Freed–Hardeman University

Freed–Hardeman University is a private university associated with the Churches of Christ and located in Henderson, Tennessee. It is primarily undergraduate and residential. The university also serves some commuting, part-time and adult students on-campus and through distance-learning programs.

Freed–Hardeman University

Former names	Henderson Male Institute (1869–1907) National Teachers' Normal and Business College (1907–1919) Freed–Hardeman College (1919–1990)
Motto	How to Live and Make a Living
Type	Private university
Established	1869; 155 years ago (1869)
Religious affiliation	Churches of Christ
Endowment	$62.4 million (2020)^[1]
President	David Shannon
Students	2,283
Undergraduates	1,850
Postgraduates	433
Location	Henderson, Tennessee , United States
Campus	Rural, 96 acres (39 ha)
Colors	Maroon and gold
Nickname	Lions
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – Mid-South
Website	www.fhu.edu

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 organized into five 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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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".^[4] The first black graduate was Elizabeth Saunders in 1967.^[5]

The university offers courses outside of the Henderson area in Memphis, Tennessee.^[6] 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.^[7]

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.^[8]

During the 2019–2020 academic year, the university celebrated its 150th anniversary^[9] and a volume of university history, By the Grace of God: The Story of Freed–Hardeman University, was published.^[10]

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.^[11]

The Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center, opened in 2016, houses the Loden-Daniel Library, a café, and other resources.^[12]

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.^[11]

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.^[13]

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.^{[citation needed]} The university reported a 44% acceptance rate of applicants for the fall 2012 semester.^{[needs update]}

The university is ranked among the "Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth" by Campus Pride.^[8]

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),^[14] primarily competing in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) since the 2020–21 academic year.^[15] 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.

Men's basketball

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.^[16]

In 2024, the men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship, defeating Langston University 71-67.

Women's basketball

On 20 March 2018, the Lady Lions basketball team won its first NAIA National Championship,^[17] defeating Westmont College 76–64.

Notable alumni and faculty

• 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^[18]
• Rubel Shelly, author and college administrator
• Thomas B. Warren, theologian
• Sue Shelton White, suffragist lawyer

References

1. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
2. . The Restoration Movement. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
3. "History and Mission". Freed–Hardeman University. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
4. Key, Barclay (2020). Race & restoration: Churches of Christ and the Black freedom struggle. Making the modern South. Baton Rouge (La.): Louisiana State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8071-7274-2.
5. "Freed-Hardeman's first black grad to be bell master". Jackson Sun. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
6. "FHU / Memphis". Freed–Hardeman University. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
7. "South Korea". Freed–Hardeman University. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
8. "Worst List: The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth". Campus Pride. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
9. "FHU to Begin 150th Year with Tolling of the Bell". Freed–Hardeman University. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
10. Massey, Greg (2020). By the grace of God : The story of Freed-Hardeman University. Abilene, Texas: Abilene Christian University. ISBN 978-1-68426-101-7. OCLC 1137598222.
11. "Theatre (B.A.)". Freed–Hardeman University. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
12. "Freed-Hardeman University, Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center". ESa architecture firm.
13. "Social Clubs". Freed–Hardeman University. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
14. "Members" (PDF). National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
15. "Mid-South Conference adds three new full-time members". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
16. "THE DON MEYER AWARD". College Insider. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
17. "After 21 Trips, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) Wins National Championship". NAIA. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
18. Who's Who in America, 1982-1983. Chicago, Illinois: Marquis Who's Who. 1982. p. 2844.

External links

•   Media related to Freed-Hardeman University at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• Official athletics website

35°26′18″N 88°38′19″W / 35.43844°N 88.63864°W / 35.43844; -88.63864