BBIN集团官方网站的使命, a Christian university of Quaker heritage, is to equip students to honor God and serve others by integrating their intellectual, 精神生活和职业生活.
Although 大学的朋友 was officially founded in 1898, our history goes back to the mid-1880s when the Christian Churches of 堪萨斯 began to construct a building west of 威奇托 that would hold more floor space under one roof than any other educational facility west of the Mississippi River.
Garfield University opened its doors for classes in 1887. The University had 500 students enrolled for the first year and 1,070 for the second year. After graduating its first and only senior class, Garfield University closed its doors in 1890 due to financial difficulties. The school was reorganized and opened again in March 1892 as Garfield Central Memorial University. 它于11月11日永久关闭. 18, 1893.
For five years, the building was a haven for owls, birds and bats until James M. 戴维斯是一位来自圣路易斯市的商人. Louis, saw an advertisement in a St. Louis paper and purchased the building and surrounding lots. He immediately offered the entire holding to the 堪萨斯 Society of 朋友 (better known as the Quakers) on the condition that the group raise $50,000 for the permanent endowment of the college. The conditions were accepted, and 大学的朋友 officially opened its doors in September 1898. The enrollment for the first fall was 52 students; it would grow to 102 students during the first year.
埃德蒙·L. Stanley shared the vision and future he saw for the University during the opening meeting:
The purpose of this school shall be to give to the world and to give our country a class of citizens that will be in every sense loyal citizens. Loyalty has in it more than we often think … Loyalty means that mental training and discipline which makes the child think – the development which makes him strong in mind and body; strong in his moral nature; a full man in that intelligence which should direct the efforts of all men for conscientious, honorable and successful private life and citizenship.
大学的朋友 continued operating as a Quaker institution until the 1930s when governance of the school was vested in an independent board of trustees. 从那时起, the University has continued to operate in an amicable but independent relationship with the Society of 朋友. The University continues to reflect much of our Quaker founders’ vision and values. This includes offering a transformative education that honors God and places special value on each individual, shining the light of God’s love to our community and world.
In 1985, 大学的朋友 began offering a new degree completion program for adults wishing to complete their bachelor’s degree while maintaining their busy lives. In 1986, the University received approval to offer two new master’s programs. Two years after degree completion programs began, the University began offering these programs in other locations across 堪萨斯, 包括哈钦森, 道奇城和爱奥拉.
In 1989, 大学的朋友 opened its first 堪萨斯 City site to serve adult students in the area. After 15 years at several different locations (including a secondary site in Independence, 密苏里州, 1995年至2005年), the University moved to a location in Lenexa from 2004 to 2015. In 2015 the current location in Overland Park opened with facilities for the Master of Science in Family 治疗 program and teacher education workshops.
The University operated a site in Topeka from 1993 to 2016 that focused on adults seeking bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 朋友 began offering a few online programs for adults in the mid-2000s and has continued to expand our online program offerings.
纵观其历史, the University has remained committed to our central core: the arts and sciences. A broad-based education – one that truly expands the horizons and frees the mind – is our purpose for every student. This is also expressed in our commitment to teaching and to the personal growth of every 大学的朋友 student. We uphold the following values within our learning community: 尊重 – integrity, civility in our words and actions, and regard for others; 包容 – a spirit of cooperation and equality; 服务 – a commitment to servant leadership, caring for each other and our community; and 卓越 – giving our best to our students at all times (student focused), that we may walk truly in the light of our faith (honor God).
大学的朋友 has continued to grow and develop throughout the years. From 52 students in 1898 to approximately 2,今天有1000名学生, BBIN集团官方网站是一所实力雄厚的大学, 至关重要的, independent university for 威奇托, 该地区, 我们的国家, 这个世界.