1931–1964, became '''{{lang|grc|ΖΤΑ}}'''
:* {{lang|grc|ΑΔΠ}} - ''[[Alpha Delta Pi]], 1949–2018 (NPC)''{{efn|This was the ''Gamma Nu chapter'' of [[Alpha Delta Pi]]. It had originated as Tau Nu Tau (local) in 1919.}}
{{notelist}}

==Notable alumni==
<!--Please see make a clear case for notability before adding anyone to this list-->
* [[Cyrus Avery]] (1870–1963), businessman and "Father of Route 66"
* [[Eugene Monroe Bartlett]] (1885–1941), singer, songwriter and producer of gospel music.
* [[Daniel Belcher]], [[Grammy Award|Grammy]]-winning operatic baritone
* [[Edwin Charles Boulton]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|A.B.]], 1950), a [[bishop]] of the [[United Methodist Church]]
* [[Nancy Boyda]], deputy assistant secretary of defense for manpower and personnel; former Democratic congresswoman from [[Kansas]], 2007–2009
* [[Hilary A. Bush]] (BA 1926), Missouri lieutenant governor
* [[Greg Canuteson]], former state representative and Mayor of Liberty
* [[Robin Carnahan]], [[Missouri Secretary of State]], 2005–2013
* [[Tom Carnegie]] (AB 1942), track announcer from 1946 to 2006
* [[Donald Marolf]] (1984), [[Theoretical physics|theoretical physicist]] and professor at [[University of California, Santa Barbara]]; known for being one of the originators of the [[Firewall (physics)|black hole firewall paradox]].
* [[Chris Cissell]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|A.B.]], 1994), women's soccer coach<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nscaa.com/articles/20070104200732163.php |title=William Jewell's Cissell Wins National Coach of the Year |publisher=Nscaa.com |date=October 5, 2006 |access-date=January 31, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Russ Cline]], co-founder of Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League (now called National Lacrosse League), owner of Philadelphia Wings<ref>[[Russ Cline]]</ref>
* [[Earl Thomas Coleman]], Republican congressman from [[Missouri]], 1977–1993
* [[Jim Davis (actor)|Jim Davis]], actor, portrayed Jock Ewing on "Dallas" TV series<ref>[[Jim Davis (actor)]]</ref>
* [[Connie Dover]], Celtic and American music folk singer, songwriter<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conniedover.com/bio.shtml |title=Connie Dover biography}}</ref>
* [[Homer Drew]], head basketball coach at [[Valparaiso University]]
* [[Zel Fischer]], [[Missouri Supreme Court]] Judge
*[[Nino Giarratano]] (born 1962), college baseball coach
* [[James B. Graham]], former Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts and former [[Kentucky Superintendent of Public Instruction]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://auditor.ky.gov/Documents/BicentennialPDF/JamesBGraham.pdf|title=James B. Graham|publisher=Office of the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts}}</ref>
*[[William Hardin Harrison]], US Army general
* [[Larry Holley]], former basketball coach
* [[James J. Jenkins]] American psychologist
* [[Brian Knight]] Major League Baseball Umpire since 2011
*  [[Dan Lanning]], Head football coach, University of Oregon
* [[Gatewood Lincoln]], 19th and 22nd [[Governor of American Samoa]] (only attended, did not graduate) 
* [[Don Page (physicist)|Don Page]] (BA 1971), theoretical physicist at the [[University of Alberta]].
* [[David Ring]], motivational speaker with [[cerebral palsy]]
* [[Roy Sanders (National League pitcher)|Roy Sanders]], former professional baseball player
* [[Bill Snyder]] (A.B., 1962), head [[American football]] coach for [[Kansas State University]], 1989–2005; 2009–2018
* [[Josephine L. Staton]], [[United States federal judge|United States federal district judge]] on the [[United States District Court for the Central District of California]]
* [[Orvar Swenson]] (1933), pediatric surgeon
* [[Terry Teachout]], biographer, playwright, opera librettist, drama critic for the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', and critic-at-large of ''[[Commentary (magazine)|Commentary]]''
* [[JD Gravina]] (B.S. 2000), Head Women's Basketball Coach at [[Western Illinois University]]<ref>Head Women's Basketball Coach at [[Western Illinois University]]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{ccat}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://jewellcardinals.com/ Athletics website]

{{Colleges and universities in Missouri}}
{{Annapolis Group}}
{{Great Lakes Valley Conference navbox}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:William Jewell College| ]]
[[Category:Liberal arts colleges in Missouri]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1849]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Clay County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Education in Clay County, Missouri]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Liberty, Missouri]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Missouri]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Higher Learning Commission]]